Utility Locator - 3/4 Time - Term Limited - Water

City of Greeley; Greeley (CO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 71,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Greeley is seeking a ¾ time Utility Locator to join the Transmission & Distribution Division within the Water & Sewer Department. You will locate, identify, mark, and document underground water and wastewater infrastructure to support safe excavation and protect City assets.

Responsibilities include responding to locate requests, operating locating gear with GIS/GPS, and maintaining accurate utility records.

Qualifications

• Specialized training beyond a high school diploma or equivalent.
• 6–12 months of experience locating underground utility infrastructure.
• Colorado Water Distribution I Certification within 1 year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Respond to locate requests and accurately identify and mark underground water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Operate locating equipment, GPS units, GIS mapping systems, and related field technologies.
• Perform utility locates in accordance with City standards and regulations.
• Support damage prevention by verifying locations prior to excavation and construction activities.
• Maintain and update GIS data and records based on field observations.
• Travel locally to field sites and coordinate with contractors and City staff.

Skills

Utility locating

GIS mapping

GPS equipment

Communication

Documentation

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Colorado Water Distribution I Certification within 1 year

Colorado Wastewater Collections I Certification within 2 years

Tools

GIS software

GPS devices

Job description

Job Description

Anticipated Hiring Range: $24.16 - $28.66 Hourly

Full Salary Range: $24.16 - $35.03 Hourly

This position is 3/4 time and can work between 30-39 hours per week. This is a term-limited position funded through December 2027, with the possibility of becoming permanent if additional funding is approved at a later date. This position is benefit eligible.

Why Do I See Two Salary Ranges?

The City of Greeley, in compliance with Colorado state law, includes a salary range for all positions posted. This law improves wage transparency. We post both the full salary range and the anticipated hiring range, where we expect to make an offer. Offers are based on experience, education, certifications, and other factors.

City of Greeley's Total Rewards

The City of Greeley is committed to providing a comprehensive total rewards program that supports employees in their work by encouraging excellence and investing in employee development and recognition. This philosophy is grounded in fiscal responsibility, organizational effectiveness, and employee safety and well-being, ensuring the responsible stewardship of public resources while offering meaningful and comparable rewards. This approach ensures that the city remains an attractive, inclusive, and rewarding work environment, while also effectively serving the community.

Benefits:

This position is benefits eligible. Please view our benefits guide here.

Job Summary

The City of Greeley is seeking a ¾ time, term limited, Utility Locator to join the Transmission & Distribution Division within the Water & Sewer Department. This position is responsible for locating, identifying, marking, and documenting underground water and wastewater infrastructure to protect City assets and support safe excavation activities throughout the community.

The Utility Locator serves as a key resource for City staff, contractors, utility companies, and residents by providing accurate utility information, responding to locate requests, maintaining utility records, and supporting excavation, potholing, directional boring, and construction activities. This position utilizes specialized locating equipment, GIS and GPS technologies, and field investigations to verify utility locations and maintain the integrity of the City's underground infrastructure system. This position reports to the Utility Locator Supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

• Specialized training beyond a high school diploma or equivalent.


• Six (6) months to one (1) year of experience locating, maintaining, inspecting, or supporting underground utility infrastructure.


• Six (6) months to one (1) year of experience utilizing GIS and GPS mapping systems.


• Colorado Water Distribution I Certification required within one (1) year of employment.


• Colorado Wastewater Collections I Certification required within two (2) years of employment.

OR

Any combination of related education, experience, certifications and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job,

AND

Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Preferred

• Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) preferred, or the ability to obtain within two (2) years of hire.


• Traffic Control and Flagger certified.


• Previous knowledge of City of Greeley Water & Sewer infrastructure.


• Three (3) to six (6) months of experience utilizing locating equipment.


• Six (6) months to one (1) year of previous experience working with fiber locating devices and portable cameras.


• Beginner level knowledge of directional boring.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of utility locating practices, damage prevention principles, and underground utility infrastructure.


• Ability to operate locating equipment, GPS units, GIS mapping systems, and related field technology.


• Ability to read and interpret maps, utility records, construction plans, and technical documents.


