Service Technician

Employment Opportunity Summary

This position is primarily responsible for performing skilled and lead work disconnecting and connecting water services, investigating tampering, reading meters and documenting work on a daily basis. However, this position may be called on to perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled work in the operation of light, medium and some heavy equipment and machinery to assist in the maintenance and repair of the City's infrastructure. This is accomplished by preparing machinery and equipment for use, locating utilities, replacing pipes, pumps and meters, maintaining streets, performing preventative maintenance, repairing equipment, and assisting department crews with manual tasks.

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Questions and resumes can be submitted via email at jobs@sedalia.com.

Employment Opportunity Additional Details

Job Scope

The purpose of this position is to assist the business office in ensuring meters are operating accurately without interference and that customers are being billed only for services provided. Successful performance helps ensure customer satisfaction with the Water Division’s services; accurate, timely provision of such services to all customers at reasonable rates; and that the water distribution system is operating efficiently without leaks or malfunctioning meters.

When called upon, employees in this class operate heavy maintenance and construction equipment in tight areas around overhead and/or underground utilities, heavy traffic, overhanging limbs, in narrow alley ways, or other areas requiring a high level of skill or competence in the construction, maintenance, and repair of the water distribution system, and related work. When not operating equipment, employees work with various crews landscaping, laying pipe, using air tools, repairing and maintaining the water filtration plant, booster station, or pumping stations. Employees perform preventive maintenance and repairs to assigned equipment and tools. Employees in this class may also serve as crew leader or lead worker. Work is performed under regular supervision and is reviewed for accuracy, safety, and adherence to established standards. Successful performance in this position helps to ensure efficient department operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Accepts guidance and direction from supervisory and management staff.
2. Executes daily work orders consisting of turn-ons and turn-offs as well as general work orders.
3. Inspects meters and connections for tampering, irregularity, malfunctions, and/or unauthorized connections.
4. Evaluates, investigates and resolves customer complaints related to meters or issues noted from the billing data, such as abnormal consumption, which includes checks for stopped meters and leaks. May re-read meters, checks meters and other connections, and may report or repair defects in service lines or meters. Documents readings from meters and delivers documentation to the billing office.
5. Investigates, verifies, isolates and reports to water distribution foreman or other management staff in relation to city and customer owned water line breaks/leaks.
6. Uses a variety of hand tools and equipment in installing, connecting, disconnecting and testing meters and cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment.
7. Responds to citizen inquiries and/or complaints in a courteous and timely manner. Provides customer notifications, using hang tags, mail, electronic media and other systems, for events such as water outages, testing meters/backflows, excavating, road improvements, capital projects, etc.
8. Uses a computer to collect and disseminate data using work orders and may enter information into division GIS system application.
9. Perform surface restorations, including yards, sidewalks, driveways, curbs, roads, etc. and may include placing sod, raking and other landscaping. Job areas are to be returned to acceptable condition upon completion of project.
10. Assists with material inventory.
11. Assists with locates and calls in locates for work areas, as needed.
12. Helps repair main leaks and/or breaks, when needed.
13. Install new meters or replace existing meters. Rebuild and test meters, as time allows.
14. Coordinates with other Service Technician to balance workloads and ensure all work orders are completed in a timely manner.
15. Ensures accurate records and reports are maintained of work performed and materials used and such records are maintained for the required federal, state and local retention periods.
16. Prepares daily, weekly, and monthly activity reports.
17. General office duties, as may be assigned, include minor maintenance and clean-up in and around the meter shop and office.
18. Attends training related to assigned area, as budget allows.
19. Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
20. Performs other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or other management personnel.
21. Performs maintenance and repair to water systems by operating heavy machinery and equipment such as dump trucks, mini-excavators, backhoes, and loaders; installing water taps; changing valves and fire hydrants; replacing meters; and flushing hydrants. This may also involve various hand and power tools, such as chain saws, jack hammers, air compressors, welding machines, drills, saws, trimmers, shovels, hammers, etc. May weld and fabricate parts.
22. Enters and performs repair work in confined spaces and/or open trenches.
23. Must be able to operate backhoe and keep ditch in a safe condition for persons laying pipe. Must be able to dig near to or to a specified grade.
24. Follow all safety rules, City of Sedalia regulations and reports hazards to relevant supervisor.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar or related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High School diploma or equivalent is required.
2. Must maintain a valid Missouri driver’s license and Class “B” CDL with air brakes.
3. Experience in the maintenance and repair/replacement of water utility lines and meters.
4. Customer Service skills.

