Utility Maintenance Crew Leader

The Metropolitan District Commission; Coltville (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) seeks a responsible utility maintenance lead to oversee a crew in construction and repair of water and sewer pipelines, and to perform cleaning and maintenance of sewer lines.

You will supervise day-to-day field operations, respond to water and sewer emergencies, read blueprints, and ensure safety and compliance while delivering reliable service to MDC communities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent plus 5 years of pipeline repair and masonry experience, including lead duties.
• Valid Commercial Driver's License, Class B with airbrake and tanker endorsements.
• Posting limited to Operations employees.
• Written and practical examination required as part of screening.

Responsibilities

• Oversees a small crew in cleaning and maintaining sewer lines and catch basins.
• Constructs and repairs manholes, basins, meter pits and related components.
• Investigates leaks and responds to emergencies, providing on-call coverage.
• Reads blueprints and translates them into construction activities.
• Maintains safety and ensures proper use of equipment and time records.

Skills

Lead crew leadership

Oral communication

Written communication

Decision making under pressure

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Blueprints reading

Job description

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) provides quality water supply, water pollution control, mapping, and household hazardous waste collection to eight member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Additionally, the MDC provides drinking water to portions of Farmington, Glastonbury, East Granby and South Windsor, known as the MDC's non-member towns.

JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of this classification is to provide responsible utility maintenance lead and laboring work which may involve overseeing a crew in the construction and repair of water and sewer pipelines and the cleaning and maintenance of sewer pipelines.

Work involves responsibility for safe, effective and timely completion of assigned construction and repair projects and the correction of sewer line blockages and other collection pipeline issues. Responsible for resolving utility systems emergencies on assigned shifts and for the work assigned crews. Duties include investigating and repairing or securing water leaks and other emergencies, and overseeing crew members. This position also has the responsibility for making difficult systems emergency technical decisions. Duties may include the operation of pipeline construction equipment and tools, performing repair and installations, assisting in the direction of sanitary sewer and storm sewer and catch basin cleaning, clearing and pumping operations. This position also has the responsibility for making water and sewer pipeline component project decisions and making sewer line maintenance, technical and operational decisions. This work requires that the employee have good knowledge, skill and ability in water and sewer pipeline component construction and repair methods and good knowledge, skill and ability in sewer line maintenance principles and practices.

The following duties are illustrative of the classification and may not include all of the duties under the classification.

• Oversees, a small size work group in cleaning and maintaining sewer lines, catch basins and related facilities. Investigates water and sewer leaks and other customer calls for service and repairs or secures conditions found. Removes and replaces smaller water meters. Assigns, oversees and corrects the work of a small crew in emergency systems response operations.
• Constructs and repairs manholes, catch basins, meter pits, sidewalks, and related pipeline components. Repairs sanitary and storm sewer lines and makes small repairs to water mains and services. Performs masonry work, as necessary in construction and repair. Reads and interprets pipeline component blueprints and translates them into construction activities.
• Locates gates and related assemblies and excavates and grades, as necessary. Investigates and-repairs stuffing box, gland and bonnet leaks. Installs spacers and frames to bring gate boxes and manholes up to grade. Reads and interprets parts diagrams, basic blueprints and sketches and Gate Books.
• Performs hydrant and related assemblies replacements. Locates hydrants and related assemblies. Investigates leaks, as assigned, and performs emergency shutdown operations during water system failures. Operates a two-way radio pickup truck to transport equipment and materials to the job site.
• oversees and corrects the work of a small work crew in pipeline component construction and repair or cleaning and maintaining sewer lines, catch basins and related facilities. Demonstrates work procedures. Cites work rules violations.
• Fills out forms on completed work assignments. Coordinates activities on a short-term basis to assure personnel, materials and equipment necessary for assignments.
• Assists in investigating problems in the field and determining corrective actions to be taken on call for emergencies. May operate rod or jet truck in emergencies. Oversees the clean-up of chemical spills in sewer lines. Takes metered readings of chemical explosiveness.
• Oversees and corrects a small work group in pumping and cleaning operations, cavity investigations, cellar cleaning due to sewer back-ups and water leaks, Oversees snow removal at sewer plants and pump stations.
• Assists in filling out forms and reporting on completed work assignments and completing employee time records. Assists in training employees. Assures safe work practices.
• Assists in coordinating personnel, materials and equipment necessary for projects and objectives.
• Responds to water and sewer emergencies and related problems at any time of day or night, as directed. Serves on-call for emergencies, as assigned.
• Performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general direction of a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent or supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A high school diploma or the equivalent plus five years of progressively responsible pipeline component repair and masonry experience including some experience in a lead capacity, or five years of progressively responsible sewer line maintenance or related experience including at least two years in a lead capacity, with demonstration of competent performance in one of the functions described in this specification.

Must have a valid Commercial Driver's License, Subclassification 'B' with airbrake and tanker endorsements.

Posting is limited to employees only in Operations.

As part of the screening process, applicants will be required to take a written and practical examination. A passing score of 70 on the written exam is required in order to be referred to a practical examination. Candidates must pass both the written and the practical exam to be considered for an interview with supervision and further point evaluation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Considerable knowledge of water and sewer pipeline component construction and repair methods, equipment and materials involving the components. Some knowledge of public administration principles and practices as applied to crew operations reporting.
• Good skill in pipeline masonry.
• Good ability to communicate orally and to lead a work crew; some writing ability.
• Good ability to make operational decisions within established procedures and to complete routine forms. Good ability to oversee the activities of an assigned work crew. Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, vendors, contractors, customers and the general public.
• Good knowledge of sewer line maintenance principles and practices.
• Knowledge of public administration principles and practices as applied to work unit reporting and routine administrative procedures.
• Ability to administer policies and procedures including scheduling, routine decision-making, and the completion of forms.
• Ability to oversee others in a work unit.
• Ability to operate computers, software, systems and standard office equipment required for performing essential functions, including data entry.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, contractors, customers, and the general public.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert heavy physical effort that involves lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of significant weight (greater than 50 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual and/or auditory cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are performed primarily in underground locations, frequently exposed to heavy industrial equipment, noxious substances, raw sewage, activated sludge, biologically contaminated underground facilities, and the like.

The Metropolitan District seeks to ensure the diversity of its workforce through non-discriminatory employment practices. People of all backgrounds, including people of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply

EOE/AA/M/F/D/V