Water Cross Connection Specialist

City of Albany•Albany, OR

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the City of Albany as a Water Cross Connection Specialist and play an important role in protecting the community’s drinking water. This specialized position is responsible for administering the City’s Cross Connection Control Program, conducting inspections and investigations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting water distribution operations. The position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health and the reliable delivery of safe drinking water to the Albany community.

Requirements

A high school diploma or its equivalent and five years of experience relating to cross connection control and the construction, maintenance, or repair of water distribution systems; or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license and a driving record that meets the City’s driving standards.
Possession of a valid State of Oregon Cross Connection Specialist Certification within six months of job placement.
Possession of a valid State of Oregon Backflow Tester Certification within one year of job placement.
Extensive knowledge of: methods, procedures and practices of administering a large scall cross connection program including all federal, state and local regulations; equipment, facilities, materials, methods, and procedures used in municipal water distribution operation, maintenance, construction, and repair activities.
Skill in: operation of a computer, including word processing and database programs; various hand/power tools; and investigation, and enforcement in response to noncompliance; and operation of listed tools and equipment used.
Ability to: be self-directed; communicate professionally both verbally and in writing; maintain effective working relationships with the public, cross connection testers, and other employees and departments.
Be able to carry out both written and verbal instruction; and deal with customers or citizens who may be dissatisfied or irate.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a valid State of Oregon Water Distribution Level II or higher certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensures water system customers comply with Municipal Code governing backflow prevention.
Ensures the City's Cross Connection Control Program is in compliance with federal, state and local statutes, rules, ordinances, etc.
Monitors, maintains, and updates the City's Cross Connection Control Program database to make certain all information is current.
Reviews plans for new water service connections, recommends required protection, and performs onsite verification that new devices are installed correctly.
Surveys the water distribution system to identify both unprotected cross connections and unaccounted for devices. Follows up with property owners to assure compliance.
Provides GIS corrections and updates to maps.
Performs onsite inspections to identify cross connections and recommend required protection.
Responds to potential backflow events, investigates, and provides written report of event and any recommendations to the supervisor.
Performs public contact through inspections, permits, and public information meetings. Deals effectively with regulated business and residential owners and the public, including possibly disgruntled or irate individuals.
Develops, coordinates, and distributes public information materials regarding the Cross Connection Program; prepares a variety of documents including memos, letters, articles, and reports.
Assists Water Distribution field crew with water field work as time allows. Work may include general labor, preventative maintenance tasks, component installation/repair/replacement, customer service requests, water quality sampling, testing, etc.
Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours; and may be required to work a rotating weekly afterhours on-call shift for emergency call-back including weekends and holidays.
Operates large service vehicles safely and legally.
Performs all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards and best practices.
Represents the City of Albany by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor.
Regards everyone, internal and external, as a customer and deliver the best service possible in a respectful and patient manner.
Works to create a high-performance work culture by demonstrating a positive attitude and modeling the City’s mission, vision, and values.
Conducts self with high integrity, proactive in conserving City resources, and seeks and incorporates customer feedback for ongoing performance improvement.
Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.
Serves as a member of various City committees as assigned.
Assists other staff in the performance of their duties as assigned; and may provide training and orientation to new assigned personnel.
May be assigned acting-in-capacity duties of the Lead Operator.
Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours.
Adheres to appropriate attire, grooming, and hygiene standards established for the position.
Operates a motor vehicle safely and legally.
Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Benefits

Excellent medical, vision and dental benefit package for the employee and qualified family members with low monthly out-of-pocket cost.
City-paid contribution to a VEBA Trust account for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
8 hours of vacation leave per month, with progressive increases
8 hours of sick leave per month
10 paid holidays per year
24 hours of floating holiday per year
City-paid participation in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (OPSRP and City pays 6% IAP contribution)
City-paid 0.5% contribution into pre-tax deferred compensation plan
Job-related college tuition and book reimbursement
Employee assistance program
Basic life insurance
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and childcare expenses.