Conditions of Employment

1. Must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen and agree to be subject to random drug screen throughout employment (safety sensitive position).
2. Must obtain within one year of employment and maintain an MDNR “I” level drinking water distribution system operator certification.
3. Ability to work on-call and respond within 30 minutes at all hours of the day/night.

Recommended

1. Promotions may be based upon level of certification with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and experience. It is recommended that employees work towards certification in the functional areas of drinking water treatment system (DW) operator and distribution system (DS) operator.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of water meters and of billing systems using meter readings.
• Knowledge of department functions, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the standard hand tools and equipment related to installing, connecting or disconnecting water meters in a safe and effective manner.
• Thorough knowledge of safety standards and precautions pertaining to the use of tools, working around water and electricity and disconnecting/connecting water meters.
• Knowledge and skill of safe operation and routine maintenance of light, moderate and some heavy equipment in sometimes rough, uneven or slippery ground conditions.
• Sill in responding to call backs.
• Skill in performing mathematical calculations.
• Skill in using a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to perform manual labor and strenuous work in all weather conditions.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.
• Ability to deal safely with unfriendly/aggressive pets.
• Ability to understand and communicate policies and procedures and services of the Water Division.
• Familiarity with City geography and street locations.
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Ability to work independently and to use good judgment in all situations.
• Ability to evaluate situations and make decisions.
• Ability to complete accurate records and make reports.
• Ability to work at heights (i.e., water towers, storage tanks) or in confined spaces (i.e., trenches).
• Skill in leading a work crew, working independently or as a crew member.
• Skill in welding and fabricating parts.

Guidelines

1. City and department policies and procedures, building codes, safety regulations, traffic laws, and supervisory instructions.
2. Missouri Department of Natural Resources rules & regulations, EPA rules & regulations, established procedures for water treatment and supervisory instructions.
3. City, state, and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding water transmission systems, traffic control in work zones.
4. Guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

Complexity

The work consists of varied duties related to the Water Division distribution system and connections/disconnections. The varied nature of the assigned duties adds to the complexity of the position. Additionally, the work consists of duties related to the operating of light to heavy equipment. Operating heavy and large-sized equipment in high traffic areas, in inclement weather, and due to equipment breakdowns contribute to the complexity of the work.

Principal Working Relationships

1. Co-workers, other city employees.
2. Citizens, business leaders, vendors, contractors, elected officials and the general public.

Purpose of Contacts

Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, provide services, resolve problems, motivate or influence persons, and clarify, justify, defend, negotiate, or settle matters.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility

This position may periodically be part of a work crew or be responsible for lead worker of a work crew.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The employee lifts light and heavy objects (100+ lbs.) and pulls up to 150 lbs. as required, climbs ladders, bends, squats, crawls, climbs, twists, kneels, and reaches both to ground level and overhead. This position is subject to working in awkward positions and periods of prolonged walking, sitting or standing. The employee may be required to climb in and out of equipment and use tools requiring a high degree of dexterity. The employee must have clarity of vision including three dimensional vision, ability to identify and distinguish color and precise hand-eye coordination. The employee may be subject to fumes, foul odors, dust, hazardous waste, potentially disease causing materials and dirty working conditions.

Must be able to feel attributes of objects, hold, grasp, push, stand, walk, drive, reach with hands/arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb/balance and operate mechanical equipment or hand tools. Regularly required to have repetitive wrist, hand and /or finger movements. Regularly required to talk and listen.

Working Conditions:

May be exposed to all weather conditions, extreme temperatures, traffic hazards, vibration, dust, dirt, mechanical oils, airborne particles/fumes, confined spaces, moving mechanical parts, risk of electrical shock, potentially hazardous or cancer-causing agents/chemicals or very loud noise levels, including machine noises.

The employee may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment as required for the assigned job duties. Some tasks may require use of a respirator.