Water Production Maintenance Foreman

• -- The hourly rate advertised represents Step 1 through Step 10 on the pay table.

The hourly rate offered depends on qualifications. ---

Under general supervision, performs daily work assignments for the Water Production Division of the Utilities Department in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, City of Alamogordo Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority.

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent;

• Current Water Supply Level 4 (WS4) certification* issued by the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission;

• At least one (1) additional year of experience performing the functions of a water operator as a WS4 certificate holder;

• One (1) year of experience supervising employees;

• Successful completion of NM811 training (Excavation Law Class) within sixty (60) days; and

• Valid New Mexico Driver's License with a driving record acceptable to the City of Alamogordo.

Required within six (6) months:

• Valid New Mexico Class A Commercial Driver's License with Tank (N) endorsement and a driving record acceptable to the City of Alamogordo. Drivers shall be granted a period of six (6) months to upgrade and remove an automatic transmission (E) restriction if one exists.

Required upon the first available training opportunity:

• Valid Traffic Control Supervisor (TCS) certification.

• Minimum qualifications for a WS4 certification are determined by the NMED Utility Operator Certification Program. Testing eligibility and renewal requirements are subject to change pursuant to the Program.

• Manages and supervises direct-report staff by coordinating, assigning, and reviewing work to ensure compliance with policies and procedures;

• Conducts employee evaluations, introductory and annual; makes recommendations for hiring, promoting, and releasing employees; 

• Initiates and administers corrective action, as necessary, according to the Employee Manual;

• Mentors employees to full potential and ensures appropriate training is given to meet the standards of the position held;

• Acts as a working supervisor, dedicating time, technical skill, and advanced knowledge to projects based on their complexity or urgency;

• Assists with the development and maintenance of the departmental budget;

• Supervises subordinate employees in the construction, maintenance, and repair of the City's water system including water production, transmission, storage, pumping, treatment, and control facilities;

• Ensures that water maintenance operations comply within operating guidelines and that treated water is safe and acceptable entering the distribution system;

• Understands water treatment theory/technology and applies that knowledge to the water treatment process;

• Assists the Division Manager in the creation, implementation, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for water operations; ensures that direct-report staff are trained on established SOPs and ensures compliance with same;

• Participates in annual review updates of various programs including Emergency Action Plan, Distribution Site Sampling Plan, Hazard Communications, SOPs, and Confined Space;

• Prepares technical reports and diagrams, status reports, and correspondence; interprets all charts, trends, graphs, and test results;

• Maintains current knowledge of safety related regulations and new technology and methods; conducts regular safety meetings and maintains a record of the meeting subjects and those in attendance, as outlined in the City of Alamogordo Safety Manual;

• Keeps abreast of new technology and methods related to division responsibilities;

• Ensures appropriate methods, materials, and techniques are used in the completion of water treatment system duties;

• Develops and implements appropriate maintenance training programs and conducts classes to improve operator knowledge, skills and abilities;

• Provides training to subordinate staff to develop their skills and knowledge and prepare them to perform complex and urgent tasks without assistance in the future;

• Oversees the safety of all assigned personnel by instructing employees in proper safety procedures, monitoring work progress, and, in the event of accidents, preparing accident reports;

• Gathers and assists the Division Manager in preparing reports of information and data required by State and Federal regulatory agencies;

• Conducts weekly reporting on all sampling, metering and methods utilized in the 24-hour monitoring of control systems and water quality;

• Assists in designing new water system projects;

• Participates in establishing schedules and methods for providing maintenance and repair services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate supervisory and/or management staff; allocates resources accordingly;

• Inspects potable water production equipment and facilities to locate and schedule needed repairs and maintenance; reports and/or corrects unsafe working conditions;

• Ensures self and subordinate employees attend training necessary to meet City required safety training hours, State and Federal regulations, and continued education requirements to maintain certifications and licenses required of positions;  

• Reads, records and interprets information taken from computers, gauges, dials, and other instruments. Acts on the information as appropriate;

• Monitors, interprets, and adjusts computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) controls;

• Maintains Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems as needed;

• Performs preventative maintenance; oils, greases, cleans, and otherwise services potable water production equipment; uses hand and power tools to remove, install, and make minor repairs, modifications, or additions to potable water production facilities;

• Performs general potable water production facility upkeep such as sweeping, mopping, cleaning, sanding and painting; performs general grounds keeping and housekeeping as required;

• With proper licensing, uses various powered and non-powered equipment to complete daily activities;

• With proper certification, responsible for proper traffic control compliance using the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (M.U.T.C.D.) standards to ensure employee safety with equal considerations for public safety and convenience;

• Ensures the availability and assists the Division Manager in the acquisition of adequate and properly working tools, materials, and equipment; ensures tools and equipment are properly maintained and meet any scheduled service requirements; corrects unsafe working conditions;

• Responsible for timely response and troubleshooting customer complaints regarding water problems;

• Checks, repairs, and performs preventative maintenance on pressure reducing/presser sustaining valves;

• Regulates pressures and flow rates in accordance with demand, storage, and production from other sources;

• Monitors, operates, maintains, troubleshoots, and adjusts potable water treatment process equipment, including pumps, motors, pressure reducing valves, pressure-sustaining valves, pump control valves, water tanks, wells, chemical feed systems, and related plumbing components;

• Controls the application of hazardous materials and chemicals associated with water treatment processes; 

• Requisitions bulk chemicals to maintain adequate inventory levels;

• Responsible for daily rounds of wells, booster stations and reservoirs; measures and records flow, pressure, and chemical feed dosages; records gallons pumped and number of hours each system ran the previous day;

• Receives supply deliveries and ensures that they are properly stored; coordinates chemical deliveries;

