Utility Worker II-Public Works /Bureau of Utilities, Maintenance

Howard County Government; Maryland; Presencial; USD 29.000 - 32.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

This is an outdoor, semi-skilled position with Howard County Government providing labor and equipment operation support for sewer cleaning, water and sewer maintenance, and related utility work. The role rotates across maintenance divisions and requires readiness for inclement weather and on-call duties.

Starting salary ranges from $21.03 to $23.22 per hour, with annual equivalents listed. Final salary is determined by HR, based on experience and equity considerations.

Formación

• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• OSHA 10 Certification within six months of employment.
• State DOT certified Flagger Certification within six months of employment.
• Water and Sewer Operators License within time limits specified by the County.
• Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods and work overtime during emergencies.

Responsabilidades

• Perform installation, repair, and maintenance of water distribution and sewer systems.
• Operate a range of light and heavy equipment listed in the job posting.
• Set up and maintain work zone traffic control devices and direct traffic.
• Communicate professionally with residents and the public at work sites.
• Respond to emergency utility service issues and participate in on-call rotations.

Conocimientos

Public interaction

Safety procedures

Operate heavy equipment

Educación

Possession of valid driver’s license

OSHA 10 Certification

State DOT Flagger Certification

Water and Sewer Operators License

Descripción del empleo

Howard County: Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government: Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2026, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 113 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 165 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is an outdoor, semi-skilled position that provides both manual labor and equipment operation support to accomplish the organizations objectives of working on a sewer cleaning crew performing program maintenance of sewer lines, working on a construction crew repairing buried water and sewer pipes and appurtenances and walking and driving assigned meter routes. Positions will rotate between the different maintenance and service divisions of the Bureau of Utilities.

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:

$21.03 - $23.22/Hourly

$43,748 - $48,290/Annually

*This is the anticipated starting salary range for this position. Please note that the final salary will be determined by the Office of Human Resources, commensurate with experience and aligned to ensure internal equity with similarly situated roles.*

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

This is semiskilled manual work performing general laboring operations. Work includes performing assignments involving the use of a variety of tools. This class is differentiated from the Utility I level by the complexity of duties assigned and greater independence of action. Work is performed with general supervision from a crew leader or supervisor. Assignments are stable in nature and are carried out in accordance with instructions and established routines.

*This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months*

*Please note that this position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810.*

*This position has been designated as "essential personnel," meaning an employee is expected to report for regular work shift during inclement weather, emergency situations, County holidays and on an on-call basis.*

Construction and Utility Maintenance:

• Perform installation, repair, and maintenance of water distribution and sewer collection systems.
• Work as part of a construction and maintenance crew on utility infrastructure projects.
• Assist with excavation, pipeline repairs, and related labor activities.
• Participate in sewer cleaning operations and respond to emergency sewer blockage calls.

Equipment Operation:

• Operate a variety of light and heavy equipment including:
  • Cement mixers
  • Forklifts
  • Jackhammers
  • Compactors
  • 10-ton dump trucks
  • Sewer cleaning rigs
• Utilize light and heavy-duty vehicles for snow removal and material application activities as needed.

Equipment Maintenance:

• Perform routine maintenance on power tools and equipment including:
  • Cleaning
  • Lubrication
  • Sharpening
  • Basic upkeep to ensure operational readiness

Traffic and Work Zone Safety:

• Set up and maintain work zone traffic control devices.
• Direct traffic safely around active work sites.
• Follow established safety procedures and regulations to protect employees and the public.

Public Interaction:

• Communicate professionally with residents, customers, and the public at work sites.
• Provide information and respond appropriately to questions or concerns related to utility work activities.

Training and Mentorship:

• Coach, train, and provide guidance to newly hired or promoted Utility Worker II employees.
• Support employee development by demonstrating proper work methods, equipment operation, and safety procedures.

Emergency Response and On-Call Responsibilities:

• Respond to emergency utility service issues and system failures.
• Serve on rotating stand-by assignments as required.
• Report to work during inclement weather and emergency situations as an emergency essential employee.
• Work overtime under emergency conditions or operational needs.

Additional Duties:

• Perform related duties and special assignments as required to support utility operations and maintenance activities.
• Undertake other duties as assign.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform semiskilled manual work and one year of experience in general laboring or public works maintenance and construction activities which included the use of small hand and power tools.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Ability to obtain a Class B CDL with Tanker Endorsement within six (6) employment. Maryland.
• State DOT certified Flagger Certification within six (6) months of employment.
• OSHA 10 Certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Water and Sewer Operators License, possession of such licensure within time limits specified by the County.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of operating and caring for hand and power tools and the ability to learn the operation of such tools.
• Knowledge of standard practices of operations.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability of learn safe and correct work procedures.
• Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to work overtime under emergency conditions or as circumstances warrant.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with the public and coworkers.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENIVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and risk of electrical shock. The employee is frequently exposed to traffic hazards, walking hazards, confined space hazards, customer pets, poisonous plants. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, and to read a road map.
• Ability to write simple correspondence and maintain records.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.