Water Systems Crew Leader

City of Las Cruces; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 66,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Las Cruces is seeking a supervisor to lead a water production and distribution crew, oversee construction, maintenance and repair, and ensure safety and quality. This full-time, represented, non-exempt role in the Utilities Department requires a high school diploma or GED with 4+ years in water distribution, CDL, and NM Level III certification.

The job is primarily outdoors in varied weather and traffic conditions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and 4 years experience in water distribution operations.
• A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied per policy.
• Valid Class A CDL required; NM Level III Water Certification; NMDOT Supervisor Traffic Control within 18 months.

Responsibilities

• Schedules, assigns, and oversees daily activities of work crew.
• Leads, supports, and participates in the installation, service, and repair of water distribution service and main lines.
• Builds sewer manholes; raises buried manholes under pavement.
• Completes written reports and work orders; interfaces with the public.
• Operates heavy equipment, including a backhoe and sewer truck.
• Maintains inventory and performs equipment maintenance and safety checks.
• Maintains records and data integrity; seeks process improvements.
• Provides training and performance feedback; participates in evaluations.
• Ensures safety for traffic, the public, and crew.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Supervision

Safety compliance

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or GED

Water distribution experience 4+ years

NM Level III Water Certification

Tools

Backhoe

Sewer truck

GIS mapping software

Job description

Leads, trains, and oversees the work of a crew engaged in the construction, maintenance, and repair of the water production and distribution system.

Environmental Factors

Position functions five (5) percent indoors and ninety-five (95) percent outdoors with exposure to all types of weather and traffic conditions, mechanical, electrical, explosive, and burn hazards, open manholes, trench cave-ins, toxic chemicals, gases and moving vehicles and equipment, fumes, dusts and odors. Protective clothing includes safety shoes, vest, ear plugs, SCBA equipment, sound attenuator, gloves, hard hat, safety visor, and glasses.

Physical Factors

Heavy physical effort is required to perform job functions including constant balancing, bending/stooping, climbing into and out of man holes, moving around construction sites with uneven terrain, and lifting repair fittings, mechanical joint fittings, C900 pipe, meter boxes and other water components weighing up to fifty (50) pounds from ground to shoulder height. Push/Pulling manhole and meter vault lids weighing up to ninety (90) pounds; working in confined spaces; using a two-way radio. Sufficient clarity of speech, hearing, or other communication capabilities, vision or other powers of observation, manual dexterity, and personal mobility and physical reflexes sufficient to effectively and efficiently perform essential job functions.

Work Situation Factors

Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, responding to customer issues; may involve shift work; work on holidays, weekends, nights and overtime; may be on standby. Work may involve stressful emergency situations. Precise limits, tolerances and standards must be met. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.

FIRST CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO CURRENT CITY OF LAS CRUCES EMPLOYEES WHO MEET ALL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Meeting or exceeding the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.

This recruitment will be used to fill a full-time, represented, non-exempt position within the Utilities Department but may be used to fill other vacancies to include full-time, part-time and/or contract positions.

Position will be advertised as continuous until filled, with periodic review of applications.

Full-time; regular; non-exempt; union-represented position

This position is graded BC15.

• Schedules, assigns, and oversees daily activities of work crew; inspects, evaluates, and checks that all completed work is in compliance with standards and safety requirements, provides on-the-job training to new employees, instructs crew on proper work procedures, and serves as technical support to other workers; provides input into performance evaluation of crew members, maintains work records, time reports, and logbooks, and serves as the acting supervisor as necessary.
• Leads, supports, and participates in the installation, service, and repair of water distribution service and main lines; blue stakes water lines, digs meter vaults, conducts pipe locations, and checks stub outs.
• Builds sewer manholes; raises sewer manholes buried under pavement and replaces sidewalks.
• Completes written reports and work orders; interacts with the public regarding water system maintenance activities.
• Operates heavy equipment, including a backhoe and sewer truck, and standard construction tools on work projects.
• Maintains inventory of supplies, tools, and equipment for use at work sites; performs general and preventative maintenance, inspects equipment, and ensures safety and functionality of all operating equipment and tools.
• Reviews, maintains, and updates records in various formats, mediums, and automated systems to ensure data integrity and adherence to internal controls, practices, and policies; demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless services.
• Provides performance feedback, trains, and instructs employees to meet established goals and objectives; participates in staff evaluations with designated supervisor to provide impartial feedback regarding performance; assures that staff maintain safety standards and adhere to policies and procedures for efficient and safe operations.
• Ensures that traffic, public, and crew members are safe and are following safety regulations and procedures.

High school diploma, GED AND PLUS four (4) years of experience in water distribution systems operations. A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.

Licenses/Certification(s)

Valid Class A commercial driver's license is required. Position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City of Las Cruces policies. NM Level III Water Certification required. NMDOT Supervisor Traffic Control certification required within 18 months of hire.

Knowledge of:

principles, practices, techniques, activities, rules, and regulations related to the operations and functions of the position and services provided; Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), OSHA and EPA regulations; principles and practices of effective employee supervision; current principles of record keeping and records management; principles and practices of effective research methods and data analysis, customer service, and problem resolution techniques; occupational and environmental safety and health hazards, and safety practices; safe and effective use and maintenance of related tools, materials, and equipment; current methods and standards for preparing effective business correspondence; correct English usage, grammar, composition, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary; business and personal computers and related software applications; City organization, operations, policies, and procedures to effectively perform the required functions and duties of the position.

Ability to:

lead, assign and oversee the work of a crew; operate various motorized light equipment and vehicles; read, understand and interpret engineering drawings, sketches, specifications and regulations regarding natural gas distribution; operate a computer for data entry and GIS map access; work with high pressure water lines; perform technical reading and writing; maintain concentration; work in confined spaces; respond effectively to emergency situations; perform a variety of duties and responsibilities and assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands to meet deadlines; ensure appropriate levels of customer service to achieve expectations and meet objectives; read, understand, and assure compliance with a variety of policies, procedures, rules, standards, and regulations governing related activities and functions; collect applicable information and maintain accurate and timely records; maintain confidentiality of information and data; communicate effectively orally and in writing and use interpersonal skills to sufficiently exchange or convey information and receive work direction; prepare and present accurate and reliable information and reports; establish and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public; safely and effectively operate relevant tools, equipment, and motorized vehicles; navigate across even and uneven surfaces; timely and accurately enter data and update records using various mediums and formats; take initiative and exercise sound independent judgment within established procedural guidelines and carry out primary responsibilities in accordance with all governing regulations, statutes, and procedures to ensure achievement of goals and objectives.

Skills in:

reading, understanding, and applying relevant rules, ordinances, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures; effectively managing assignments; responding to inquiries timely and within the scope of delegated authority; utilizing hand and power tools; responding appropriately, maintaining objectivity and freedom from prejudice, and exercising sound judgement and understanding in all interactions; effectively working independently, or as a team member, in various environments with changing priorities; preparing and presenting various reports, documents, forms, and correspondence; researching information, analyzing data, maintaining accurate records, and updating information in various mediums and formats; operating a personal computer with installed generic and specialized software; preparing and presenting information in a clear and concise manner; demonstrating appropriate and effective interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills; performing highly effective support in assigned areas.