Senior Plumber

The County of Santa Clara; California (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Clara is seeking a skilled Plumber Supervisor to lead daily activities of journey level plumbers and assistants. You will assign work, inspect installations, maintain safety standards, and help evaluate staff within county facilities.

Responsibilities include coordinating methods and materials, approving job plans, and ensuring adherence to plumbing codes. A strong background in planning, blueprint reading and cost estimation is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of a recognized five-year plumbing trade apprenticeship and five years of experience as a Plumber.
• Possession of a Plumber Journeyman card or County Competency/P.I.P.E. certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily activities of plumbers and assistants.
• Inspect plumbing work for quality and compliance with codes.
• Assist in performance evaluations of staff.
• Advise on technical problems and determine methods and materials.
• Maintain tools, equipment and safety practices.

Skills

Lead direction

Blueprint reading

Cost estimating

Safety procedures

Plumbing codes

Office software

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

5-year plumbing trade apprenticeship

Plumber journeyman card / P.I.P.E. certification

Job description

Under general direction, to lead and coordinate the daily activities of skilled Plumbers and assistants; to perform journey level plumbing work, including installation, alteration, maintenance and repair of water, sewer and other plumbing systems and related equipment and fixtures.

• Receives work orders and assigns work to journey level plumbers and assistants;
• Inspects the work of plumbers and assistants involved in the installation, maintenance and repair of plumbing systems for quality control;
• Assists in the performance evaluation of plumbers and assistants;
• Confers with and advises plumbers and assistants on technical problems;
• Assists in determining work methods and materials to be used;
• Supervises the care and maintenance of tools and equipment;
• Ensures that code requirements, safety regulations and safe work practices are observed;
• Prepares work progress and attendance reports;
• Performs skilled plumbing activities in the installation, maintenance, and repair of water, sewer and other plumbing systems;
• Installs, alters, replaces and repairs plumbing, such as water, gas, sewer and drainage systems;
• Checks and maintains autoclave sterilizers and medical gas systems, including, but not limited to, oxygen outlets, medical air and vacuum suction lines;
• Unstops sinks, basins, water lines and toilets;
• Flushes sewer lines, garbage disposals, floor drains, storm roof drains, and globe valves;
• Cuts, bends, assembles and installs various pipes, fittings, valves and fixtures for water, sanitary drainage, heating, gas and other plumbing systems;
• Installs, alters, repairs or replaces all types of plumbing fixtures, including, but not limited to, sinks, basins and water closets/toilets;
• Checks plumbing fixtures for leaks and other defects; opens and cleans clogged drains, pipes, and traps;
• Threads, reams, assembles, caulks, solders and welds various pipes and component parts;
• Repairs gas leaks;
• Drains and flushes water heaters;
• Installs, alters and repairs hot water boilers, hot water heaters, kitchen equipment, sterilizers, steam tables, laundry equipment, pressure gauges, soft water supplies, sprinkler heads, and other related equipment;
• Disassembles, cleans and resets bucket steam traps, inverted bucket traps, thermostatic traps and other related steam components;
• Maintains adequate work stock of plumbing supplies;
• Completes work orders and requisition forms;
• Installs and repairs various types of pumps;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Performs related work as required.

Training and Experience Note:

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities: The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are attained through possession of a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of a recognized five (5) year military, government or state registered trade apprenticeship as a Plumber and five (5) years of experience equivalent to a Plumber in the County of Santa Clara. OR Five (5) years of experience equivalent to a Plumber in the County of Santa Clara and possession of a Plumbers Journeyman card, County Competency card or Piping Industry Progress & Education (P.I.P.E.) certification.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment, and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County drivers authorization.
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Correction Security Clearance to work in locked facilities, throughout the term of employment. Additionally, possession of a Medical Gas Installer certification is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Planning, layout, and blueprint reading;
• Procedures and equipment used to inspect, and test safety devices used in plumbing and steam systems;
• Material and labor cost estimating;
• Principles of lead direction;
• Standard tools, methods, practices, and materials of the plumbing and steam fitting trades;
• Plumbing codes and ordinances;
• Hazards and safety precautions of the plumbing trade;
• Common office software applications, such as email, word processing and internet browsers.

Ability to:

• Perform journey level plumbing and steam fitting work;
• Enforce and instruct others on safety procedures and practices and appropriate building and safety codes;
• Make accurate material and labor cost estimates;
• Lead, train and direct the work of others;
• Schedule and coordinate work assignments;
• Coordinate the maintenance of tools and equipment;
• Inspect and evaluate work for quality control purposes;
• Prepare records and reports;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Read, interpret and work from diagrams, blueprints and schematics;
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions;
• Plan, layout, and estimate materials and labor cost for plumbing jobs and complete all necessary paperwork;
• Use computer and software applications such as maintenance management software, energy management systems, and common office applications;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Work under the following conditions using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE): dust, noise, vibration, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, cramped quarters, and inadequate lighting.
• Climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift and grasp;
• Ability to ascend/descend ladders;
• Lift up to sixty (60) pounds.
• For positions in the Facilities and Fleet Department, will be placed on a rotating "on call" list for weekend and holiday coverage of County facilities. On call status requires being available and on-site within two (2) hours of notification.