Utility Locator I-II

City of Wilson; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 47,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and sick leave

Paid holidays

Health/dental/vision insurance

Local Government Retirement System

5% 401(k) contribution

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Paid Life Insurance

Telehealth (MD Live)

Supplementary benefits

Job summary

The City of Wilson is seeking a Utility Locator I-II to locate gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber lines before excavation. You will edit maps, share information with engineers, and ensure accuracy of databases and drawings.

Responsibilities include reading North Carolina One Call notices, inspecting lines, and assisting crews. Overtime and on-call duties may be required; a driver's license is required.

Qualifications

• Completion of specialized training with basic skills comparable to high school education.
• Experience understanding subordinates' work and problem solving.
• Willing to work overtime and on-call when required.
• Valid driver's license for the state of North Carolina.

Responsibilities

• Locates gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber mains and services prior to excavations.
• Edits, reviews, and maintains maps; updates database and diagrams.
• Provides information to the public, city engineers, and city officials related to projects.
• Reads NC One Call communications and inspects damaged lines.
• Assists service crews and performs related duties as assigned.
• Oversees locate tasks and supports supervisors as needed.

Skills

Map interpretation

GIS data reading

Metal detector use

Laptop computer use

Oral & written communication

Mathematical computations

Education

High school diploma + specialized training

Tools

Laptop computer

GIS software

Job description

Job Summary/Scope

https://vimeo.com/1029357272?share=copy

Wilson is a city of around 50,000 people located in the heart of eastern North Carolina. We are about an hour from the Research Triangle and the buzz of the Raleigh area, and you can also quickly reach the North Carolina beaches.

The City of Wilson is known for innovation and outstanding service. We have top-rated, nationally accredited police, fire and recreation departments. Our parks and sports facilities are among the best in the nation, and our Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is a unique and beautiful attraction that hosts concerts, farmers markets and the N.C. Whirligig Festival among other events. Our downtown ballpark proudly serves as the home of the Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliate. The team celebrated its inaugural Opening Night on April 14, 2026, marking an exciting new chapter for our community and downtown district.

Wilson has the strongest manufacturing base in our part of the state, including tire manufacturing, pharmaceutical and other industries. The Greenlight citywide broadband services help technology-based companies flourish.

In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a best-in-class benefits package that brings additional value to your total compensation. To learn more about our benefits package, click on the ‘Benefits’ tab above.

The hiring range for this position is $47,400.71 (minimum salary) to $65,277.98 (midpoint of range) dependent upon qualifications for a Utility Locator I.

The hiring range for this position is $54,970.28 (minimum salary) to $75,702.44 (midpoint of range) dependent upon qualifications for a Utility Locator II.

The purpose of this position is to perform technical duties in locating gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber lines. Successful performance reduces the instance of damaged gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber lines.

The work consists of related technical duties in the location of underground utilities. Inclement weather and heavy traffic contribute to the complexity of the position.

Job Responsibilities

Utility Locator I

Major Duties

• Locates gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber mains and services prior to excavations.
• Edits, reviews, and maintains gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber maps; makes notations, changes, diagrams, and sketches to update and maintain database and maps.
• Provides information to the public, city engineers, and city officials relating to the construction of gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber projects.
• Locates buried gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber service boxes. Reads and interprets North Carolina One Call communications.
• Inspects gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber lines damaged from digging.
• Assists service and maintenance crews as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Guidelines

• Guidelines include city policies and procedures, relevant, state, federal, and local regulations, North Carolina One Call regulations, OSHA regulations, and supervisory instructions. These guidelines are generally clear and specific, but may require some interpretation in application.

Supervisory/Management Responsibility

• None

Utility Locator II

Major Duties

• Locates gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber mains and services prior to excavations.
• Edits, reviews, and maintains gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber maps; makes notations, changes, diagrams, and sketches to update and maintain database and maps.
• Provides information to the public, city engineers, and city officials relating to the construction of gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber projects.
• Locates buried gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber service boxes.
• Reads and interprets North Carolina One Call communications.
• Inspects gas, electrical, water, sewer, and fiber lines damaged from digging.
• Assists service and maintenance crews as necessary.
• Acts more as a team leader and supervisory liaison contact. The position is one where with accumulated time in the Utility Locator l job and job experience, the individual can perform assistant to the reporting supervisors type duties, such as performing the more difficult locate requests, acting as a contact person on 811 Design locates, assuring that the daily locates have been done – doing this through random and scheduled job site visits to check for accuracy and quality of the locate performed.
• Oversees the Field Evaluation portion of the assigned tasks associated with the Gas Division's Operator Qualification written plan, and report any inconsistencies to the reporting supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Guidelines

• Guidelines include city policies and procedures, relevant, state, federal, and local regulations, North Carolina One Call regulations, OSHA regulations, and supervisory instructions. These guidelines are generally clear and specific, but may require some interpretation in application.

Supervisory/Management Responsibility

• None

Minimum Qualifications

Utility Locator I-II

Education/Experience Requirements

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work, in addition to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.
• Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the work of subordinate positions to be able to answer questions and resolve problems, usually associated with one to three years experience or service.
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
• Must be willing to work overtime, if needed, and work a routine "on-call" schedule.

Knowledge Requirements

• Knowledge of the operation of underground utilities operating equipment. Knowledge of all applicable city codes and ordinances.
• Knowledge of the North Carolina Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act.
• Skill in the interpretation of maps, drawings, and GIS information.
• Skill in the use of a metal detector.
• Skill in the use of a laptop computer.
• Skill in planning, organizing, and prioritizing work.
• Skill in performing mathematical computations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• The work is typically performed at work sites, while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, walking, bending, or crouching.
• The work may be performed outdoors and occasionally in cold or inclement weather.
• The employee is exposed to much noise, dust, dirt, grease, and machinery with moving parts.
• The work requires the use of protective devices such as a hard hat, safety vest, steel-toed shoes, masks, goggles, or gloves.
• The employee frequently lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, and must distinguish between shades of color.

Benefits

The City of Wilson is dedicated to providing unique benefits that meet the needs of our employees and their families, while being competitive and cost effective. We offer the following benefits:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Paid holidays (maximum 12 per year)
• Health/dental/vision insurance
• Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees' Retirement System
• 5% 401(k) contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for medical and childcare expenses
• Paid Life Insurance
• MD Live (Cigna's Telehealth)
• Supplementary benefits including critical care, cancer, accident, medical bridge, long and short term disability and term and whole life insurance.