Pump Mechanic Assistant

Salary: $44,620.46 - $57,443.36 Annually
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01331
Department: Public Utilities
Opening Date: 03/30/2026
Closing Date: 6/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
Under general supervision, performs skilled work in the maintenance and repair of the city's sewage pumps and equipment. Reports to the Pump Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Assists with monitoring the performance of pumps and motors associated with the city's sewage pump station; assists with performing preventative maintenance such as lubricating and adjusting equipment as scheduled; maintains records of inspections and maintenance activities; and monitoring performance of pumps and motors at city's sewage pump station and rebuilding water pumps, sewage pumps and related equipment.

Assists with the overhaul and repair of pumps, valves, fittings, motors and mechanical equipment, as necessary; assists with running new and repairs old pipes for pumps; inspects, adjusts and/or replaces units and parts, as necessary; performs custodial duties in pump station, including sweeping, painting; assists in the performance of building repairs, and including roof repairs; and replaces vent fans, drain pipes, and basin boards.

Assists with the operation of pumps and motors, electronic controls, telemetry equipment and hydraulic systems; assists supervisor with collecting parts and equipment necessary to perform preventive maintenance and/or repair; responds to after- hour's calls to repair or alleviate sewage stoppages, pump failures, customer complaints and inquiries in person and via telephone.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical trades as applicable to water distribution and waste water collection systems. Has considerable knowledge of the standard practices, tools, materials and equipment used in the repair and maintenance of a variety of mechanical pumps and motors. Is skilled in the use and care of various hand and power tools, and understands the safety hazards and applicable precautions involved with such work. Is able to understand and follow oral and written instructions. Is able to prepare and maintain simple records. Is able to perform physical labor for extended periods of time, possibly under arduous conditions. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts within department, and with co-workers and the public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the department and project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, utilities customers, supervisor, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Requires graduation from high school and six months to 1 year of related manual labor experience in performing mechanical parts and motor repair work; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.

Requires satisfactory results from a pre-employment medical evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Physical Demands

Physical Requirements - Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and machinery, computer, drill press, truck, pumps, motors, mechanical and plumbing tools, etc. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 75 pounds of force frequently, and/or 50 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are those for Heavy Work.
Data Conception - Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication - Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
Language Ability - Requires the ability to read a variety of work orders, confined spaces report, time sheets, etc. Requires the ability to prepare oral training reports, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence - Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude - Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including mechanical and electrical terminology.
Numerical Aptitude - Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.
Form/Spatial Aptitude - Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination - Requires the ability coordinate to hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office and pump equipment.
Manual Dexterity - Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination - Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.


Interpersonal Temperament - Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under varied levels of stress.
Physical Communication - Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit
01


Please select the highest level of education completed.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates/Vocational/Technical
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher

02


Describe your experience in working with sewage pumps and equipment.
03


Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have at least 1 year of related manual labor experience in performing mechanical parts and motor repair work?

• Yes
• No

Required Question