Technical Specialist ; Dig Safe

Title: Technical Specialist I (Dig Safe)

Executive Area: Administration and Finance

College/School/MBU: Facilities Management

Department: Utilities Mechanical

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

The Utilities Mechanical Technical Specialist I (Dig Safe) receives and processes all requests for any excavation throughout the campus grounds. Serves as a primary contact for the University with Dig Safe headquarters, submits mapping of excavation(s), receives, records and communicates Dig Safe confirmation numbers to various groups throughout the campus, Dig Safe Headquarters, and to contractor(s). Maintains Dig Safe files and reports for the campus.

Investigates and reports violations of Massachusetts Statute Chapter 82, Section 40 to appropriate authorities for action. Under general supervision, the Technical Specialist I performs skilled technical and mechanical duties to support operation, maintenance, and repair of campus Utility and Mechanical systems.

• Follows University of Massachusetts Health and Safety guidelines.
• Acts as the University’s primary liaison with Dig Safe Headquarters and various University agencies/departments.
• Receives requests for Dig Safe permits throughout the University as required by Massachusetts Statute Chapter 82, Section 40.
• Obtains exact information regarding location, intersecting street, type of work, extent of work, name of caller, start date, and name of company performing the excavation.
• Within 72 hours of request, submits requests to Dig Safe Headquarters for notification to appropriate utility companies/agencies before excavation can begin.
• Obtains Dig Safe confirmation number and communicates with various University agencies, including Facilities Planning, Telecommunications Services and Physical Plant Utilities Department.
• Maintains Dig Safe files, including mapping data and any related Dig Safe data and reports including photographic documentation of markings.
• Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS), verifies location of excavation and pre‑marks area.
• Coordinates and performs utilities markings designating existing utilities (Markout procedure).
• Performs Call Backs (any Locate performed outside normal working hours not at the convenience of the Contractor but which is the result of a notice dispatched to the Contractor by the Dig Safe Center or UMA).
• Performs Special Locates (a Notice of Excavation dispatched by Dig Safe, Inc. to Contractor for the purpose of identifying and/or marking the location of UMA underground facilities in the area of the proposed excavation) due to customer sensitivity, scope of UMA project or if detailed information is needed.
• Inputs UMA 40‑scale photogrammetry map updates and forwards any changes to appropriate agency for revision.
• Tours campus daily to verify Dig Safe permitting at all excavation sites. Notifies appropriate authorities when violations are discovered and recommends penalties.
• When not performing dig safe related duties this position will report to the Physical Plant Mechanical Utility Section Head for assignments as needed within the Utility department.
• Performs technical mechanical tasks in support of the Utility Mechanical Department, including installation, maintenance, and repair of water, steam and other distribution systems on campus.
• Provides functional supervision of 1 to 5 employees.
• Monitors and maintains valve operations, pumps, meters and related mechanical components within the utility distribution systems.
• Supports the Utilities department in the operation of control systems and instrumentation related to mechanical components.
• Provides hands‑on assistance during the installation or retrofitting of utility mechanical systems under the direction of operators and supervisors.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Considerable knowledge of methods, materials, tools, practices and procedures used in the dig safe locating trade.
• Ability to work with personal computer to do word‑processing, spreadsheets, and understand AutoCAD drawings.
• Considerable knowledge of methods, tools, practices, materials and techniques used in fabrication,…