Public Works Sanitary Collection System Crew Leader

Job Summary

The City of Salem is currently hiring for a Crew Leader to work in the Public Works Department, Sanitary Collection System Maintenance Unit.

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• Must pass the pre-employment drug test (including marijuana), background check, and physical exam.
• Possession of a valid Oregon Class A commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements and have a driving record that meets the City's driving standards.
• High school graduate or GED, trade of professional training in area of specialty, and three years of experience involving the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of public improvements area of discipline or other facilities within specific area of assignment, including some lead responsibilities, or any equivalent combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Water certification preferred.
• Other occupational licenses or certificates as mandated by state or federal regulations.
• Class A CDL with Tanker and trailer endorsement.

Qualifications

• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with wastewater collection systems, ability to read and interpret maps, diagrams, technical documents, and written specifications, comfort operating a variety of construction equipment and tools, basic math skills for field measurements, material estimates, and record-keeping.
• Leadership & People Skills: Proven ability to direct, motivate, and evaluate a small crew in a field environment, strong organizational skills — able to prioritize tasks, assign work, and keep a job site on track, clear communication skills, both verbal and written, to relay instructions and interact with the public, stakeholders, and City staff, collaborative, respectful approach that values diversity and supports an inclusive workplace.
• Work Ethic & Reliability: Commitment to safety — yours, your crew's, and the public's, flexibility to respond outside of regular hours during emergencies or inclement weather, self-motivation and the ability to manage your own time and workload in a dynamic field environment, problem-solving mindset — able to identify issues on the fly and recommend practical solutions.

Skills

Advanced technical skills in wastewater collection. Best practices for crew safety, job site management, and hazard identification. Planning and scheduling daily work assignments, coordinating materials and equipment, and resolving field problems as they arise. Updating and maintaining records, including time sheets, material logs, computer databases, and GIS maps. Effectively communicating with the public, other City departments, and stakeholders in professional and clear ways.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.

Pay

The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education.

Schedule

Standby and overtime may be required on a rotating basis.