Utility Locator

City of Durham; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 53,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Durham is seeking a Utility Locator to locate and mark water, sewer, and storm drain systems in the field, ensuring safety and accuracy. You will maintain locating equipment, support GIS-based work orders, and collaborate with crews to protect city utilities and residents.

The role requires prior utility locating experience, a valid NC driver’s license, and willingness to work a rotating on-call schedule including weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; technical certification preferred.
• Two years of related utility locating experience.
• Valid NC driver's license or ability to obtain NC license within 60 days.
• On-call shift and weekend/holiday availability.
• Understanding of utility infrastructure and GIS data.

Responsibilities

• Plan and route daily work to perform utility locating, construction staking, and equipment maintenance; collect survey data; transport equipment and supplies; establish work safety zones; use specialized systems and equipment to perform and record operations; review maps; perform technical calculations; prioritize work orders; and follow all City policies and safety procedures.
• Maintain equipment, supplies, and vehicles, including system checks, equipment calibration, cleaning, and preventative maintenance; report unresolved equipment issues and ensure proper working condition of all assigned tools, systems, and vehicles.
• Prepare and maintain routine reports, records, field notes, and other documentation; accurately enter data into work order management or other recording systems.
• Locate and mark City-owned water, sewer, and storm drain systems.
• Organize and review daily workload; utilize GIS to research and verify work orders.
• Perform light excavation with hand tools when necessary to expose buried utilities.
• Work independently while contributing to the overall success of the team.
• Must work rotating on-call shift as a condition of employment

Skills

Utility locating

GIS data

On-call rotation

Map interpretation

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Technical certification

Tools

GIS software

Locating equipment (EMI/GPR)

Job description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Top-notch management, highly qualified, competent staff and opportunities for career advancement and professional success make the City of Durham's Environmental & Street Services Department a great place to work. Our consistent and steady work environment sets us apart from traditional construction-related worksites, and our exceptional benefits and retirement plans support your long-term success. We create the foundation on which Durham is built, using innovative methods that support the City's growth and enhance our quality of life. We need innovative, highly qualified talent to do that. If growing professionally while serving your community is for you, bring your skills to Durham!

Salary Range: $53,272 - $78,713

Hiring Range: $53,272 - $64,766

Shift: Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

*After successful completion of training period, as a condition of employment, the employee must serve a rotating one week (7 day) on call shift, including weekends and holidays, and be available 24 hours per day during that period.

The Utility Locator will locate, and mark water, sewer, and storm drains to avoid damage in the excavation areas performed by other utility companies, contractors, and private residents. Other duties include maintaining locating equipment, performing periodic maintenance checks, gathering necessary marking supplies, working as a team to protect city utilities, residents, and issues of public safety, while responding to NC811 tickets using state-of-the-art utility locate software. All work is completed in the field with very little, if any, in-office duties.

• Plan and route daily work to perform utility locating, construction staking, and equipment maintenance; collect survey data; transport equipment and supplies; establish work safety zones; use specialized systems and equipment to perform and record operations; review maps; perform technical calculations; prioritize work orders; and follow all City policies and safety procedures.
• Maintain equipment, supplies, and vehicles, including system checks, equipment calibration, cleaning, and preventative maintenance; report unresolved equipment issues and ensure proper working condition of all assigned tools, systems, and vehicles.
• Prepare and maintain routine reports, records, field notes, and other documentation; accurately enter data into work order management or other recording systems.
• Locate and mark City-owned water, sewer, and storm drain systems.
• Organize and review daily workload; utilize GIS to research and verify work orders.
• Perform light excavation with hand tools when necessary to expose buried utilities.
• Work independently while contributing to the overall success of the team.
• Must work rotating on-call shift as a condition of employment

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED, HiSet, TASC).
• Two years of related experience locating utilities.
• Valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another states driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire.

• Must work rotating on-call shift from 4:00pm to 7:00am as a condition of employment.
• One year of advanced study or training past high school equivalency resulting in appropriate technical certification.
• Three or more years of related experience.
• Understanding of basic utility infrastructure and interpreting GIS data.
• Knowledge of various locating devices including electromagnetic and GPR.