Water Mains Specialist

Compensation Range $23.61 - $30.25

Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume. If interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Who We Are:

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries.


We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!

Our Core Values:

• Stewardship: We manage the city’s resources responsibly and make decisions that sustain High Point’s future. In other words, we take care of what we have today to build what we’ll need tomorrow
• Welcoming: We create a friendly, open environment where residents, partners, and visitors feel valued and embraced. We want everyone who connects with High Point to feel welcomed, like they belong here.
• Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and ethical responsibility in everything we do. That means doing what’s right – even when no one’s watching. This is how we earn our community’s trust.
• Productivity: We stay focused on results, fostering creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking. We don’t just get things done – we find smarter, better ways to do them.

What We Offer:
The City of High Point offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 401K and 457B Retirement Plans
• PTO earned within first year
• 13 Paid Holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement Plan
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You'll Do:

The Water Mains Specialist will oversee and participate in the daily operations of the City’s water distribution system, including backflow prevention, cross-connection control, hydrant meter use, water quality, and regulatory compliance. This position serves as a backup Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC), conducts inspections, testing, and maintenance of system components, and ensures accurate reporting to state and federal agencies. The Water Mains Specialist will also assist with the collection system, support engineering and GIS staff, respond to customer concerns, review plans for compliance, and maintain system records. This role combines technical expertise, fieldwork, and regulatory oversight to ensure the safe, efficient delivery of water services to the community.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Back Up Operator in Responsible Charge for the distribution system, backflow prevention program, and fire hydrant use program;
• Performs duties of back-up ORC for the collection system, when qualified,
• Ensures the distribution system and associated programs follow the rules and regulations of the Federal, State, and Local agencies including completing all required reports in a timely manner;
• Inspects system devise, pipelines, rights-of-way, water storage facilities, aerial lines, creek crossings, etc.;
• Ensures information from support departments such as lab, plant maintenance; engineering services, administration, and code enforcement is incorporated into the system records, rules, procedures or ordinances;
• Repairs, adjusts, and calibrates various devises in the distribution system such as air reliefs, vacuum prevention valves, pressure sustaining valves, altitude valves, and pressure recording devices.
• Perform fire hydrant flow test, pressure monitoring, leak locating, water quality testing, and disinfection field testing;
• Works with, supplies information, and receives information as needed for the water quality, maintenance, fire hydrant meter program, TRC, plan review, and other programs associated with the distribution system;
• Monitors SCADA system flows;
• Installs and maintains system instrumentation such as flow meters, pressure monitoring, etc.;

• Assists CAD technicians, engineering technicians, engineers, and GIS personnel with water mains and sewer line problems reported by plumbers, contractors, and local citizens;
• On-call back-up ORC and/or On-Call Emergency Contract Inspector;
• Assists in locating lost valves and manholes;
• Performs field checks for water taps using maps, records, and GPS;
• Assists other departments in locating utilities;
• Assists supervisors with locating water and sewer mains;
• Assists with building and property owners and the City of High Point Engineering Department to help solve water complaints;
• Reviews plans for compliance to ordinances, rules, regulations, and standard drawings relating to the water and sewer systems;
• Evaluates preventative maintenance program;
• Provides information as required by management;
• Ensures that all work is performed in alignment with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.
• Assist with the collection system.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Utilizes computer system to access work orders and map water systems;
• Operates pipe and utility locator;
• Operates service truck to pick up parts and supplies from vendor or city warehouse and hauls materials and equipment to and from job sites;
• Cleaning and general housekeeping of the Division’s facilities.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED

• Must have possession of current driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina

• Must be able to work in extreme weather conditions for long periods

• Must be able to work On-Call on a regular rotating basis

• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds or more with assistance.

• Must be able to deal effectively with the public.

• Must have or obtain Confined Space Competent person within 6 months of hire date

• Must have or obtain OSHA 10-hour safety course within 1 year of hire date

• Must have or obtain Basic First-Aid, CPR, and AED certification with 1 year of hire date (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council)

• Must have North Carolina Grade B Water Distribution certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in related field

• Having Class ‘A’ Commercial Driver’s License with Tanker Endorsement

• Grade A Distribution Certification

• Certified Backflow Tester

• Cross Connection ORC Certification

Physical Requirements
Hearing/Speaking - (Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word). (Hearing - Perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

• Both are necessary to converse with citizens, other employees and supervisors in person or by two-way radio and telephone. Must be able to hear warning buzzers, bells, horns, etc. on equipment.

