Utility Worker I, II, III (6 mo Seasonal)

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Utility Worker I, II, III (6 mo Seasonal)

Salary

See Position Description

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Seasonal Recurring Positions (3-4mo, 6 mo, 8-9mo)

Job Number

24-UW I, II, III Seasonal-May

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

05/02/2024

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Local 1937

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Nature of Work

Seasonal positions are a great way to gain experience and learn about working for the City of Bellingham. Public works is currently accepting applications for our 2024 season! Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and this recruitment may be closed at any time. The length of the season worked may vary depending on the date of hire.

The Public Works Department currently has several vacancies for the 2024 season:

Current Available 6 - month positions

• Utility Worker - Street - (4/29-10/25) - 1 position

• Utility Worker - Plants - (4/8-10/4) - 2 positions

This series performs progressively responsible manual and semi-skilled labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of all public works facilities. Employees in this classification may be assigned to the following units: Street and Stormwater Collection, Wastewater Collection, or Water Distribution. Operates hand and power tools and motorized mobile equipment and/or electronic and hydro test equipment, depending upon the assigned unit. Usually works as part of an assigned crew in an assigned section but may have an individual or specialized assignment. Works indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions and sometimes under hazardous conditions. May be called out for emergency work. Attention to safety and protection of personnel and equipment is integral to work.

Placement into the Utility Worker Series is based on the experience and training requirements for each position. Employees will start at step 1 and receive step increases on completion of 2080 hours in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule) and City policy.

Utility Worker I will start at Step 1 ($24.47/hour) for full time positions. The 2023 full hourly range for this position is $24.47/hour- $30.10/hour.

Utility Worker II will start at Step 1 ($25.96/hour) for full time positions. The 2023 full hourly range for this position is $25.96/hour - $31.90/hour.

Utility Worker III will start at Step 1 ($27.55/hour) for full time positions. The 2023 full hourly range for this position is $27.55/hour - $33.91/hour.

Benefit Information:

• Six-Month Seasonal Positions: City of Bellingham employees receive access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plan. This position is not eligible for benefits, except as required by law. Employees are eligible to accrue 1 hour of Washington State paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked.

  This position becomes represented by the Local 1937 bargaining unit after the completion of 1040 hours working an average of at least 12 hours per week, on an annual basis. When union eligible, employees will receive paid holidays per the holiday schedule during their employment period.

For additional information regarding benefits and compensation Information please visit the following:

• Labor Agreements, Pay Schedules and E-Team Employee Handbook - City of Bellingham (cob.org) (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule)

• Employment Benefits - City of Bellingham (cob.org)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Depending on the unit to which assigned and level of experience:

• Shovels, rakes, picks, cleans, hammers, sands, and other such manual labor.

• Operates machinery and power equipment on an interchangeable basis (for example, five, ten and 12 yard dump trucks, trucks and trailers, backhoes, excavators, paving machines, loaders, rollers, brush cutters, tapping machine, jet truck, boom truck, service and pick-up trucks, boring machines, etc.) or may be regularly assigned to a single piece of mobile equipment requiring substantial manual dexterity, without direct supervision and responsible for reporting maintenance problems and determining whether immediate service by a skilled mechanic is required (for example, street sweepers). Utility Worker III operates Vactor truck, camera inspection vehicle, and Gradall.

• Performs many heavy manual semi-skilled and skilled tasks such as operating chain saws, jack hammers, drills, pipe saws, pavement saws, mowers, street sweepers, and raking asphalt in an accomplished fashion; may perform right-of-way patching, pavement overlays, maintenance and repair of guardrails, concrete sidewalk repairs, repair storm drainage catch basins, Sewer manholes, and surrounding pavement repairs involving masonry, concrete and asphalt work. Utility Worker III includes trenchless pipe repairs, hydrant and valve replacements, water main repairs, and locates and marks water mains and water services using electronic pipe locating devices.

• May install, replace and repair sewer pipes, inspect and clean sewer mains and make repairs involving appropriate machine or device; may raise manholes and make related street grade adjustments; may respond to citizen complaints. Utility Worker III make repairs involving operation of a rodding machine; may operate a video scanner to assess sewer system conditions and identify problems.

