Utility Locator

City of Buda•Public Works, TX

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Line Locator receives and responds to utility locate requests and identifies, locates, and marks City-owned underground water, wastewater, reclaimed-water, electric, and related Public Works infrastructure. The position researches utility records; operates electronic locating and field-documentation equipment; communicates with excavators and property owners; and maintains accurate locate records to help prevent utility damage, service interruptions, injuries, and environmental impacts. The role also supports damage investigations, utility-record updates, and emergency response. The position handles routine and emergency locate work, documents results, maintains equipment and records, and coordinates with City staff and outside parties to protect infrastructure and support safe excavation. It may include on-call, after-hours, weekend, holiday, and emergency assignments. The employee performs other related duties as assigned and must be able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of experience in underground utility locating, water or wastewater utility maintenance, construction, surveying, GIS fieldwork, or a closely related area; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Valid Texas driver's license with an acceptable driving record, or ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
Complete City-required utility locating, Texas 811, traffic-control, and safety training within one year of hire.
Knowledge of utility locating methods, equipment, terminology, and safety practices.
Knowledge of basic construction, operation, and maintenance of municipal water distribution, wastewater collection, reclaimed-water, and related utility systems.
Knowledge of Texas 811 notification and positive-response processes and applicable underground-facility damage-prevention requirements.
Knowledge of APWA utility marking colors, symbols, tolerances, and field-marking practices.
Knowledge of utility maps, as-built drawings, construction plans, service records, GIS data, and common utility symbols and abbreviations.
Knowledge of electronic locating principles, including conductive and inductive methods, signal selection, tracer wire, sondes, interference, and sources of inaccurate readings.
Knowledge of work-zone safety, traffic-control practices, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, and safe work around excavation and construction activities.
Knowledge of customer-service, recordkeeping, evidence-preservation, and documentation practices.
Skill in operating and interpreting electronic locating equipment, GPS units, mobile devices, and related field equipment.
Skill in reading and comparing maps, GIS data, plans, utility records, ticket information, and physical field indicators.
Skill in applying markings and preparing measurements, sketches, photographs, and electronic documentation.
Skill in investigating conflicting information, identifying potential utility routes, and selecting locating methods appropriate to field conditions.
Skill in organizing and prioritizing multiple tickets while meeting response times.
Skill in establishing safe work zones and using traffic-control devices.
Skill in professional in-person, telephone, written, and electronic communication.
Skill in using computers, ticket-management platforms, GIS applications, work-order systems, email, and standard office software.
Ability to accurately identify and mark assigned City-owned underground facilities under varying field conditions.
Ability to exercise sound judgment when records are incomplete, signals conflict, facilities cannot be located, or excavation creates immediate risk.
Ability to understand and follow locate tickets, maps, plans, laws, procedures, safety requirements, and instructions.
Ability to distinguish marking colors and interpret visual, audible, and electronic signals.
Ability to maintain detailed, timely, and accurate records.
Ability to work independently in the field while remaining accountable for quality, productivity, safety, and communication.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, contractors, excavators, property owners, customers, and the public.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and travel efficiently throughout the City to complete routine and emergency tickets.
Ability to respond to after-hours calls and work evenings, weekends, holidays, on-call rotations, and emergency assignments as required.
Ability to obtain and maintain licenses, certifications, and training required by the City or applicable regulations.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Utility locator or damage-prevention certification.
Experience locating municipal water, wastewater, and electric facilities.

Responsibilities

Receive, review, prioritize, and complete routine, emergency, update, recall, design, and damage-related locate requests within applicable deadlines.
Research GIS data, as-built drawings, construction plans, service records, field notes, maps, and other information before each locate.
Inspect proposed excavation areas and communicate with excavators, contractors, property owners, and City staff to clarify work limits and locating approaches.
Operate electronic utility locators, transmitters, receivers, sondes, tracer-wire equipment, probing tools, GPS devices, and related equipment to determine underground utility locations and routes.
Identify and mark assigned City-owned facilities with approved paint, flags, stakes, or other methods in accordance with APWA color standards.
Verify locate results against visible facilities, measurements, records, and field conditions, and investigate further when information conflicts.
Document locates with required measurements, sketches, photographs, GPS coordinates, notes, timestamps, and ticket status, and submit positive responses.
Recheck, refresh, or extend markings when tickets are updated or field conditions change.
Monitor excavation near critical or difficult-to-locate facilities and coordinate on-site assistance with utility crews or contractors when needed.
Respond to damaged, exposed, unmarked, or mismarked utility reports and assist with field investigations and documentation.
Identify missing, conflicting, or inaccurate utility records and submit field corrections to appropriate staff.
Establish and maintain work zones, warning devices, and traffic-control measures, and follow applicable safety procedures.
Inspect, test, clean, calibrate, charge, and securely store locating devices, vehicles, safety equipment, paint, flags, and supplies.
Maintain ticket logs, daily activity records, inventory, mileage, equipment records, and other required documentation.
Provide accurate and courteous information about locate status, City-owned facilities, and the limits of the City's locating responsibility.
Coordinate with water, wastewater, engineering, inspection, streets, GIS, and emergency-response personnel on complex locate questions and construction or maintenance activities.
Assist with utility maintenance, system inspections, asset verification, and emergency operations when assigned.
Participate in on-call, after-hours, weekend, holiday, and emergency response assignments as required.
Maintain technical and safety knowledge through training, field review, and regulatory or procedural updates.
Perform other related duties as assigned.