Public Works Sanitary Collection System Crew Leader

Crew Leader

The City of Salem is currently hiring for a Crew Leader to work in the Public Works Department, Sanitary Collection System Maintenance Unit. Make an impact:
As the Wastewater Collections Crew Leader, you will play a direct role in maintaining the infrastructure that Salem residents and businesses depend on every day. Your leadership will shape the quality of essential public services.

Protect public health through the upkeep of clean water delivery and wastewater collection infrastructure.

Respond to emergencies during inclement weather or critical infrastructure failures, keeping the city running when it matters most.

Foster an inclusive, respectful work environment that values individual differences and supports a diverse team.

Serve as a visible representative of the City of Salem — communicating with homeowners, businesses, and other stakeholders about upcoming work, road closures, and service outages.

Learn and grow:

• Advanced technical skills in wastewater collection.
• Best practices for crew safety, job site management, and hazard identification.
• How to plan and schedule daily work assignments, coordinate materials and equipment, and resolve field problems as they arise.
• How to update and maintain records, including time sheets, material logs, computer databases, and GIS maps.
• How to effectively communicate with the public, other City departments, and stakeholders in professional and clear ways.
• On-the-job leadership experience directing skilled crews in real-world utility and infrastructure maintenance.
• Opportunities to obtain or expand professional certifications — including Wastewater Collections certification and other occupational licenses required by state or federal regulations.

Advancement Opportunities:
This role is a stepping stone within the City of Salem Public Works career ladder. The PW Crew Leader position builds on the skills of a PW Maintenance Operator II and develops the leadership, technical, and organizational abilities needed for progression into roles such as PW Project Leader or PW Field Supervisor.

Advancement timelines will vary based on individual performance, certification attainment, and availability of positions. Employees are encouraged to pursue relevant certifications and take on increasing levels of responsibility to position themselves for promotion.

What you will do:

As the Wastewater Collections Crew Leader, you will direct a small skilled crew and serve as the primary on-site leader for daily maintenance, repair, and construction activities. You are responsible for the crew's accomplishments, daily task planning, and on-site safety.

Core Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Direct crews in routine maintenance, repair, and construction of sewer lines (including grouting) and storm drain lines and basins.
• Oversee television inspection of sewer lines, documenting irregularities; supervise tapping of sewer lines for new services and relocation of utility service lines.
• Coordinate open channel drainage cleaning at multiple locations; determine videotaping schedules for service lines.
• Identify storm drain lines, basins, and grates for realignment, cleaning, or replacement; implement associated work orders.
• Direct flow monitoring activities including rain gauge maintenance, storm sampling, and installation, removal, calibration, and monitoring of ADS monitors (permanent and portable.
• Plan the materials, supplies, equipment, and personnel needed to complete each daily assignment.
• Monitor work progress on-site and resolve field problems as they occur.
• Interpret maps, diagrams, written instructions, and specifications to complete work assignments.
• Prepare or review time records, material usage reports, and personnel logs for accuracy.
• Update maps and computer databases to reflect completed work and current facility conditions.
• Retrieve information from computer records and other files to determine the condition or location of facilities.
• Lead by example in job site safety and ensure compliance with safe work practices at all times.
• Provide direction and leadership to seasonal staff, career staff, or inmate labor as assigned.

Additional information on job responsibilities:
Crews use…