• Strong communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to work independently, manage multiple assignments, and exercise sound judgment.


• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and documentation skills.


• Knowledge of safe work practices, excavation safety, and traffic control procedures.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn specialized software systems.


• Ability to work effectively with contractors, utility providers, City staff, and the public.

Essential Functions

• Respond to utility locate requests and accurately identify and mark underground water and wastewater infrastructure.


• Operate electronic locating equipment, GPS units, metal detectors, and related field technologies to locate underground facilities.


• Perform utility locates in accordance with City standards, industry best practices, and applicable regulations.


• Support damage prevention efforts by verifying utility locations prior to excavation, directional boring, potholing, and construction activities.


• Meet with contractors, utility companies, and City personnel to identify underground utility locations and discuss project requirements.


• Observe utility crossings and excavation activities to ensure protection of City infrastructure.


• Utilize GIS, GPS, utility records, and as-built drawings to identify and document utility assets.


• Update mapping records and report infrastructure not currently reflected in City systems.


• Maintain accurate documentation of locate requests, field observations, utility records, and completed work activities.


• Drive City vehicles to work sites and perform field investigations in varying weather and site conditions.


• Operate hand tools and equipment necessary to expose and verify utility locations.


• Maintain accurate documentation of locate requests, field observations, and completed work activities.


• Provide information regarding City policies, procedures, and underground utility standards.


• Participates in a rotating on-call schedule and is required to respond to after-hours emergencies, utility locate requests, and operational needs, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended work shifts as necessary.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Travel: Regular Local/Field Based Travel: This position requires regular travel within the County and nearby cities. Employees frequently travel to field sites, client locations, or other City buildings as part of their job duties. Access to a personal or City fleet vehicle may be required.

Work Environment

• This position involves a combination of fieldwork and office work. Approximately 70–80% of work time is spent in the field performing utility locating activities, site inspections, and coordinating with contractors, while 20–30% is spent in an office environment completing documentation, mapping updates, locate requests, and administrative tasks.


• Field Environment: Work is performed outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, and changing temperatures. Duties may be performed on uneven terrain, in excavations, along roadways, within construction zones, utility easements, rights-of-way, and around moving vehicles, equipment, and machinery. Noise levels may range from moderate to loud depending on the work location and construction activity. Exposure to respiratory hazards such as dust, fumes, mists, gases, odors, airborne particles/pathogens, or poor ventilation.


• Office Environment: Work is performed in a standard office setting and may involve extended periods of computer use, reviewing maps and utility records, updating GIS data, preparing reports, and responding to customer or contractor inquiries. Noise levels are typically low to moderate.


• Participates in a rotating on-call schedule and is required to respond to after-hours emergencies, utility locate requests, and operational needs, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended work shifts as necessary.

Physical Requirements

• This position is performed primarily in outdoor environments and active work zones, with approximately 80% of work time spent in the field and 20% in an office setting completing documentation, mapping updates, and administrative tasks.


• Mobility: Requires frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, reaching, climbing, and traversing uneven terrain. Must be able to work safely in construction zones, near river and ditch banks, road rights-of-way, easements, and other outdoor environments under varying weather conditions.


• Dexterity: Requires the ability to operate utility locating equipment, GPS devices, hand tools, mobile technology, and standard office equipment. Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and enter confined or restricted work areas.


• Strength: Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, and move tools, equipment, materials, and utility locating devices weighing up to 50 pounds and 100 pounds on an occasional basis.


• Endurance: Ability to perform sustained fieldwork for extended periods, (8-12 hours) including physical labor, walking long distances, standing for prolonged periods, and working outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions.


• Vision and Hearing: Sufficient visual acuity to read maps, utility records, construction plans, digital displays, and utility markings. Ability to identify field hazards, assess site conditions, and safely operate equipment. Adequate hearing and communication abilities are required to interact with coworkers, contractors, equipment operators, and the public in potentially noisy work environments.

EOE Statement: The City of Greeley provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ADA Statement: We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: [e-mail].

Conditions of Employment: The City of Greeley is an at-will employer. Employees and the City may terminate employment at any time for any reason. Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE.