Position: Municipal Utility Worker III – Senior Water Distribution Specialist
Location: City of Keizer, Oregon Department: Public Works, Water Division
Bargaining Unit: LIUNA, Oregon Southern Idaho District Council, Local 737 Recruitment Opened: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Application Deadline: Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 11:59pm PST
Schedule: Monday through Friday (every other Friday off), in person (no remote)
Annual Salary Range: $67,163 to $87,651 plus duty pay, as applicable
In-Person Panel Interviews: Thursday, December 10, 2026
Step into a leadership‑oriented field position where your expertise directly strengthens the reliability, safety, and performance of Keizer’s water distribution system. As a Senior Water Distribution Specialist, you’ll guide field crews, oversee essential water infrastructure programs, and ensure the City’s water system operates at peak integrity. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in both hands‑on fieldwork and operational coordination.
About the Role
This position takes a lead role in planning, organizing, and overseeing the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of Keizer’s water distribution infrastructure. Working closely with MUW I and II field staff, you will assign and monitor work, lead maintenance and inspection programs, coordinate operational activities such as meter maintenance and shut‑offs, and ensure that all work meets safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan, schedule, assign, and inspect work related to the installation, repair, and maintenance of the water distribution system, ensuring compliance with safety
- Serve as a lead worker for MUW I and II Water Distribution staff, providing training, guidance, and on‑site direction while acting as the competent person for job‑site safety.
- Manage and implement key Water Division programs, including valve and hydrant exercising, leak detection, meter testing and replacement, fleet maintenance, and safety program documentation.
- Coordinate with Utility Billing staff on monthly shut‑offs, meter issues, diagnostics, and account inconsistencies.
- Perform pump station operations and maintenance, adjust telemetry settings, and monitor system performance.
Why You'll Love This Job
- Meaningful: This is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to make a tangible difference in your community.
- Diverse Work: From field work and managing infrastructure programs to conducting system diagnostics and supporting emergency operations, this role offers a dynamic blend of technical, operational, and leadership tasks that ensure every day brings new challenges and meaningful contributions to Keizer’s water system.
- Professional & Dedicated Team: The Keizer Public Works Department is a professional, dedicated team that proudly serves the community by effectively and efficiently building, operating, and maintaining quality, safe, and secure public facilities.
Why Work for the City of Keizer?
Located in Oregon's stunning Willamette Valley, Keizer is a vibrant community with easy access to mountains, coastlines, and forests, offering the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city resources. Join us, and you'll enjoy:
- Moderate year-round climate ideal for outdoor adventures
- A close-knit community that values innovation and service
- Engaging events like KeizerFEST, holiday parades, and more
Pay & Benefits
- Monthly Salary Range: $5,596.93 to $7,304.27 plus duty pay, as applicable
- Retirement: The City contributes 6% of gross earnings into employee deferred compensation (457b) retirement accounts (plus 7.5% until Public Employee Retirement System eligibility) from day 1. No match required!
- Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision plans, term life and long-term disability insurance, FSA, HSA & LPFSA, paid time off (holidays, sick, vacation, personal leave), employer contributions to a retirement health savings program (after 10 years of service), fitness incentive program and on‑site employee only fitness center, and even access to an on‑site massage chair! See our fantastic insurance benefits here
- Language Incentive: 5% pay incentive for Spanish-speaking candidates.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalency; and
- Five years of full-time experience as a certified water distribution operator including water distribution maintenance; and
- Road, water, sewer, stormwater, or general construction experience (e.g. concrete work, roofing, framing, masonry, carpentry, finish work, heavy equipment operation); or
- Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position; and
- Valid Oregon driver license; and
- Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Water Distribution II Certification; and
- Completion of Excavation Safety Training and Confined Space Training; and
- NIMS IS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications; and
- Residence must be within a 35-minute drive time to City shops
What You Bring
In addition to the minimum qualifications, we are looking for candidates who have:
- Strong knowledge of water distribution system construction, maintenance, and operational standards, including trench safety, confined space practices, and regulatory requirements.
- Skill in reading plans, estimating materials, developing work orders, maintaining accurate records, and interpreting specifications.
- Proficiency operating specialized equipment, heavy machinery, telemetry systems, and computers for documentation, communication, and data tracking.
- Ability to apply Oregon Health Authority and AWWA standards to maintain water quality and uphold the integrity of the City’s water distribution system.
- Strong problem‑solving, prioritization, and decision‑making skills in both routine and emergency situations.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams, interact professionally with the public, and adapt to varying field and environmental conditions.
- Commitment to learning new technologies, applying best practices, and maintaining required certifications and safety training.
For questions or accommodation requests, reach out to HR at HR@KeizerOR.gov or 503-856-3419.