Water/Sewer Operator I

Bozeman, City of (MT); Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 vacation days

Sick days (12)

12 holidays

8 weeks of paid parental leave

Health, dental, and vision plans

Retirement options

Discounted ski tickets

Gym memberships

Job summary

City of Bozeman is hiring a Water/Sewer Operator to install, maintain, repair, and replace water and sewer mains and services. The role includes operating hydrants, lift stations, and associated equipment, with data entry and safety practices essential to daily duties.

The position is full-time with standard hours, benefits, and potential for bilingual pay. Candidates must hold a valid driver’s license and CDL/2 with endorsements or obtain within six months.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License.
• Montana CDL-Type 2 with Tanker and C endorsements or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Ability to operate light/medium/heavy equipment and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, repair, and replace water and sewer mains and services.
• Operate and maintain hydrants, lift stations, and pump stations.
• Read plans and locate water/sewer infrastructure.
• Maintain records of activities and safety procedures.
• Provide excellent customer service to residents and departments.

Skills

Water/Sewer systems

Heavy equipment operation

Safety compliance

Troubleshooting

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Asset management software

Job description

The City of Bozeman is now accepting applications for a Water Sewer Operator who will install, maintain, repair, and replace sewer mains, water mains, hydrant distribution systems, manholes, storm sewer lines, and lift stations and pump stations to support the City of Bozeman’s water and sewer operations.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, potential for bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

Bargaining Unit: Teamsters

Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Non-Exempt

Work Week: Typically Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Summer May Vary: 4-10 hours shifts. Shifts may vary as needed.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required;
• Operates and maintains light and medium duty equipment and trucks, including backhoes, front-end loaders, pickups, and other related equipment;
• Operates a variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignment as instructed;
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including securing equipment at the close of the workday;
• Enters data into the City’s computerized asset management systems;
• Digs, shovels, hauls, and unloads soils, backfill, and other materials using various medium to heavy equipment such as dump trucks, skid steer, loaders, backhoes, and excavators;
• Maintains, repairs, and replaces water mains, services, and valves;
• Installs, maintains, repairs, and replaces sewer mains and services;
• Performs new water taps on existing mains;
• Repairs and replaces sanitary sewer and storm sewer services and mains, makes service taps, runs services to property;
• Maintains complete and accurate records of activities as required;
• Flushes and maintain manholes and sanitary and storm sewer lines;
• Maintains fire hydrants in the distribution system, including replacement and repair, operating and flushing the system, flow testing, performing winter checks, and keeping areas around hydrants clear of snow, weeds, and any overgrowth to ensure access as required;
• Maintains all sanitary sewer lines in the collection system by means of flushing and root cutting;
• Maintains lift stations and water pump stations, including inspections, cleaning wet wells and installing bypass pumps as needed in emergency situations and for planned maintenance;
• Maintains control valves using hydraulic principles, including operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and rebuilding, to ensure appropriate pressure across the City;
• Inspects water services for compliance with established codes and/or damaged or worn parts, and makes repairs as necessary;
• Replaces/repairs concrete/asphalt roads, sidewalks, and landscaping after digging as required;
• Reads and interprets construction plans and other data to assist in locating water/sewer line infrastructure for customer use or internal purposes;
• Maintains all departmental equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation, including backhoes, jetter trucks, dump trucks, and other related vehicles and equipment as required;
• Leak detects the City’s water system utilizing noise amplification (listening) devices and leak noise correlation equipment;
• May plow and haul snow in the winter;
• Observes safe work methods including benching, shoring, and shielding principals in excavation and setting up traffic safety devices;
• Makes confined space entry for the maintenance needs of water and sewer systems;
• Ensures new facilities accepted into the City of Bozeman are free of defects and safe to add to our water and sewer system;
• Inspects sanitary and storm mains and services using CCTV video;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner. Provides outstanding customer service to City of Bozeman residents, employees, and customers;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

If assigned to Meters:

• Reads commercial and residential water meters on assigned routes, and records subsequent data in a legible and accurate manner;
• Performs visual checks of meter conditions and connections to ensure efficient operations, and reports damaged or non-functioning meters as required;
• Installs water meter systems at new residences and businesses as scheduled;
• Removes, installs, and repairs old and new meter systems;
• Locates curb boxes to connect or disconnect water services;
• Collects final and beginning water reads, and records and reports data as required;
• Utilizes software to troubleshoot issues related to meters and water consumption;
• Inspects backflow preventers and tests to ensure proper function;
• Obtains and maintains certification to test backflow assemblies;
• Maintains safety equipment and documentation for confined space entry including calibration of air quality monitors and entry forms and data;
• Performs Fats Oils and Grease inspections and Cross Connection Surveys of businesses to educate and promote safe water and sewer systems;

• High School Diploma or GED; and
• Some (1-3 years) experience in manual labor such as construction, plumbing, concrete, asphalt, or landscaping or the operation of heavy equipment, machinery, and power/hand tools; or
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

• Substantial knowledge of basic principles and practices of construction, maintenance, and repair activities of Water/Sewer systems;
• Substantial knowledge of the safe and proper use of basic hand tools, power tools, and other related construction equipment;
• Substantial knowledge of basic safety principles and practices of maintenance and repair activities;
• Substantial knowledge of related Federal, State, and local ordinances and regulations governing water/sewer operations;
• Substantial knowledge of the techniques, methods, and materials related to the construction and maintenance work in the area of assignment;
• Substantial knowledge of the maintenance and operation of related light, medium, and heavy duty equipment used in functional area of assignment;
• Ability to read construction plans for assisting in the locating and tracking of water/sewer lines;
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of times with exposure to varying weather conditions;
• Ability to efficiently operate related light, medium, and heavy duty equipment, hand and power tools, and other equipment related to functional area of assignment;
• Ability to tolerate working with raw sanitary and storm sewage;
• Ability to work in confined spaces and tight crawl spaces
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned supervisors, other City employees, and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License;
• Must have valid Montana Commercial Driver’s License Type 2, Class A with Tanker and Combination endorsements (without airbrake restriction) or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of employment;
• Must obtain and maintain Class 1A water distribution operator certification within 2 years of employment:
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to appropriate post conditional offer process;