Maintenance Technician III - Water Distribution Crew - INTERNAL ONLY

City of Tumwater; Tumwater (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Tumwater seeks a skilled Maintenance Technician III to serve as a technical SME on the Water Distribution Crew. This role maintains and improves the City’s water distribution infrastructure, including mains, hydrants, valves, service lines, and related systems, with high independence and advanced troubleshooting.

Responsibilities include emergency response, public health protection, leadership and mentoring of Technician I and II staff, and ensuring safe, efficient field operations.

Qualifications

• Expert-level mastery of water distribution systems with extensive, progressively responsible experience appropriate to the role.
• Provides technical leadership and coordination of work activities on job sites when designated.
• Troubleshoots complex issues.
• Coordinates job site activities and work sequencing within established plans and direction.
• Shares institutional knowledge.
• Possesses most/all necessary credentials for service to the assigned team.
• Serves as a technical subject-matter resource during field operations, as directed.
• Mentors junior staff on policies and procedures, including (but not limited to):
• work orders
• documentation
• task performance safety practices and personal protective equipment use.

Responsibilities

• Independently inspect, diagnose, maintain, and repair complex water distribution infrastructure, including mains, services, valves, hydrants, meters, and associated appurtenances.
• Perform advanced leak detection, main break repairs, pressure problem resolution, and service restorations.
• Lead hydrant flushing, valve exercising, and system maintenance activities to support water quality and system reliability.
• Identify infrastructure deficiencies and determine appropriate corrective actions.

Skills

Water distribution

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Mentoring

Tools

Tapping machines

Pipe-cutting tools

Hydrant maintenance tools

Pumps & compressors

Job description

This is an INTERNAL ONLY opportunity. This recruitment process is for Maintenance Technician II to apply for Maintenance Technician III positions. If you are an external candidate your application will automatically be rejected.

The Opportunity

The City of Tumwater is seeking a skilled Maintenance Technician III to serve as a technical subject matter expert on the Water Distribution Crew. This advanced journey-level position plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the City’s water distribution infrastructure, including mains, hydrants, valves, service lines, and related systems.

In this role, you will perform complex maintenance, repair, and operational work with a high degree of independence, including advanced troubleshooting and coordination of work activities. You will be relied upon to respond to emergency water system conditions, support reliable water service delivery, and ensure work is completed safely and efficiently in the field.

As a Maintenance Technician III, you will provide technical guidance and mentorship to Maintenance Technician I and II staff, support team coordination, and help drive safe and effective operations. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced technician ready to take on increased responsibility, apply advanced skills, and continue growing within the City.

Advanced Water Distribution System Maintenance & Repair

• Independently inspect, diagnose, maintain, and repair complex water distribution infrastructure, including mains, services, valves, hydrants, meters, and associated appurtenances.
• Perform advanced leak detection, main break repairs, pressure problem resolution, and service restorations.
• Lead hydrant flushing, valve exercising, and system maintenance activities to support water quality and system reliability.
• Identify infrastructure deficiencies and determine appropriate corrective actions.

Emergency Response & Public Health Protection

• Lead response efforts to water main breaks, service disruptions, and emergency outages.
• Coordinate isolation, flushing, and restoration activities to protect public health in accordance with approved SOPs and regulatory requirements; escalates regulatory decisions to supervisory staff.
• Identify potential cross-connection or contamination risks and ensure appropriate escalation and documentation.

Equipment, Vehicle & Work Zone Leadership

• Operate advanced water distribution maintenance equipment including tapping machines, compressors, pumps, generators, and compaction tools.
• Lead setup, maintenance, and teardown of traffic control and work zones in accordance with City standards and MUTCD requirements.
• Perform and oversee routine inspections, greasing, fueling, and preventative maintenance of assigned vehicles and equipment.

Documentation, Compliance & Asset Management

• Ensure accurate and timely completion of work orders, inspection reports, valve and hydrant logs, and maintenance documentation.
• Review field documentation for completeness and accuracy and assist with correcting deficiencies.
• Update asset condition data, system changes, and maintenance history in asset management and GIS systems.

Traffic Control & Work Zone Safety

• Implements and adjusts traffic control setups in accordance with approved plans, MUTCD, and City standards.
• Serve as traffic control lead or flagger as assigned.

Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, mentoring, and training to Maintenance Technician I and II staff.
• Coordinate job site activities, assign tasks, and ensure safe and efficient work practices.
• Serve as project coordinator on complex or multi-day water distribution projects.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrates expert-level mastery of water distribution systems with extensive, progressively responsible experience appropriate to the role
• Provides technical leadership and coordination of work activities on job sites when designated.
• Troubleshoots complex issues.
• Coordinates job site activities and work sequencing within established plans and direction.
• Shares institutional knowledge
• Possesses most/all necessary credentials for service to the assigned team.
• Serves as a technical subject-matter resource during field operations, as directed.
• Mentors junior staff on policies and procedures, including (but not limited to):
  1. work orders
  2. documentation
  3. task performance safety practices and personal protective equipment use.

Advancement process is not automatic. In order to be fully considered for this advancement please refer to the Maintenance Technician (MT) Series Development Program SharePoint site for guidance.

This process ensures promotional decisions are based on demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), required credentials, documented performance, and management review, while complying with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), City policies, and departmental guidance.

For any questions on this advancement process please direct all questions to Human Resources.

Decision Rights & Problem Solving

• Independently plans and executes complex water distribution maintenance and repair tasks.
• Performs advanced troubleshooting and determines appropriate corrective actions within established authority.
• Makes field-level technical decisions within established procedures and authority; does not exercise formal supervisory or regulatory authority.
• Escalates major regulatory, public health, or safety concerns to supervisory staff.

Supervision Received / Exercised

• Received: General supervision from the Field Crew Lead or Assistant Utility Operations Supervisor
• Exercised: Provides lead direction, mentoring, and task coordination for Maintenance Technician I and II staff; no formal supervisory authority

Key Relationships

• Internal: Water Distribution Crew; Water Resources staff; GIS; Engineering; Finance (metering/billing).
• External: Contractors; property owners; regulatory inspectors (as directed).

Tools & Technology

• Tapping machines and pipe-cutting tools
• Hydrant and valve maintenance tools
• Portable pumps and compressors
• Excavation and compaction equipment
• Locating equipment
• Asset management, AMI/metering, and GIS mapping systems

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Work is performed in a variety of field, operational, or service environments, depending on assignment. Duties may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, traffic, equipment, uneven terrain, and other operational hazards. Work may require prolonged standing or walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and heavy lifting, as well as the operation of tools, equipment, or vehicles. Some assignments may involve working in confined or restricted spaces.

Work schedules may include evenings, weekends, holidays, emergency response, or on-call assignments based on operational needs. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.

Commitment to Equity, Safety, and Ethics

Employees are expected to perform their duties in a manner that supports equity, safety, integrity, and professionalism. This includes following all safety policies and procedures, treating coworkers and the public with respect, and conducting work ethically and responsibly.

Employees are expected to uphold public trust through fair, transparent, and lawful conduct and to contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment.

The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The City of Tumwater is committed to wellness, safety, the environment and racial equity.