Utility Maintenance Worker (Senior Maintenance Worker)

A $2,500 signing bonus is available to new county employees hired in a position that requires a CDL. Applicants must possess a valid CDL at the time of application submission to be eligible.

About the Role

Join Fairfax County’s Wastewater Management Division and become part of a dedicated team responsible for maintaining the County’s critical wastewater collection infrastructure. This position offers the opportunity to work outdoors, develop technical skills, and contribute to a team committed to providing reliable wastewater service to the community. Wastewater Management positions are responsible for providing uninterrupted sewer service to residents during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies. This position is designated as emergency service and is subject to 24-hour on-call and may be required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents. Overtime may be mandated when emergencies occur related to the health, welfare, or safety of either the public or employees.

The Wastewater Management Division is part of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia.

In 2026, all Wastewater Collection Division assignments will be permanently located at the new Water Resources and Infrastructure building, located at 6000 Freds Oak Road, Burke, VA 22015. The position may require traveling to multiple Fairfax County sites.

Responsibilities

• Performs a variety of semi-skilled duties required in the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collections utility system.
• Performs visual inspections of sewer manholes and lines identifying defects and cleaning requirements.
• May supervise the work of Maintenance workers and limited-term employees involved in various functions.
• Operates and maintains a variety of small power equipment, fleet vehicles, large step vans, pick-up trucks, single-axle dump trucks with trailers attached.
• Engages in safe working practices and complies with Wastewater Management and DPWES safety programs and guidelines.
• Uses laptops and desktop computers to utilize asset management systems with County GIS to create, edit, and complete assigned work orders.
• Responds and assists with sanitary sewer emergencies, including backups, overflows, and other sewer-related service calls.

Requirements

• Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to completion of the tenth grade; plus two years of experience in maintenance, construction, or a related field.
• A valid motor vehicle driver's license.
• Commercial driver's license (CDL) Class "B". Tanker Endorsement within 3 months of hire.
• DOT Medical Card.
• Completion of a criminal background check, a pre-employment physical examination, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• Availability twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flooding, and other designated emergencies on an as-needed basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of experience in the following:
  • Performing maintenance, cleaning, inspection, repair, or construction activities related to wastewater collection systems, sanitary sewer systems, stormwater systems, underground utilities, or similar infrastructure.
  • Operating hand tools, power tools, traffic control devices, and wastewater-related tools and equipment.
  • Operating fleet vehicles and equipment, including pick-up trucks, box trucks, dump trucks, tank trucks, tractor trailers, trailer-mounted crash cushions, or other Commercial Driver's License (CDL) vehicles.
  • Following workplace safety practices and procedures, including compliance with OSHA standards, VDOT Work Zone Safety and Flagging guidelines, confined space entry procedures, or similar state and federal safety regulations.
  • Using computer systems and software such as Microsoft Office, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), computerized asset management systems, electronic work order systems, or other job-related applications.
• Possession of any combination of the following certifications:
  • VDOT Basic Work Zone Traffic Control Certification
  • Confined Space Entry Certification
  • Virginia Flagger Certification

Skills

• Problem Solving and Teamwork: Collaborates effectively with individuals, groups, and departments engaged in routine sewer inspection, maintenance, and emergency response. Understands that active participation is essential to the team’s success.
• Communication Skills: Able to understand and follow written and verbal instructions. Communicates positively with team members and listens respectfully to others’ ideas and perspectives.
• Flexibility and Resilience: Able to adapt to stressful or challenging situations, including changes in work methods, workload, new information, and unexpected emergencies. Willing to adjust work hours as needed to ensure uninterrupted sewer service for residents.
• Customer Service: Delivers excellent customer service by ensuring all interactions with the public and county residents are positive, professional, and focused on providing high-quality service.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/slide up to 90 lbs. with assistance. This includes lifting, carrying, and pulling hoses, climbing onto the unit (12' high) for setup and minor maintenance, standing, kneeling, or bending for long periods of time.
• Ability to set up and operate Vacuum Flusher truck equipment units (under supervision).
• Ability to work around and in contact with raw sewage.
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment and use other automated technology to input, access, and retrieve information from a laptop or desktop.
• Visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitors such as GIS maps.
• Ability to physically negotiate rough terrain on uneven ground such as hills, wooded, and marshy areas.
• Capability of pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, stooping, walking, and climbing/crouching to enter permitted confined spaces such as in and out of catch basins and manholes. Per safety requirements, confined spaces may not be entered by people who weigh 310 lbs. or more.
• Physically fit to perform manual labor in all types of environments, including variable and extreme weather conditions such as hot, cold, rain, noisy environments, etc.
• Ability to stand, stoop, bend, reach, walk, climb, sit, kneel, crawl, lift, as well as work in strenuous and uncomfortable positions for long periods of time to manipulate materials with manual dexterity, use of hoses, and operate units up to 12 feet tall to set up and perform maintenance.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Benefits

Fairfax County Government is committed to its employees and offers comprehensive benefits, including:

• A defined-benefit retirement plan.
• Medical, life, and disability insurance.
• Paid leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial wellness.