Utilities Services Worker I/II/III

City of Modesto, CA; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Modesto is seeking a reliable Utilities Services Worker to perform skilled tasks in the construction, maintenance, and repair of water and wastewater systems. This role covers both Water and Wastewater divisions and involves operating a variety of heavy equipment and performing on‑site leadership and training tasks.

Salary depends on experience and incentives apply for higher degrees. Applicants must meet licensing and training requirements, including a California driver’s license

Qualifications

• One year of experience operating light to heavy equipment.
• High School diploma or GED is required.
• Class A/B CDL with endorsements within 90 days of appointment is required.

Responsibilities

• Operate a wide range of construction equipment for water and wastewater systems maintenance.
• Excavate and lay pipelines, install meters, hydrants, valves, and related fixtures.
• Respond to emergencies and perform routine maintenance on tools, equipment, and vehicles.
• Maintain accurate records of work performed and ensure safety protocols are followed.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Utility maintenance

Safety compliance

Traffic control

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

The City of Modesto is seeking a reliable and hardworking individual to join our team as a Utilities Services Worker.

The Utilities Services Worker is responsible to perform a variety of skilled tasks in the construction, maintenance, and repair of water and wastewater systems and facilities; and perform a wide variety of skilled and semi-skilled maintenance tasks as assigned.

Current openings are within both Water and Wastewater divisions.

Upcoming Salary Increases and Incentives:

• 2.5% Education Incentive - Bachelor's Degree
• 5% Education Incentive - Master's Degree

The City of Modesto is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of inclusion. A City application is required, including Supplemental Questionnaire.

Salary offered depends on candidate’s experience.

The City of Modesto does not sponsor H-1B Visas.

Essential Functions:

All Assignments:

• Operate light to heavy construction equipment such as backhoes, motor graders, large front‑end loaders, medium to large trucks, heavy duty rodding machines, hydra flush and vacuum combination trucks, cranes, power rudders, front loaders, dump trucks, tampers, pavement saws, cutting torches, and welders for a variety of construction and maintenance operations involving potable water lines, wastewater mains and lines, and related systems.
• Expose and excavate water mains, distribution lines, valves, and other water and wastewater mainlines, manholes, laterals, storm water catch basins, pipelines, rock wells, drywells, basins, and other utility distribution systems infrastructure.
• Perform the full range of water distribution and wastewater systems operation, construction, and maintenance tasks when equipment is not in use.
• Design, plan, and install temporary traffic control devices; cone and barricade, as necessary.
• Break out and load asphalt and concrete onto large dump trucks.
• Identify, plan, and arrange for equipment needed for each assigned project.
• Perform minor repairs on equipment and report the need for major repairs; check and adjust fluid level; grease and lubricate moving parts, as required.
• Perform daily DMV vehicle inspections; document and inspect equipment for safety and wear.
• Respond to emergencies including flood, line breaks and overflows, storm water and wastewater overflows, and stoppages; repair and restore systems and service, as required.
• Pick up and transport refuse to the appropriate dumping site.
• Operate jackhammer and other construction tools.
• Lay and fit pipelines; make water line taps; install water services, fire hydrants, blow‑offs, valves, meters, vaults, boxes, and exercise valves.
• Identify and mark utilities in response to Underground Service Alerts.
• Use tripods, cranes, harnesses, hazardous gas/air sensor equipment, and ladders to enter confined spaces.
• Respond to and appropriately report hazards.
• Maintain accurate records of work performed.
• Perform routine maintenance on tools, equipment, and vehicles used in the work; stock vehicles with adequate supply of tools and equipment needed to perform the work.
• Perform standby/on‑call duties, as assigned and required.
• Develop schedules and methods to accomplish job site goals, ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Participate in evaluating the activities of staff, recommending improvements and modifications, and providing performance feedback.
• Provide on‑site lead leadership, guidance, and direction to work crews on assigned projects.
• Provide on‑the‑job training to employees; work with employees to correct deficiencies; provide training to lower‑level staff in the proper operation of equipment and the appropriate performance of maintenance duties.
• Load and transport construction equipment to and from the work site using the appropriate vehicles.
• Operate hand‑held and office computers to enter and retrieve data; prepare written and electronic records and reports.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co‑workers, other City employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Observe and maintain a safe working environment in compliance with established safety programs and procedures.

When assigned to Water/Distribution:

• Identify, locate, and fix service and main leaks.
• Operate pipe locators and install and inspect backflow assemblies.
• Install, replace, and maintain water meters.

When assigned to Wastewater:

• Inspect sewer and positive storm drain lines with closed circuit television equipment.
• Clean and service rock wells, catch basins, and drain lines, and wet wells at lift stations.

Marginal Functions:

Perform related duties as assigned.

Utilities Services Worker I

Knowledge of:

• Basic methods, tools, and equipment used in construction, maintenance, and repair work.
• Basic arithmetic principles and calculations.
• Learn to use, operate, and maintain a wide range of power‑driven equipment including trucks, backhoes, loaders, and cranes.
• Principles, methods, materials, and tools employed in utilities construction, maintenance, and repair.
• Learn the uses and purposes of general construction tools and equipment.
• Traffic laws, ordinances, and rules involved in light and heavy equipment operations.
• Safe work practices; trench safety and shoring methods.
• Working in and around open trenches, traffic, construction equipment, and utilities.
• Traffic control on construction sites.

