Utility Service Worker

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

The Department of Public Works and Facilities currently has three vacancies for full time permanent Utility Service Workers. This position resides within the Utilities Division and receives general supervision from a Supervising Utility Service Worker. This position is responsible for complex and difficult projects that require maintenance, inspections, and rebuilding and repairing pumps and electrical motors. In addition, this position installs, rehabilitates, and repairs and replaces water and water distribution systems and alarms. This position also requires response to customer service calls, alarms from monitoring stations, and pipeline failures requiring immediate repair during work hours as well as after hours.

To learn more about the Utilities Division of DPWF click here.

To install, maintain, repair and replace wastewater collection and water distribution systems; to maintain wastewater and water treatment and related facilities.

This is the full journey level class within the Utility Service Worker series.  This class is distinguished from the Maintenance Worker by the assignment of the full range of duties.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

This class is distinguished from the Senior Utility Service Worker in that the latter performs complex and difficult work in sewer and water line maintenance, pump and motor maintenance and repair and exercises technical and functional supervision over maintenance and technical personnel.

Receives general supervision from a Supervising Utility Service Worker and may receive technical and functional supervision from other maintenance or technical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Locate, inspect and repair manholes; locate, test for and repair leaks in sewer and water lines; inspect sewer and water lines manually or by television, as appropriate; and inspect and repair manholes; and operate high pressure sewer line cleaning equipment to free plugged mains.
• Dig ditches and make excavations; backfill trenches and excavations; cut, thread, assemble and lay pipe; tap main lines and make new service connections. 
• Clean sludge drying beds and haul sludge; clear and maintain drainage ditches; and perform maintenance on sewer ponds and at landfill site. 
• Inspect, maintain, rebuild and repair pumps and electric motors, controls and alarms.
• Operate light and moderately heavy equipment such as dump trucks, boom trucks and backhoes; transport equipment and supplies to work sites; and load and unload equipment and supplies.
• Perform various building trades skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, masonry and welding in support of Utility Services functions.
• Perform traffic control including setting up and removal of signs and cones and flagging. 
• Read and repair water meters; patch road pavement; may operate and repair snow removal equipment.
• Keep appropriate records.
• As Maintenance Worker perform variety of unskilled and semi-skilled tasks in support of Utility Services program areas.
• When assigned to a wastewater treatment plant, maintain and repair mechanical, electrical and electronic systems; install and repair piping and valves; interpret manuals, schematics, plant diagrams and drawings.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience: Two years of responsible experience performing duties similar to those of a Maintenance Worker assigned to various program areas in Utility Services.

Training:  Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid Class A or B driver's license may be required depending upon the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of certificate of training in use of self-contained breathing apparatus, to be obtained within three months of employment.
• Possession of Certificate in Wastewater Collection System Maintenance, Grade II, as issued by the California Water Environment Association is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• General purpose of pumps, motors, meters and pipelines as used in construction and maintenance of sewage collection and water distribution systems.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Basic building trades including plumbing, carpentry and painting.
• Utility Services practices and procedures, especially as related to the utility maintenance functions.
• Methods, tools, materials and equipment used in the construction and maintenance of sewage collection and water distribution, including pipeline sizing and installation and pump and motor operation.
• Tools, materials, equipment and methods used in building trades activities.
• Vehicle codes and safety practices relevant to operating light and moderately heavy vehicles and equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand operations and observe safety rules. Intermittently analyze problem equipment and systems; identify and locate equipment and tools; interpret work orders; remember equipment and tool location; remember street/road names and general geographic areas.
• Intermittently, sit while driving or completing forms or reports; stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, twist and reach when inspecting or repairing, digging or clearing and using  various tools and equipment; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; distinguish colors used in coding electrical wires; hear pump and motor operation and alarms; regularly lift very heavy weight.
• Learn to maintain and repair plant mechanical, electrical and electronic systems, and piping and valves.
• Learn to interpret manuals, schematics, plant diagrams and drawings.
• Obtain information through interviews and dialogue; and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively, and determine proper course of action.
• Safely and effectively perform duties and operate equipment in regular traffic areas.
• Work unusual and prolonged work schedules; work multiple shifts during emergencies, seasonally-caused circumstances, or special projects in varying climatic and temperature conditions.
• Use hand tools, rakes and shovels.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Independently maintain and repair plant mechanical, electrical and electronic systems, and piping and valves.
• Independently interpret manuals, schematics, plant diagrams and drawings.
• Operate various motorized light and moderately heavy equipment.
• Operate various power and air tools.
• Operate electric or electronic equipment related to utility maintenance functions, such as television cameras and various meters.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

 

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and those in management and confidential groups, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for General bargaining unit

Tentative Recruitment Plan

3/12/2018: Minimum Qualification Screening

3/14/2018: Training and Experience Rating

Week of 3/19/2018: Establish Eligible List