Utility System Operator

The city is offering a compensation range of $42,495 to $55,239, negotiable based on qualifications and experience.

This role involves semi‑skilled to skilled work in repairing, maintaining, and replacing the City’s water distribution and sewer infrastructure systems. The employee will operate a variety of light and heavy duty construction equipment such as dump trucks, backhoes, front‑end loaders, excavators, Jet‑Vacs, and farm tractors with attachments. Responsibilities include leading or working in a small crew to maintain and repair water distribution and sewer lines, meters, valves, and appurtenances.

Work requires excavation, hauling, pipe installation, jet‑rodding lines, masonry, landscaping, safety compliance, and on‑call duties during emergencies.

• Serve as crew leader in the absence of the water distribution or sewer collection supervisor.
• Operate a range of heavy equipment, including backhoes, front‑end loaders, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, excavators, Jet‑Vacs, tractors, etc.
• Ensure machinery and equipment are properly maintained; perform daily checks and preventive maintenance, scheduling repairs as necessary.
• Use pneumatic, gas or electric power tools such as compressors, jack‑hammers, tapping machines, boring machines, tamps, concrete saws, and drills.
• Use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes.
• Perform water distribution and sewer collection infrastructure maintenance, repair, and replacement, including pipe clearing, installing taps, exercising and replacing valves and hydrants, clearing outfalls, repairing meters, and building or raising manholes.
• Perform landscaping duties to dress up jobsites, including leveling soil, seeding grass, and spreading straw.
• Ensure all safety procedures and protocols are in place and used effectively, including placement of safety signs, cones, and flaggers.
• Locate and mark city water and sewer lines for construction projects.
• Serve as lead worker on service calls and small repair projects when the supervisor is not on site.
• Work various shifts to support natural disasters or major weather events.
• Perform on‑call duties on a rotational basis as needed.
• Prepare daily logs and other reports to track performance and completed tasks; use computer and related software to input data.
• Assist other departments and agencies as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of the tools, materials and methods used to maintain and repair water distribution and sewer collection infrastructure and associated appurtenances.
• Knowledge of the operational and preventive maintenance requirements for light and heavy duty construction equipment and vehicles.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and proper safety precautions associated with raw sewage, heavy equipment operation, and working around traffic.
• Knowledge of municipal water and sewer service policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and regulations governing equipment operation.
• Knowledge of street locations and the geographic layout of the city.
• Skill in basic computer use and administrative software applications.
• Skill in operating and maintaining light and heavy duty construction equipment, and using basic hand tools.
• Ability to lead a work crew and oversee a jobsite, ensuring quality performance.
• Ability to understand and follow specific oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read and interpret utility line maps and service manuals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to respond courteously to citizens.
• Ability to keep accurate, detailed records.
• Ability to train, assign, and coach team members.

• High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
• Five (5) years of utility maintenance, construction, or related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Possession of a valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License.
• Possession of or ability to obtain within one year of employment a NC Collection System Operator Level I certificate and/or Distribution System Operator Level C certificate.

• Perf…