Ability to:

• Perform heavy manual labor.
• Learn to operate a variety of light and heavy power‑driven equipment.
• Learn to locate utilities and be familiar with Underground Service Alert (U.S.A.) procedures.
• Perform a variety of skilled and semi‑skilled construction and maintenance tasks.
• Load and transport equipment on trailers.
• Learn to identify equipment, tools, and materials needed for each project.
• Learn the geography, streets, and water distribution infrastructure of an area, based on assignment.
• Learn to work with and around hazardous materials specific to water/wastewater systems.
• Learn to perform maintenance repair and installation of water/wastewater systems.
• Learn to read blueprints; participate in construction meetings.
• Learn to perform maintenance on assigned equipment in an efficient, safe manner.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Learn to set up and oversee construction sites at night, in adverse weather, or in emergencies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

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

Experience:

One year of increasingly responsible experience performing maintenance and/or construction work involving the operation of light to heavy equipment. Previous work experience in utilities operations is desirable.

Training:

High School diploma or GED equivalency.

License or Certificate:

Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver’ license.

Possession of a valid Class A or Class B Commercial California driver’s License with specific endorsements is required within ninety (90) days of appointment.

Possession of a valid Backflow Tester certificate is desirable.

When assigned to Water:

Possession of a Grade I Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California within eighteen (18) months of appointment.

Possession of a Grade II Water Distribution Operator Certification issued by the State of California within thirty (30) months of appointment.

When assigned to Wastewater:

Possession of a Grade I certification or higher in Collection System Maintenance issued by California Water Environment Association (CWEA) is desirable.

Failure to obtain any of the required licenses/certificates within the prescribed time may result in release from probation or termination.

Additional Requirements:

Must be a minimum 18 years of age at time of application.

During the course of employment, may be required to attend and successfully complete training courses as needed to perform assigned duties, including First Aid and CPR.

In addition to Utilities Services Worker I:

Experience: Equivalent to one year as a Utilities Services Worker I with the City of Modesto.

Training: High School diploma or GED equivalency.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.

Possession of a Class A or Class B Commercial California driver’s license with appropriate endorsements is required within ninety (90) days of appointment.

Depending upon assignment, possession of a valid Crane Operator Certificate, issued by the National Commission of Crane Operators, is required within twelve (12) months of assignment.

When assigned to Water: Possession of a Grade II Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California.

Possession of a valid Water Sampling Certificate is desirable.

When assigned to Wastewater: Possession of a Grade I certification or higher in Collection System Maintenance by the California Water Environmental Association (CWEA).

Failure to obtain any of the required licenses/certificates within the prescribed time may result in release from probation or termination.

Additional Requirements: Must be a minimum of 18 years of age at time of application.

During the course of employment, may be required to attend and successfully complete training courses as needed to perform assigned duties, including First Aid and CPR.

In addition to Utilities Services Worker II:

Experience: Equivalent to one year as a Utilities Services Worker II with the City of Modesto.

Training: High School diploma or GED equivalency.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.

Possession of a Class A or Class B Commercial California driver’s license with appropriate endorsements is requiredwithin ninety (90) days of appointment.

Depending upon assignment, possession of a valid Crane Operator Certificate, issued by the National Commission of Crane Operators, is required within twelve (12) months of assignment.

When assigned to Water: Possession of a Grade III Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California.

Possession of a valid Water Sampling Certificate is desirable.

Depending upon assignment, possession of a valid Backflow Tester certificate is desirable.

Depending upon assignment, possession of a valid Cross Connection Specialist certificate is desirable.

When assigned to Wastewater: Possession of a Grade II certification or higher in Collection System Maintenance by the California Water Environmental Association (CWEA).

Possession of a valid Backflow Tester certificate is desirable.

Failure to obtain any of the required licenses/certificates within the prescribed time may result in release from probation or termination.

Additional Requirements:

Must be a minimum of 18 years of age at time of application.

During the course of employment, may be required to attend and successfully complete training courses as needed to perform assigned duties, including First Aid and CPR

Mobility:

frequent performance of heavy manual labor; frequent standing for long period of time; frequent bending and squatting.

Lifting: frequent lifting up to 100 pounds; occasional lifting up to 100 pounds, depending on assignment.

Vision: constant use of overall vision.

Dexterity: frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.

Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person. May be required to wear ear protection or hear in noisy conditions.

Emotional/ Psychological: frequent coworker contact; occasional working alone.

Environmental: frequent exposure to loud noise; frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a typical outdoor environment on a year-round basis, subject to typical street or field noise and exposure to loud equipment and machinery and may require travel from site to site, and working in confined spaces with potentially hazardous materials. Some positions may be assigned to remote locations. May be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays; may be required to work overtime and irregular hours in emergency situations.