• Assists workers in higher classes: cuts, fits, lays, connects, installs various sizes of water, sewer and storm lines; installs valves, tees, crosses, reducers, sleeves, manholes, catch basins, etc., per instructions.

• Turns on or shuts off water services to customers per order and according to established procedures.

• Sets up traffic control devices including barricades, flags, and performs other safety-related duties.

• Logs information, completes work orders and paperwork as necessary. Utility Worker II, III field checks measurements and locations of facilities, marks-up maps and drawings used for updating computer maintenance and GIS records.

• Responds to after hours call-outs and investigates customer service requests.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

Utility Worker I, II

• Performs other duties within the scope of the classification and of the classes below.

• Participates in job-related training to improve knowledge and skills.

Utility Worker III

• May lead a group of lower classified and/or extra labor employees in the completion of smaller, less complex assignments.

• Provides guidance and on-the-job training to less experienced co-workers.

• Other related duties as assigned.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed primarily outdoors in all weather conditions on City streets and rights-of-way, in close proximity to roadway traffic, or in an industrial plant environment. The work involves moderate risks which require special safety precautions, e.g. working around moving equipment, high speed or high voltage equipment, or with exposure to irritant chemicals or raw sewage. Hazards may include: fumes, dust, gases, and asbestos, moving mechanical equipment parts, extreme temperatures, maintenance and repair of pressurized (up to 200psi) water systems, inadequate lighting, confined spaces, trenches, loud noises and exposure to traffic. Employees may be required to use protective clothing such as coveralls, rain gear, hard hats, safety vests, masks, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:

• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate hand and power equipment safely and efficiently.

• Correctable vision to read instructions and work safely around equipment.

• Adequate hearing to effectively hear voice radio and crew communications, roadway traffic and alarms in a noisy environment.

• Physical ability to continuously stoop, bend, climb, occasionally work in confined spaces or from heights, and frequently lift and carry heavy objects in the 50 lb. range, and occasionally weights of approximately 100 lbs. utilizing proper body mechanics, mechanical and other assistance. Some positions require the ability to work from heights up to 180 feet on a ladder truck or communication tower.

• Positions in Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection, Street and Stormwater Collection require the physical ability to operate a 60 lb. jackhammer for extended periods of time intermittently throughout the year.

Experience and Training

Utility Worker I:

• High School Diploma, or equivalent

• One year of experience or related training using hand and power tools and motorized equipment to perform manual labor required.

Utility Worker II:

• High School Diploma, or equivalent. AND

• Two (2) years' experience as Utility Worker I, OR three years equivalent experience performing manual labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of public facilities, AND

• Possess and maintain the following certifications, based on the requirements of the unit to which assigned:

• Streets and Stormwater Collection Units:

• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) with in one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker.

• Wastewater Collection Unit:

• Washington Wastewater Collection Personnel Association (WWCPA – 1) with in one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker II.

• Water Distribution Unit:

• Washington State Certification as Water Distribution Manager I within one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker II.

  Utility Worker III:

• High School Diploma, or equivalent, AND

• Two years of experience in Public Works Operations Utility Worker I and 2 years of experience in the Utility Worker II classification, OR five years equivalent experience performing manual and semi-skilled labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of all public facilities, AND

• Possess and maintain the following certifications, based on the requirements of the unit to which assigned:

• Street and Stormwater Collection Units:

• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) within one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker III.

• Wastewater Collection Unit:

• Washington Wastewater Collection Personnel Association (WWCPA–1) within one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker III.

• Water Distribution Unit:

• Washington State Certification as a Water Distribution Manager I within one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker III.

• Training Certificate in Asbestos Pipe Work Practices within one (1) year of promotion, transfer, or placement to Utility Worker III.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check and child and vulnerable adult abuse records check (See Fair Hiring Practices).

• Valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. Candidate considered for hire must submit an abstract of his/her driving records for the past three-years; with biennial submission of driving abstract to department, to be forwarded to Human Resources (Policy ADM 10.03.02.4).

• Ability to obtain and maintain Flagging/Traffic Control Card within one year of employment.

• Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid/CPR Card within one year of employment.

• Some positions require the ability to secure a Commercial Driver's License (Class a CDL) with air brakes endorsement within six months of initial hire and to maintain a valid CDL during length of employment.

• Must pass CDL-related drug and alcohol testing throughout term of employment.

