Utilities Field Specialist Supervisor - Water Distribution (Maintenance Repair Crew)

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the Utilities Field Specialist Supervisor position in the Water Distribution division. The selected candidate will supervise the maintenance and repair of the city water distribution system.

About the role

This is an exciting time to join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. Recent employee benefit enhancements include:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

The anticipated hiring range is $47,490 - $67,139.

This position is considered essential personnel and is subject to work on-call, weekend, and holiday hours as scheduled, including during natural disasters and emergencies. The individual may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, or on-call as needed.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and direct staff, including scheduling and assigning work, training, monitoring performance, and maintaining time sheets and leave records.
• Act as a working supervisor/lead worker by performing advanced tasks or assisting with work as needed.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee projects, services, and procurement of human and material resources.
• Train staff in job safety procedures and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Transport crew members to job sites and monitor work for effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and compliance.
• Schedule events and other work-related activities.
• Provide customer service to the public, visitors, and internal/external clients, including responding to inquiries or complaints and resolving issues.
• Perform routine administrative duties, including preparing reports.
• Assess, coordinate, plan, and perform inspections/repairs, such as structure/property inspections and equipment/vehicle checks.
• Inspect lines and pipes, identify critical issues, and determine appropriate steps to resolve them.
• Manage daily operations, direct workflow, and develop scheduling for construction-related maintenance and repair projects.
• Maintain and approve crew members' timesheets and leave records.
• Maintain work orders and records of work performed.
• Procure necessary materials, supplies, and equipment, and manage inventory for assigned work areas.
• Prepare and submit routine and special reports to supervisors.
• Read and interpret GIS maps, blueprints, and other plans or mapping systems.
• Create as-built drawings and update the GIS mapping system as needed.
• Interface and communicate with service providers, contractors, vendors, citizens, and the public regarding assigned areas of responsibility.
• Investigate and resolve citizen complaints and concerns.
• Maintain required staff personnel records.
• Monitor and maintain hazardous waste data.
• Attend seminars, staff meetings, safety meetings, and applicable trade shows.
• Perform special projects as required by management.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of supervisory practices, maintenance procedures, equipment, tools, "Miss Utility" laws, safety rules, and OSHA regulations.
• Knowledge of City of Richmond rules and standards, traffic control, service repairs, fire alarms and sprinkler systems, grading leaks, and natural gas systems (if applicable).
• Knowledge of American Water Works Association (AWWA) industry standards, water treatment and distribution systems, valves, hydrants, blow-offs, meters, bypasses, and services (if applicable).
• Knowledge of pressure zones, Microsoft Office Suite, electronic databases, and related software applications.
• Demonstrated skills in effective oral/written communication, customer service, report writing, reading comprehension, drafting/drawing, recordkeeping, water pipeline repairs, operating valves and hydrants, leadership, and training.
• Ability to operate equipment and tools related to the assignment, establish goals and objectives, organize and coordinate tasks, and problem-solve.

Minimum Training and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Two years of experience in the assigned area.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications.

Licensing, Certifications, and Other Special Requirements

• A valid Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.
• A valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver’s License within 30 days of hire.
• Some assignments may require a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Preferred Training and Experience

• CDL Class B or higher.
• At least two years of supervisory experience.
• At least five years of Water Distribution experience.
• Experience with Excel, Word, Advantex, Cityworks, or other software applications.

Working Conditions

Environmental Hazards

• Exposure to travel within and outside the City of Richmond.
• Exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dust, gases, poor ventilation, inadequate lighting, and intense noise.
• Exposure to environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and threatening environments.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions and under time constraints.
• Regularly stand, walk, lift, finger, grasp, talk, see, hear, and use repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and fingers.
• Frequently climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, lift, and feel.
• Occasionally crawl, push, and pull.
• Medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.