Senior Sewer Worker

City of Tacoma•Tacoma, WA

About The Position

The City of Tacoma's Environmental and Public Works Department is seeking a Senior Sewer Worker for its Sewer Maintenance team. Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, the Senior Sewer Worker performs technical lead duties and participates in crew activities involving maintenance, repair, and operation of the City's wastewater and surface water systems. The role calls for leadership, sound judgment, responsibility, and exemplary conduct. The Senior Sewer Worker provides technical direction and guidance to Sewer Equipment Operators, Sewer Workers, and Laborers, and ensures that jobsite policies, procedures, and safety rules are followed and enforced. The position involves leading and participating in planning, assessing, and carrying out sewer maintenance work; operating vehicles and equipment; responding to emergencies and customer concerns; and maintaining records and reports. Work takes place in varied conditions and may involve raw sewage, traffic, excavation, underground construction, confined spaces, noise, vibration, fumes, and potentially hazardous materials. Emergency calls may occur outside regular business hours. Employees may be required to wear personal protective equipment.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
Three years of experience repairing, maintaining, and cleaning wastewater and surface water facilities and systems.
Valid Washington Driver License at the time of appointment, maintained thereafter.
Knowledge of sewer maintenance and construction materials, methods, practices, and equipment; record-keeping techniques; health and safety regulations; oral and written communication; applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements; and City sewer-system locations using GIS mapping and the City of Tacoma GovMe website.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions; operate mechanical equipment, including light trucks; perform manual tasks and use hand tools; and lift objects weighing up to 100 pounds.
Ability to establish cooperative working relationships; maintain records and prepare reports; observe legal and defensive driving practices; learn and apply codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; assess situations and take effective action; meet schedules; work independently; plan and organize work; and train and direct others.
Ability to work in varied conditions and exposure to raw sewage, traffic, excavation, underground construction, confined-space hazards, noise, vibration, fumes, and potentially hazardous materials.
Ability to respond to emergency calls outside regular business hours.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

Lead and participate in crew activities for maintaining, repairing, and operating wastewater and surface water systems.
Oversee and perform a variety of sewer maintenance tasks to support the efficient operation and condition of the systems.
Lead and participate in jobsite assessment, safety planning, work planning, logistics, layout, and establishing grades and elevations.
Oversee and participate in excavations, applying appropriate trenching and shoring methods, systems, regulations, and laws.
Install, repair, adjust, maintain, and inspect wastewater and surface water systems and their structures, installations, and components.
Operate fire hydrants and connect valves and hoses to hydrants and equipment.
Clean, rod, and flush systems and remove roots and grease; use mechanical and manual methods to remove sand, gravel, and debris from manholes, catch basins, and related structures.
Receive and respond to wastewater and surface water emergency calls and property-owner complaints, taking appropriate action consistent with City and departmental policies, procedures, and ordinances.
Provide customers and others with information and assistance about system condition and location and maintenance and repair activities.
Train assigned crews and provide work direction and technical assistance; ensure crew conduct, whereabouts, productivity, and safety in the field.
Prepare and maintain timely, complete electronic and paper records and reports about daily work activities.
Prepare and submit requests for tools, equipment, and materials, and order them as needed.
Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with crews, customers, supervisors, and office staff.
Operate sewer-work hand tools and equipment, including rodding equipment, air blowers, gas and metal detectors, forklifts, CCTV equipment, and computers.
Drive and operate pickups, flatbeds, and crew trucks, and tow enclosed cargo trailers, flatbeds carrying equipment or cargo, and compressor trailers.
Follow job-related safety rules and regulations and attend required safety classes and meetings.