Water Field Technician I

Primary Purpose

An employee in this position performs tasks that are relevant to the locating of water lines, installation, maintenance and repair of water lines and related water system equipment, installing water meters and performing inspections on new services, activating, and terminating services, and hydrant repair and maintenance.

Essential Functions

• Responds to NC811 locate requests to include locating water lines, valves, hydrants, and services to prevent damage.
• Enters locate tickets into web-based locate system.
• Completes work orders.
• Activates and terminates water service, locks and unlocks water meters.
• Investigates, troubleshoots and resolves water leaks and issues with water flow, pressure, quality.
• Troubleshoots possible meter reading errors or issues within the meter box.
• Repairs or replaces backflows, angle stops, meters and meter boxes.
• Programs meters.
• Repairs and maintains hydrants as needed, keeps area around hydrants clear for proper visibility by Fire Departments and mowers.
• Provides tactful and high-quality customer service; communicates with customers regarding field work activities.
• Unloads and stocks supplies and equipment.
• Operates a county vehicle to drive to and from jobsites within Craven County.
• Serves in the weekly rotation for on-call assignment for response to after hours, weekend or holiday emergencies.

Minimum Education And Experience

Graduation from high school and some experience in the maintenance field; or any combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license with a clean driving record.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• General knowledge of codes and regulations related to underground utilities and installation.
• Working knowledge of the standard methods, equipment, materials and tools used in water system construction and maintenance.
• Working knowledge of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) safety guidelines for water system construction and maintenance.
• Skill in the use of common office machines to include a computer, iPad and telephone.
• Skill in the operation of common hand and power tools.
• Ability to accurately read water meters and transcribe the reading to work orders and re-read sheets.
• Ability to read and decipher blueprints and maps.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to perform manual labor for extended periods of time, in extreme hot and cold and inclement weather.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work orders and locate tickets.

Physical Requirements

• Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, calculators, pumps, hand tools, ground penetrating radar, wire locators etc.
• Must be able to maneuver large pipes, valve equipment and other materials associated with water distribution equipment.
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Working Environment

Standard office setting and outdoor field environment. Outdoor field environment involves moderate risks or discomforts requiring special safety precautions such as working under extreme outdoor weather conditions.

Additional Information

• May be required to serve during times of disaster.
• May be required to assist Meter Readers or Water Plant Operators.
• Performs Other Related Work As Required.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Provided by ACS Benefits Services and covers a wide variety of healthcare services. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own cost.
• Dental Insurance: Provided through the Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier network administered by ACS Benefits Services. It covers a percentage of basic to major dental procedures, including orthodontia for children. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own expense.
• Life Insurance and AD&D: Craven County provides eligible employees with $10,000 life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional coverage and/or dependent coverage at their own expense.
• Disability Insurance: Craven County provides eligible employees with $50.00 per week in disability insurance through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional disability insurance at their own cost.
• North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System: Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the retirement system and must contribute 6% of their gross salary each pay period. Once eligibility requirements are met, employees will be able to receive monthly payments for life based on their salary, age, and years of service credit.
• NC401k: Craven County contributes 2% of eligible employees' gross salary into the 401(k) account regardless of the employee's deferral amount. In addition, the County matches employee deferrals up to an additional 3%.
• Annual Leave: Regular full-time employees earn annual leave based upon years of service. Eligible employees begin to accrue annual leave as soon as they start but must complete a six month probationary period before they are eligible to use annual leave.
• Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees earn 3.69 hours of sick leave per pay period. Craven County accepts eligible sick leave from the State of North Carolina, any of its political subdivisions, any local government entity or authority, or municipality in North Carolina.
• Paid Holidays: County employees receive 11-14 paid holidays annually. The Board of County Commissioners may adjust the holiday schedule as deemed necessary.
• Longevity: Eligible employees earn $200 in longevity after five years of service by October 31 of the qualifying year. Longevity benefits increase $25 per year up to a maximum of $1,000.
• Merit Program: Up to 56% of eligible employees may receive a performance-based merit increase each year.
• Supplemental Benefits: County employees are also offered a variety of supplemental benefits to select at their own expense such as Life Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Critical Care policies, Cancer policies, Long-term Care policies, Hospitalization policies, 457b Deferred Compensation Plan and Aflac.