Lead Plumber

Port of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Port of San Diego is seeking a Lead Plumber to guide the Plumbing Shop, oversee maintenance, repairs, and installations across port facilities. You will mentor staff, coordinate with other trades, and ensure work meets safety, code, and quality standards in a marine port environment.

This advanced journey-level role requires extensive plumbing experience, the ability to prioritize tasks, and strong customer service skills to support Port operations and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Journeyman plumbing training and experience required.
• Experience in planning and supervising plumbing work.
• Knowledge of safety codes and best practices in plumbing.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and daily direction to the Plumbing Shop.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee maintenance, repairs, and installations.
• Ensure safety, code compliance, and high workmanship.

Skills

Staff leadership

Project planning

Team training

Strong communication

Customer service

Education

High school diploma + journey-level plumbing training

Valid plumbing licenses (First Aid/CPR, Backflow)

Tools

Forklifts

Air compressors

Cranes

Generators

Hand and power tools

Job description

The Lead Plumber is responsible for providing leadership, technical expertise, and daily direction to the Plumbing Shop. This position plans, coordinates, and oversees plumbing maintenance, repairs, installations, and improvement projects throughout the District. The Lead Plumber ensures work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable codes and District standards. In addition to performing advanced plumbing work, the Lead Plumber assigns and prioritizes work, provides technical guidance and training to staff, coordinates with other trades and departments, and ensures a high level of customer service and workmanship.

DEFINITION

Under general direction, plans, schedules, and supervises the work of personnel engaged in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing hardware and systems; provides for the training of staff in work methods, use of tools, and equipment; monitors and inspects work performed by Port personnel and contractors; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises technical and functional direction over and provides training to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Plumber series, responsible for performing the most complex work assigned to the series. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment in plumbing, industrial, commercial, and underground utilities systems installation, maintenance, and repair projects. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to schedule and complete preventive and emergency plumbing repairs and projects. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and code requirements. This class is distinguished from the Maintenance Supervisor in that the latter is the full supervisory classification with responsibilities for the supervision and evaluation of assigned staff.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Represented positions are subject to the meet and confer process.

Plans, coordinates, schedules, inspects, and supervises the work of personnel engaged in the construction, installation, maintenance, fabrication, and repair of plumbing systems in various facilities including industrial and commercial buildings, underground utilities, offices, docks, piers, floats, and marina gangways, as well as clean water infrastructure, plumbing fixtures, wastewater sewer systems, sewer main lines, and related equipment in a marine port environment.

Provides direction and participates in the work of skilled and personnel assigned to section activities; operates forklifts, air compressors, cranes, portable and stationary generators, pneumatic and electric drain equipment and hand tools, saws, and various passenger vehicles in the course of duties.

Participates in the preparation of budget recommendations; authorizes the purchase of materials and monitors work activities and expenditures to control costs; prepares specifications for the purchase of plumbing-related equipment, materials, and supplies.

Provides for the training of staff in work methods, use of tools, and equipment; provides specialized plumbing training for staff and other sections and departments if needed, and researches new methods and techniques to apply.

Responds to emergency situations and leads repairs and skilled workers.

Reviews work orders to determine material, equipment, project scope and budget, and personnel requirements; requisitions required materials, supplies, and equipment; prepares cost estimates for work orders from other departments.

Assists and supports the section's supervisor in developing and implementing the section's operational scheduling, as well as preventive and predictive maintenance work standards; conducts research and analysis in support of the establishment of work standards and procedures for the section; analyzes scheduling and labor requirements and other job-specific requirements.

Responds to inquiries and complaints and attends various meetings with internal and external stakeholders.

Monitors and inspects work performed by Port personnel and contractors; ensures compliance with safety standards, and plumbing code regulations.

Schedules and conducts safety inspections of equipment throughout Port locations, identifying components in need of repair or replacement.

Participates in carrying out the Port's safety program in the section; ensures assigned personnel follow safety practices in work methods and procedures; ensures proper safety procedures while working in shop and field situations; educates assigned personnel on rules, regulations, codes, safe work habits and potential hazards presented by their work environment.

Prepares, maintains, and approves a variety of records and reports, including timecards, worksheets, accident reports, regulatory records and maintenance requests.

Performs disaster service worker responsibilities, as directed.

Ensures staff observe and comply with all Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Performs related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles of providing functional direction and training.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Methods, practices, tools, and equipment common to the construction, maintenance, and repair of plumbing systems, fixtures, and related systems for a large commercial facility.
• Plumbing practices and techniques, and applicable building and plumbing codes/ordinances.
• Health and safety regulations involved in potable water and wastewater.
• Operations and services of a comprehensive maintenance program in assigned area.
• Maintenance principles, practices, equipment, and materials in assigned work areas.
• Principles and practices of preventive maintenance in assigned area and proper record keeping.
• Safety practices, safe work methods, and safety regulations pertaining to the work.
• Shop mathematics or arithmetic.
• Practices, tools, and equipment common to the building and construction trades, as well as a variety of hand and power tools used for plumbing.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Port staff. The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

ABILITY TO

• Effectively provide staff leadership and work direction.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, assign, and review the work of assigned staff.
• Coordinate work assignments with other sections, divisions, departments, or agencies.
• Design, layout, and prepare sketches for construction-related projects.
• Perform skilled plumbing work in the maintenance and repair of water and sewer systems.
• Learn and apply laws, rules, and regulations involved in assigned activities.
• Test, diagnose, and repair a wide variety of plumbing deficiencies and hardware fixtures.
• Operate and maintain a variety of power and hand tools used in skilled plumbing work.
• Troubleshoot plumbing problems and determine materials and supplies required for repair.
• Make accurate arithmetic calculations.
• Accurately estimate time, material, and personnel requirements for work orders and projects.
• Read and interpret blueprints, drawings, plans and specifications.
• Identify and implement effective courses of action to complete assigned work.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Use appropriate safety equipment in assigned maintenance area.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

EDUCATION

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade, supplemented by specialized training in journey level plumbing repair and installation.

EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of journey level experience in plumbing and work requiring use of hand and power tools, equipment, and machinery associated with plumbing and trades experience.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Possession of, or successful acquisition within twelve (12) months of employment, a valid first aid and CPR certification, to be maintained throughout employment.

Possession of a valid Backflow Testers License issued by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA), to be maintained throughout employment.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess sufficient mobility to work in the field; strength, stamina, and flexibility to perform medium to heavy physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; frequently reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, grasp and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; possible entry into confined spaces and the use of confined entry equipment, to climb and descend ladders, to operate varied hand and power tools and other equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various work sites; and vision to inspect and operate the equipment. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards which may include working around live electrical wires. Finger dexterity is needed to operate and repair tools and equipment. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 50 pounds or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff. Employees must wear and use the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Employees work in a shop and field environment, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspaces, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Some positions may require working varied shifts and/or alternate schedules as needed. Port employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings, and holidays as required to accommodate the Port’s needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Services Emergency Worker. Employees in this classification are subject to on-call, which may include rotating-duty schedule, weekends, and 24-hour emergency call out with little or no notice.