• Assists water utility employees in chemical handling as needed;

• Calibrates water process equipment;

• Collects various water samples for laboratory analysis and performs simple water quality analysis tests;

• Responsible for the collection of all water compliance samples as required by the NMED;

• Guides and explains operations to visiting groups; 

• Assists other divisions during emergencies or as may be required to maintain quality service to customers;

• May be asked to support other departments with staff, equipment, or training as part of the City "team" effort;

• Drives a City vehicle in the performance of duties;

• Establishes procedures to assure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance;

• Responsible for thoroughly investigating, reviewing, and addressing department or division accidents to prevent future occurrences and control risk management-related costs;

• Contributes to a high-quality work culture through participation in training and mentoring to develop skills, including safety related training and skills;

• Performs duties in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, City of Alamogordo Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority; and

• Interacts professionally and provides excellent customer service to all levels of City personnel and citizens, to ensure high operational and service standards.

OTHER IMPORTANT DUTIES

• Must obtain and maintain required licenses and certifications;

• Non-traditional work hours are necessary during evenings, weekends, and holidays to prevent or reduce the disruption of utility services to customers;

• May act in the absence of the Division Manager as assigned; 

• Maintains the confidentiality of information obtained during the performance of duties; and

• Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles of supervision, training, and employee relations; principles of customer relations;

• Job related O.S.H.A requirements;

• Safe operation of vehicles and equipment;

• Basic mathematical principles;

• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices and procedures;

• Accepted methods of repair, rehabilitation, and operation of water supply and distribution system facilities;

• Hydraulic and mechanical operations as applied to the operation and maintenance of water production, storage, and distribution systems;

• Methods, practices, equipment, and materials used in the daily maintenance of the water treatment processes;

• Physical and technical aspects of water distribution systems, including water quality, cross-connection control, operations, and maintenance;

• Methods and techniques of maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting water treatment process; 

• Operating principles of potable water production equipment such as valves, pumps and motors;

• Principles and practices of water treatment processes; 

• Sampling methods and techniques;

• Water treatment chemicals used within the potable water production and their safe use and application;

• Laboratory analysis techniques and health standards for water;

• Standard principles of the natural sciences including chemistry and biology;

• Proper traffic control compliance using the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (M.U.T.C.D.) standards;

• D.O.T. Regulations for Rights of Way;

• Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (PL93-523);

• New Mexico Environment Department Water Quality Bureau;

• New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code; and

• City of Alamogordo Ordinances, City-wide Policies and Procedures, current City of Alamogordo Technical Standards, Departmental SOPs, and any other applicable laws regulated by an outside authority.

Skill/Ability to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communication; understand and follow instructions;

• Perform tasks and other daily activities in a positive and professional manner alongside employees of varied backgrounds and personalities;

• Attend work, as scheduled and on a regular basis, to effectively perform the position's essential duties and responsibilities;

• Exercise common sense and good judgment in the performance of essential duties;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;

• Maintain pertinent records and compile data into written reports;

• Operate and monitor water treatment process equipment;

• Perform heavy manual labor;

• Perform routine to difficult maintenance, repairs, and installations to potable water production equipment such as pumps, valves, and electronic monitoring devices;

• Tolerate outside working conditions, including exposure to adverse weather conditions; 

• Maintain professionalism under pressure; 

• Respond quickly and positively to customer complaints;

• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems;

• Diagnose operating problems and take effective courses of action;

• Read, interpret, and calibrate gauges and other recording devices related to water treatment process;

• Read, interpret, and understand technical manuals, drawings, blueprints, schematics, and diagrams;

• Safely operate various light and heavy equipment used in daily activities of the water treatment system;

• Operate office equipment, including a computer using the internet, MS Office, database, purchasing, and any other software and/or hardware used by the division; use electronic systems and processes to monitor and improve the productivity of assigned personnel and enter data into those and other City computer programs;

• Type accurately and enter data at a speed that allows work to be completed timely;

• Make independent technical decisions to maintain property treatment process;

• Methods and practices of inspection as applied to the operation of water production, storage, and distributions systems;

• Maintain accurate legible records, prepare technical reports and diagrams, status reports, and completion of work requested as required;

• Analyze problems; identify, recommend, and implement solutions;

• Follow principles and practices of employment supervision, including employee development, labor contract relations and requirements, disciplinary practices;

• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, identifying the best persons for each job;

• Identify employee training needs and activities to improve employee performance;

• Manage simultaneous tasks and projects and meet multiple deadlines; and

• Provide excellent customer service to ensure high operational and service standards are met and maintained for the citizens of Alamogordo.

• Work is typically performed outdoors and may be subject to inclement weather conditions;

• Daily physical labor that includes extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending, reaching, climbing ladders, lifting heavy objects, and swinging heavy hammers;

• May be subject to repetitive motion such as digging and driving;

• Lift and/or move items weighing up to fifty (50) pounds; the lifting of any object greater than fifty (50) pounds by a single individual is prohibited. Lifting objects, materials, or equipment weighing more than fifty (50) pounds requires the buddy system or the use of devices designed to assist with lifting or moving. Proper lifting techniques shall be used when lifting items of any weight;

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud;

• May be exposed to hazardous traffic conditions as well as hazardous chemicals, pathogens, contaminants, and toxins;

• Hazards include exposure to insects, rodents, snakes, and other wildlife typical of the southwest;

• Will work near gas lines, meters, and other utilities, including electricity;

• Work will be performed near moving mechanical parts; and possibly in high or precarious places;

• Terrain may be uneven or undeveloped; and

• Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for job assignments, including protective footwear, marked by the manufacturer, with a minimum standard of M/F I/75/C75, 6" ankle height work boots, per current ASTM F2413 standard.