Utility Worker (Civil Service)

City-of-Sioux-City; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sioux City Utilities Department is seeking a full-time Utility Worker (Civil Service) to maintain and repair the water distribution system as well as storm and sanitary sewers. The role includes skilled mechanical maintenance, leak location, and supervising a small crew in water and sewer projects.

This position requires operation of heavy equipment, confinement entry, and eventual certification in Iowa DNR Water Distribution and a Class A CDL with airbrake and tanker endorsements

Qualifications

• Experience in maintenance and repair of water lines, hydrants, valves, and sanitary and storm sewers.
• Ability to operate and supervise utility construction equipment and crews.
• Must be able to obtain Iowa DNR Water Distribution certificates and a Class A CDL with airbrake and tanker endorsement within specified timeframes.

Responsibilities

• Locates and repairs leaks in water mains, hydrants, valves, and sanitary and storm sewers and related devices.
• Operates equipment and uses electronic locating tools prior to excavation work.
• Maintains, tests, repairs, and replaces hydrants, valves and lines.
• Directs and oversees the work of a small crew involved in water and sewer utility construction and maintenance activities.
• Performs confined space entry.
• Takes water samples and performs basic lab tests related to water or sewer operations.
• Maintains records of work performed and materials used.

Skills

Water distribution

Sewer maintenance

Equipment operation

Crew leadership

Confined space entry

Tools

TV inspection equipment

Electronic locating tools

Job description

Our Sioux City Utilities Department is looking for a full-time Utility Worker (Civil Service) who is very enthusiastic about doing work related to the maintenance and repair of the Sioux City water distribution system, storm and sanitary sewer lines.

Position performs skilled mechanical maintenance and repair work involving water mains, sanitary and storm sewers; locates and repairs leaks in water mains, hydrants, valves, sanitary and storm sewers and related devices. This position will direct and oversee the work of a small crew involved in water & sewer utility construction and maintenance activities. Performs confined space entry. Uses personal computers, tablets, etc.

The individual will be required to operate equipment such as a loader, dump truck, valve truck. backhoe, jet truck. etc. The work is very physical and technical in nature.

Employee must be able to obtain the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grade I Water Distribution Certificate within 30 months and an Iowa DNR Grade II Water Distribution Certificate within 42 months of the date of hire.

Employee must also be able to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with airbrake and tanker endorsement within 6 months from the date of hire.

Our normal work weeks are Sunday 10:30 pm to Friday 11 pm, running 3 shifts. 10:30 pm to 7:00 am, 6:30 am to 3:00 pm, and 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm. This will be a 3rd Shift position.

Employee will be required to serve on stand-by status on a rotation basis and overtime may be required.

Our employees are required to reside within 30 miles of the City of Sioux City limits which extends to other adjoining states; Nebraska and South Dakota.

Please join us!

• Locates and repairs leaks in water mains, hydrants, valves, sanitary and storm sewers, and related devices.
• Uses electronic equipment to locate water lines, stop boxes, sewer lines, etc., prior to excavation work.
• Maintains, tests, repairs, and replaces hydrants, valves and lines.
• Operates computerized T.V. equipment to inspect lines and pipes.
• Excavates and digs near high pressure gas mains, high voltage and fiber optic lines.
• Directs and oversees the work of a small crew involved in water and sewer utility construction and maintenance activities.
• Assists a supervisor by performing such duties as assisting in preparing work schedules and submitting employee time records, instructing and training new employees, answering questions, distributing and balancing the workload and checking work; make suggestion on selections, promotions, and reassignments; provides input on employee performance evaluations.
• Performs confined space entry.
• Uses personal computers during sewer inspection, leak detection, and utility locate tasks.
• Maintains, cleans, and repairs storm and sanitary sewers using Jet/Vac equipment and general construction equipment.
• Takes water samples and performs basic lab tests on the samples as they relate to water or sewer operations.
• Cleans and maintains tools and equipment in proper and safe working order.
• Prepares and maintains records of work performed and materials used.
• May act independently in the absence of the supervisor.
• Maintains good public relations through courteous and prompt attention to all citizen requests for service.
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance and working hours.
• Expected to temporarily perform duties outside of normal classification in the event of a declared emergency. In the event that an employee is excused from work other than being sick, they will be required to report to work in a state of declared emergency.

Cognitive Demands, Skills and Abilities

Must be able to talk and hear; ability to speak clearly so others can understand you, ability to identify and understand the speech of another person; ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences; ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one; ability to repair machines or systems using the needed tools; ability to determine causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it; ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems; ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision‑making; ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Job Knowledge

Complete working knowledge of the standard practices, methods, tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance and repair of water lines, hydrants, valves, storm and sanitary sewers; good knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions connected to this type of work; ability to use computer generated maps as well as work from sketches, drawings and blueprints; skill in the use and care of tools and equipment used in the mechanical trades.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Effective communication skills and the ability to provide assistance to employees; requires the ability to speak clearly, distinctly and effectively with fellow employees; ability to read in English and compare similarities and differences between words and series of numbers; ability to apply common sense understanding to the work process and procedures; ability to provide and follow verbal and written instructions; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers (internal and external), City officials and regulatory personnel.

Physical Requirements

The employee frequently is required to use hands and fingers to handle and feel; reach with hands and arms, and smell; ability to quickly move hands, hands together with arms, or two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects; ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time, this involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue; ability to use abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing; ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs; specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Regularly lifts and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lifts up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions with 100% of the work being performed in the field; frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts; frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration; noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

Must be able to obtain the Iowa DNR Grade I Water Distribution Certificate within 30 months and an Iowa DNR Grade II Water Distribution Certificate within 42 months.

Alternatively, an equivalent level of certification issued by another state may be accepted with written proof from the State of Iowa that such certification is transferable to the State of Iowa.

Must be able obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license with airbrake and tanker endorsement within 6 months from the date of hire.

Graduation from standard high school or GED;

or

Any combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.