Maintenance Worker - Utility Operations

The City of Ames is conducting a recruitment to establish a Civil Service eligibility list for this classification. The list will be valid for up to one year from the date of certification by the Ames Civil Service Commission and may be used to fill one or more vacancies in this classification. In addition, City of Ames Civil Service employees who have previously held Civil Service status in this classification and are interested in voluntarily demoting or laterally transferring into the current vacancy must submit their application by the deadline.

Performs manual labor including heavy maintenance and construction work involving semi-skilled tasks; performs related work as required supporting the construction, maintenance, and repair of City infrastructure and utilities. Employees operate tools, vehicles, and heavy equipment to maintain safe, functional, and efficient public facilities and systems. Duties vary by division assignment (Streets or Utility Maintenance for this recruitment) but share a commitment to safety, teamwork, and public service.

Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at:
City of Ames Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program:
The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please visit: PSLF Program

• Step A (Start) - $26.25/hr
• Step C (12 mos) -$26.95/hr
• Step E (24 mos) - $27.96/hr
• Step G (48 mos) - $32.98/hr

The Utility Maintenance Division participates in a Skill-Based Pay Program that provides advancement opportunities based on verified proficiency, certification, and experience.

• Basic proficiency in water distribution, wastewater collection, and GIS processes.
• Required certifications:
  • Iowa DNR Grade I Water Distribution Operator's License
  • IAWEA Wastewater Collection System Operator's Grade I Certification
  • ESRI GIS Fundamentals Foundation (2024 or later)
  • Class A CDL with Air Brake and Tanker Endorsements
• Minimum of two years as a Maintenance Worker, including one year in the Utility Maintenance Division.

• Advanced proficiency in water distribution, wastewater collection, and GIS database management using ArcGIS Pro.
• Required certifications:
  • Iowa DNR Grade II Water Distribution Operator's License
  • IAWEA Wastewater Collection System Operator's Grade II Certification
  • Completion of an approved advanced course (Sacramento State Water Distribution O&M, NASSCO PACP Certification, or ESRI ArcGIS Pro Foundation 2025).
• Minimum of four years as a Maintenance Worker (two within the Utility Maintenance Division), or two years as a Utility Maintenance Technician I.

• Step E (24 mos) - $30.60/hr
• Step G (48 mos) - $35.54/hr

• Step G (48 mos) - $38.76/hr

Drives and operates trucks, tractors, and other motorized equipment with various attachments; performs installation, maintenance, and repair work on various sizes of pipes and conduits; repairs or replaces utility access covers and/or rings; fabricates special equipment for maintenance or construction projects; operates and climbs ladders used in maintenance and construction activities; trims, plants, or removes trees; may act as a lead worker for a crew of workers;

sets and resets posts; calculates or estimates amounts of…