Utility Worker III

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled Utility Worker III to join our team at Howard County. As a key member of our Public Works department, you will be responsible for performing various laboring and equipment operations functions, including the use of hand and power tools and equipment. This is a skilled position that requires a strong understanding of laboring and motor equipment operations and activities as they relate to heavy construction and maintenance work for water and sewer facilities and meter installations and repairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive a dump truck with/without a trailer for hauling sand, stone, pipe, backhoe, and other materials to/from construction projects.
• Load and unload a backhoe for delivery to and return from job site for various construction projects.
• Operate a backhoe or other heavy construction equipment under supervision.
• Work with a construction crew on water and sewer installations and repairs.
• Operate a sewer jet truck in the routine maintenance and emergency relief of sanitary sewers and house connections.
• Operate a sewer vactor unit for cleaning wet wells, storm drains, and manholes.
• Inspect sanitary sewer manholes and pipelines for condition and flow characteristics.
• Inspect and maintain utility right of way for access and maintenance.
• Carry all hand tools necessary to open manholes.
• Update sewer records with results of findings and assist repair crews.
• Read residential and commercial water meters for billing and maintenance activities.
• Perform new meter installations.
• Perform meter repairs both inside buildings/homes and outside in pits.
• Perform high usage meter investigations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve various pressure and flow related inquiries and complaints.
• Mark locations of water/sewer house connections and mains in accordance with calls from the Maryland One Call Center.
• Operate M-scope or other radio locating device when needed to accomplish the location of water/sewer lines.
• Act as construction crew leader in the absence of the Utility IV.
• Read blueprints and contract maps.
• Perform inspections and safety checks of equipment and vehicles; perform routine and preventive maintenance to heavy equipment and other mechanical systems.
• Observe instruments while vehicle is in operation; take routine corrective action if malfunction is noted; inspect vehicle for loose parts, damaged or worn tires and other items affecting safe equipment operation and reports items to supervisor.
• Assist in various construction activities at sites performing manual labor, and using hand/power tools, motorized equipment and heavy mobile equipment.
• Maintain various logs and other operating records documenting assigned tasks and maintenance.
• Perform crew leader functions, as assigned.
• Train subordinate crew members in equipment operations, in trade practices and care and use of tools and materials.

Requirements

• Any combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform skilled manual work in laboring operations and 2 years of experience in general laboring or public works maintenance and construction activities, which included the use of hand and power tools.
• Considerable knowledge of principles, practices, methods, techniques, hazards and safety rules and regulations of laboring and motor equipment operations and activities as they relate to heavy construction and maintenance work for water and sewer facilities and meter installations and repairs.
• Considerable knowledge of the geography of the County.
• Knowledge of tools, equipment, materials, and supplies used in heavy construction and maintenance work.
• Knowledge of the functions, operation, and routine care and maintenance of a variety of wheeled and tracked motor equipment both on and off the highway, mechanical equipment, manual and power tools.
• Skill in the safe and efficient operation of heavy and/or complex motor equipment and tools.
• Skill in the efficient use of and care for manual and power tools.
• Ability to service wheeled and tracked motor equipment.
• Ability to read blueprints and contract maps.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals.
• Ability to maintain records and complete reports of activities.
• Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
• Ability to direct the activities of a laboring or motor equipment operation crew.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use their hands and fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Language Skills, Mathematical Skills, and Reasoning Ability

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of weigh, volume, and distance measurements.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but not complex written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

• Class A or A-restricted Commercial Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of employment.
• Confined Space Training Certification, when required by work assignment.
• Maryland State DOT certified Flagging Card.
• Water and Sewer Operators License, possession of such licensure within time limits specified by the County.
• HazMat 40 hour training Certification, with 8 hour annual recertification, when required by work assignment.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.

At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application.

Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.

The following is a summary of the benefits available to Howard County employees who hold full-time benefit-eligible positions. Employees in positions covered by a bargaining agreement should consult their union contract for other specific benefits. Additional details are also available in the Employee Manual and in summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources or at

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: Under the County's flexible benefits plan called CountyFlex, employees may elect to enroll in medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans, optional life insurance, dependent life insurance, and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Employee contributions to these benefits are made on a pre-tax basis. Information concerning enrollment options, plan rates and a benefits comparison chart are available in the Office of Human Resources.

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The County pays the entire cost for this benefit. Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan.

PAID LEAVE BENEFITS: Annual and Disability Leaves are accrued over 24 pay periods each year. Personal leave is credited on January 1st each year. Use of Annual, Disability and/or Personal Leave requires supervisory approval.

ANNUAL LEAVE: During the first 5 years of employment, employees accrue the equivalent of 13 days per year. From years 6 through 10, the accrual is the equivalent of 16 days per year. From years 11 through 20, the accrual is the equivalent of 19 days per year. From year 21 on, the accrual is the equivalent of 21 days per year. Annual leave may not be used during the first 6 months of employment. A maximum of 40 days may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.

DISABILITY LEAVE: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year). There is no maximum accrual. This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A. Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate.

PERSONAL LEAVE: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year. Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year. Personal leave may not be carried over.

HOLIDAYS: Employees are paid for the following holidays:

New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day.

OTHER PAID LEAVE: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave. Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.

RETIREMENT: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. participation in the plan is mandatory. Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis. Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan). The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded. Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources.

Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan. Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan. All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.

Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn police officers and career firefighters must participate in this plan. Police employees contribute 11.6% of salary and Fire employees contribute 7.7% of salary to the plan.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Participation is mandatory. Employees contribute at the current established rate.

457(b) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Employees are eligible to participate in an IRS 457(b) deferred compensation program. This plan allows employees to defer a portion of their income on a pre-tax basis. Contributions are invested at the employee's direction on a tax deferred basis.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Employees experiencing problems that affect their personal lives and job performance may take advantage of confidential assessment and referral services.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: Employees may apply for reimbursement for tuition costs after completion of 6 months of employment. Prior course approval is required. The maximum annual reimbursement is $1500 contingent upon County funding.

LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS: Employees who have completed 6 months of service are enrolled in the LTD plan. After 6 months of disability, plan may pay 60% of base monthly pay up to $2500 per month. The County pays the entire cost of this benefit.

DISABILITY LEAVE BANK: Employees have established a Disability Leave Bank to which employees may donate disability leave in order to be eligible to receive salary and benefit protection when they are absent due to a serious disabling illness or injury and have exhausted all accrued leave. Employees are eligible to join the Bank after having completed 1 year of employment. Administration of the Bank, including the review and approval of claims for grants of time, is handled in accordance with the Bank's Rules and Regulations which are available in the Office of Human Resources.

VOLUNTARY BENEFIT OPTIONS: Employees may elect to enroll in long term care insurance, critical illness insurance, short term disability income protection, universal life insurance, and discounted auto/homeowner's insurance programs.

CREDIT UNION: Employees may participate in the Tower Federal Credit Union through payroll deductions. Loans are also available to qualified applicants.

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