Visual Abilities – the ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position:

• Acuity, far – Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see entire project areas from a distance to monitor activity and ensure safety; to be able to drive vehicles to and from work sites. Good vision is required for day work or night work. Both eyes 20/25 - R 20/30 - L 20/30 corrected

• Acuity, near – Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see hand tools, instruments, work aids, manuals, instruction books, work orders, materials and supplies. Both eyes 20/22 corrected

• Depth perception – Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distance and space relationships to see objects where and as they actually are. Must be able to judge distances to use both hands in performing different tasks at the same time and in seeing entire project area to observe persons or vehicles as they approach, to ensure safety.

• Field of Vision – Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point. Must be able to see a wide span of area to cover project site, and ensure safety, while looking at a given object or instrument.

• Accommodation – Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This is especially important when doing near-point work while glancing up to check the entire work area. Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly at equipment or people who are located at varying distances.

Physical Strength – degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:

• Heavy Work : Exerting up to 50 pounds or more of force occasionally, 50 pounds of force frequently and 10/20 pounds of force constantly to move pipes, tools, materials, etc. Physical demand requirements usually require walking or standing for long periods of time, carrying, bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, crawling, reaching, climbing and stretching, although workers may sit on occasions. There is significant use of arms, hands, legs, feet and back.

• Type of Physical Demands

• Exertion – All are requirements of this job. Worker must be able to climb ladders and steps and descend into meter vaults, manholes, ditches, and other confined spaces and use air pack for breathing. Must be able to do strenuous activity, such as repairing water and sewer lines, for extended periods of time.

• • Reaching - Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

  • Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands (fingering not involved).

  • Fingering - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily (rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling).

Mental Activity/Requirements
Reasoning

• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks, practical situations and requests made by supervisor; to comprehend and respond to a variety of work situations and tasks; to understand and apply safety requirements, traffic safety principles and regulations.

Mathematics Ability

• Must be able to understand math equations in order to determine pipe sizes to be used for specific water flow requirements, figuring quantities of supplies to be ordered from warehouse, etc.

Language Ability

• Read: Ability to read safety and other manuals, instructions, equipment readings, street signs, location books, work orders. etc., to read and understand directions (N,E,S,W) to locate job sites.

• Write: Must be able to write work orders clearly and legibly.

• Speak: Ability to be conversant in voice and diction to participate in discussions and communicate well with citizens in person, co-workers and other City personnel in person or over radio and telephone; ability to perform proper and clear communication rapidly during emergency situations.

Environmental Conditions
Physical Surroundings:

• The Worker is subject to Outside Environmental Conditions: Exposed to various weather conditions and temperatures. The worker will be required to work outside during the summer when the weather is usually hot and the winter when the weather is usually cold. Combining the type of work performed with the weather conditions, the worker should be one who can work outside in the sun, heat, high winds, rain, sleet, cold and extreme weather conditions, and cross rough terrain (outfalls, right-of-way clearings, etc.) with possible risk of exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, insect bites and stings, etc. The job is best suited for someone who doesn't mind getting wet, dirty and sweaty.

Hazards

• Employees will possibly be exposed to wastewater containing waterborne disease and chemicals. Work is subject to final standards of OSHA on blood-borne pathogens.

Machinery/Tools/Work Aids/Other Equipment

• Air tools, power tools, mechanic and hand tools, pipe fittings, water mains, sewer lines, taps, fire hydrants, valves, meters, TV inspection system, location books, work orders, ladders, meter vaults, manholes, air pack, two-way radio, telephone, Personnel Resolution, safety regulations and traffic safety regulations.

The work location of this job will be 816 E Green Dr High Point, North Carolina.

Our Commitments
The City of High Point is dedicated to fostering a work environment that values individuals from all backgrounds and seeks to attract and retain the most qualified partners in service to the citizens of High Point. As an at-will employer, the City allows employees to terminate their employment, or be terminated at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly for the work they do, weighing both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this “living document” as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment for all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City’s drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. In lieu of or in addition to background screening, candidates selected for employment in a position that requires working with children in any capacity must be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any such position without passing a pre-placement physical exam. The City offers employment to successful candidates conditioned upon the City’s receipt of satisfactory results from all required screenings, checks, and exams, as applicable.