Utility Plant Specialist - Mechanical

Utility Plant Specialist - Mechanical

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities seeks two qualified candidates to fill the Utility Plant Specialist - Mechanical positions in the Water Purification Plant Division.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performing maintenance and repair to various types of mechanical equipment and plumbing;
• Assisting maintenance personnel in other classifications, such as plumbers and electricians, in performing their duties;
• Operating welder, drill, saw, grinder and other power equipment as necessary in performance of tasks;
• Performing installations and repairs of AC compressors, fan motors, valves and pumps;
• Determining repairs necessary on faulty equipment and makes repairs when necessary or notifies proper maintenance personnel to handle repairs;
• Maintaining log of work orders;
• Performing snow and ice removal.

This is an essential position, which requires the selected candidate to report to work for emergency and on call duty in response to inclement weather/natural disaster. The selected candidate will be required to work 24 hour on call, weekend and holiday call duty as scheduled.

Qualifications, special certifications and licenses:

Minimum training and experience:

• High School Diploma or GED
• No experience required
• Advancement through the broadband depends in part on additional experience (Zone II, minimum of 12 additional months of experience; Zone III, minimum of 18 additional months of experience; and Zone IV minimum of 36 additional months of experience)
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

Licensing, certifications, and other special requirements:

• Requires a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record or must obtain a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire.
• Zone II requires all the above plus Forklift certification OR the ability to obtain Forklift certification within 90 days of hire, and has ability to obtain a class B commercial driver's license (CDL) within 12 months of hire.
• Zone III requires all the above plus VA Contractor Board Journeyman license.
• Zone IV requires all the above plus VA Contractor Board Master License.

Preferred training and experience:

• A state Journeyman trade certification in mechanical field is preferred (i.e. HVAC, Plumbing, Backflow, Welding, and etc.);
• Two (2) years of experience in a related field;
• Working experience rebuilding centrifugal water pumps;
• Experience working with chemical feed hose pumps;
• Experience working in maintenance;
• Experience working with hand tools and power tools;
• Experience in record keeping of mechanical equipment;
• Ability to work in confined spaces;
• Must be capable of wearing a full face respirator and capable of passing a breathing test as well as being able to work around chemicals such as ammonia, alum, hypochlorite, lime and polymer used in water treatment;
• Valid Driver's License is required;
• Class B or higher CDL is a plus.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Conduit bending and installation
• Electric motor/wiring Megger testing
• National Electrical Code
• NFP 70E and Arc Flash Hazards
• Principals of boiler maintenance and operations
• Principles of HVAC
• Centrifuges
• Chemical metering
• Electrical and mechanical equipment used at a utility plant (e.g. water purification, pumping, and wastewater equipment)
• CMMS automated system
• Utility plant operations
• Safety practices and principles

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Troubleshooting electrical circuits
• Updating, repairing, and replacing plant lighting systems
• Maintaining and repairing electrical systems ranging from 120 volts to 4160 high voltage
• Disassembling pumps
• Carpentry and plumbing
• Reading and understanding drawings, blueprints, and maps
• Using and operating various equipment safety and correctly
• Using chemicals properly
• Working with vendors

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Operate equipment such as bucket trucks and forklifts
• Operate back-flow testing equipment
• Operate plumbing equipment such as sewer snakes and drain cleaners
• Operate power washers, chain saws, lawn mowers, weed eaters, and pruners
• Operate cranes and other equipment for hoisting and pulling equipment
• Operate equipment for laser alignment of pumps and motors
• Operate and use basic hand and power tools
• Operate drill press
• Operate torches
• Operate refrigerant equipment such as gauges, recovery machines, leak detectors, and scales
• Operate electrical and electro-mechanical equipment
• Problem solve and troubleshoot

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

Environmental hazards: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

Physical requirements and working environment: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently climb, balance, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift; and occasionally stoop, crawl, finger, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be heavy work, exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at View email address on click.appcast.io.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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