Utility Locator I – 955

City of Columbia; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Columbia is seeking a skilled utility locator to determine exact locations of and mark underground water mains, valves, service lines, meter pits and related infrastructure. You will prevent damage to city utilities by coordinating with owners and supervisors, interpreting drawings, and collecting precise GPS data for GIS updates.

Requirements include 1–3 years in utility location, a high school diploma or equivalent, and a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of experience in utility location.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Meets with business owners and/or designated supervisors to organize marking schedules and locate large excavation projects.
• Locates underground water utilities.
• Responds to emergency water utility dig up notifications.
• Reads blueprints or other engineering drawings to assist in locating buried water lines.
• Collects survey grade GPS coordinates for City owned water utility to correct GIS mapping and for added accuracy in future locating.
• Ensures legal compliance for city owned water utility.
• Ensures adherence to all city policies and conformity to common marking practices and standards.
• Documents work performed.
• Performs detailed, accurate, and objective investigations for damages impacting city owned water infrastructure and/or those caused by excavations.
• Performs continuity test of locate wires.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

GPS equipment

Blueprints reading

Microsoft Office

Hand tools

Customer service

Verbal communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Field laptops

GPS devices

Job description

HOURS: Monday – Friday, 7:00AM to 3:30PM SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Required to maintain a telephone and permanent residence within 50 road miles of City Hall, 701 E Broadway, Columbia, MO within 90 days of hire. The purpose of this job is to perform skilled work in determining exact locations of and marking underground water mains, valves, service lines, meter pits, and the like to prevent damage to city utilities infrastructure.

• Meets with business owners and/or designated supervisors to organize marking schedules and locate large excavation projects, trenchless excavations, and excavations impacting critical water infrastructure.
• Locates underground water utilities.
• Responds to emergency water utility dig up notifications.
• Reads blueprints or other engineering drawings to assist in locating buried water lines.
• Collects survey grade GPS coordinates for City owned water utility to correct GIS mapping and for added accuracy in future locating.
• Ensures legal compliance for city owned water utility.
• Ensures adherence to all city policies and conformity to common marking practices and standards.
• Documents work performed.
• Performs detailed, accurate, and objective investiagtions for damages impacting city owned water infrastructure and/or those caused by excavations.
• Performs continuity test of locate wires.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1 to 3 years; experience in utility location.

Licenses or Certifications

• Valid driver’s license.
• National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA) Certification within 6 months of hire.

Knowledge of

• City infrastructure.
• Practices, equipment, and techniques related to locating underground utilities.
• Safety standards and precautions pertaining to equipment operation.
• Excavation practices, directional boring methods and open trench safety.
• General office practices and administrative procedures, records management, and administration techniques and procedures.
• Common business software application such as Microsoft Office.

Skill in

• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Communicating verbally and in writing to meet the needs of the audience.
• Using and maintaining hand and power tools.

Ability to

• Recognize, analyze, and solve a variety of problems.
• Handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records.
• Read and interpret blueprints or other engineering drawings.
• Provide high levels of effective customer service.
• Utilize GPS equipment to update mapping features.
• Use software and field laptops.
• Focus on tasks.
• Work on-call and respond at all hours of the day/night.