• Some positions require Fork Lift Operator's Card within one year of employment.

• Must be able to report to Operations Division for emergency call-out and serve on standby in accordance with bargaining unit agreement.

Failure to obtain appropriate certifications within established time limits will result in demotion to the lower class for which qualified, until such time as the required unit certification is achieved.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and required supplemental questions). Provide as much detail as you believe will fully describe your experience and training.

Applications will be reviewed to ensure they are complete. All complete applications will be forwarded to the department for further review. Candidates will be contacted by the department if they are selected for additional review.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.

• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.

• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.

• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information.

This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/1937-2022-2023-CBA.pdf) .

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on PERS.

Civil Service Information

This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.

Veteran's Scoring Criteria

Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.

01

Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)?

• Yes

• No

  02

  Do you have a valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one by the time of hire and a good driving record? The successful candidate(s) must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire, with period submission of driving abstract per City policy.

• Yes

• No

  03

  Which Utility Worker group are you interested in working for?

• Plant 6-month

• Streets 6-month

• Either Streets or Plant

  04

  What months are you available to work? Check all that apply.

• January

• February

• March

• April

• May

• June

• July

• August

• September

• October

• November

• December

  05

  Some positions require a CDL license within 6 months of hire, please select your status:

• I currently possess a valid CDL license and will be able to maintain a valid CDL during length of employment

• I am willing to obtain a CDL if required, within the 6 months and will be able to maintain a valid CDL during length of employment (Training is provided by the City.)

• I do not have a CDL and will not obtain one

  06

  Do you have or are you willing to obtain First Aid and CPR certifications within one year of employment? (Training is provided by the City.)

• Yes

• No

  07

  Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Flagging/Traffic Control Card within one year of employment? (Training is provided by the City.)

• Yes

• No

  08

  Some positions may require a Fork Lift Operator's card. Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Fork Lift Operator's Card within one (1) year of employment? (Training is provided by the City.)

• Yes

• No

  09

  Are you able to work evenings or weekends when required, and respond to emergency call-out within one-hour response time?

• Yes

• No

  10

  Are you willing to work outside in all types of weather conditions?

• Yes

• No

  11

  Work is performed primarily outdoors in all weather conditions on City streets and rights-of-way, in close proximity to roadway traffic, or in an industrial plant environment. The work involves moderate risks which require special safety precautions, e.g. working around moving equipment, high speed or high voltage equipment, or with exposure to irritant chemicals or raw sewage. Hazards may include: fumes, dust, gases, and asbestos, moving mechanical equipment parts, extreme temperatures, maintenance and repair of pressurized (up to 200psi) water systems, inadequate lighting, confined spaces, trenches, loud noises and exposure to traffic. Employees may be required to use protective clothing such as coveralls, rain gear, hard hats, safety vests, masks, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields. Are you able to accept these working conditions?

• Yes

• No

  12

  IF YOU ANSWER YES TO THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY AND PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION:

  -Employer

  -Dates of employment (mo/year)

  -Brief description of experience/training

• Yes, I will provide all information that is required.

• No, I will not provide the required information and understand my application will be marked as incomplete.

  13

  Do you have one year of experience or related training using hand and power tools and motorized equipment to perform manual labor?

• Yes

• No

  14

  If you answered yes to question #13, describe in detail what specific experience or training was obtained; include all experience with power, hand tools, vehicles and machinery. Include dates & positions where experience was gained.

  15

  Do you have two (2) years' experience as a Utility Worker I, OR three (3) years equivalent experience performing manual labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of public facilities (e.g. water/sewer/storm services, public sidewalks, streets and roads, public buildings)?

• Yes

• No

  16

  Do you have five (5) years equivalent experience performing manual and semi-skilled labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of all public facilities (e.g. water/sewer/storm services, public sidewalks, streets and roads, public buildings)?

• Yes

• No

  17

  If you answered yes to questions #15 and/or #16, describe in detail what specific experience or training was obtained; include all experience performing manual labor in the construction, maintenance, and service work of public facilities.

  Employers and dates required - must demonstrate applicable paid experience. The info provided in your response will be used in part to determine placement within the series.

  Required Question

Agency

City of Bellingham

Address

104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone

360-778-8228

Website

http://www.cob.org/employment

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