Water Maintenance Foreman

Salary: $50,726 - $64,714

Position Grade: 13G

Department: Water Division

Job Type: Full-Time (Permanent)

Examination Number: EX1502

Location: St. Louis, MO

This is a supervisory and administrative position, exercising considerable independence in directing the maintenance, repair and installation of water distribution system mains and appurtenances. This work occurs during normal operating hours, during periods of assigned overtime, and on a no-notice basis when assigned to serve in an on-call capacity.

Water Maintenance Foremen assume a broad range of responsibilities primarily focused on the leadership, training, evaluation and management of a four to five-person crew of blue-collar Water Maintenance Technicians. Foremen must coordinate activities with peers and others within the Distribution Section; others within the Water Division; and with external entities including contractors and city, county and state agencies.

Foremen operate within and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies and participate in SOP and policy formulation and revision. In their leadership role, Supervisors evaluate individuals’ performance and participate in subordinates’ training and development.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Prepare and conduct performance counseling at least once each quarter.
• Evaluate performance and prepare service ratings.
• Propose disciplinary action for Work Rule, Code of Conduct, and other policy or Standard Operating Procedure infractions.
• Read and interpret plans, construction drawings, plats and related documents.
• Oversee work in the field, especially, but not limited to:
• Direct crew activities.
• Monitor and document employee time (labor), equipment utilization and materials use.
• Operate and maintain a variety of gas, diesel and pneumatically powered vehicles and tools.
• Locate water utilities using locator equipment and interpreting paper maps, plats, drawings, and GIS mapping.
• Perform inspections of water utilities and appurtenances, documenting inspections in City Works.
• Ensure implementation of required safety measures, especially, but not limited to:
• Wear of Personal Protective Equipment.
• Installation of OSHA-standard excavation shoring.
• Establishment of work zone safety and traffic control measures.
• Ensure adherence to established standards of quality of work, including, but not limited to:
• Saw cutting pavement before excavation.
• Finishing of concrete surfaces.
• Grounds / pavement restoration.
• Work site cleanliness.
• Prepare project field records including: Valve sheets.
• CityWorks work order data entries, including:
• Accurate transcription of hard copy work order data (e.g. labor, materials and equipment expenditure).
• Historical comment entries.
• Accurate project phase assignment(e.g. Assigned (Ready to Work), Work in Progress, Work Completed – Ready for QA).
• Hard copy work order records including labor, materials and equipment utilization data. (Note: Hard copy records to be phased out.)
• Ensure vehicles and equipment are:
• Adequately maintained at the operator level.
• Clean and serviceable.
• Fully stocked with standard safety and first aid materials.
• Participate in Crew training:
• Serve as instructors.
• Recommend tasks to be trained based on observations of crew proficiency.
• Train assigned staff in work principles, policies and procedures.
• Perform other unanticipated, mission-critical duties.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to perform basic level of data analysis including the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize and/or reference data, statutes and/or guidelines and/or group, rank, investigate and diagnose. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such to established standards to recognize interactive effects and relationships.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide first line supervision. Ability to persuade, convince, and train others. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustment on equipment, machinery and tools such as motor vehicle, drill press, general power tools, degree gauges and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as production reports, sketches, plat drawings, intersection data sheet and non-routine correspondence.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages, fractions and decimals; may require the ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebra and geometry.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision, managing, leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Environmental Factors: An indoor, climate-controlled office setting.
• Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects and materials weighing from five to twenty pounds;
• Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of sounds and colors associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks, such as reading computer screens, telephone displays, maps, plats and other documents.

Two years of experience in the installation, maintenance and repair of water mains, valves and fittings, fire hydrants, sewer and chemical lines, cleaning/maintenance of water settling basins and grounds maintenance activities. OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Qualifying experience must include: installing and maintaining water mains and appurtenances ranging in size from 3” to 84” steel, cast iron, ductile iron and concrete; excavating, shoring and backfilling work sites; performing street, pavement, concrete and grounds restoration; locating water main leaks; and repairing damaged storm and sanitary sewer laterals and mains.

License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Must possess a valid driver's license at the time of filing application and be able to present it upon request. Please note type of license, number, class and expiration date on the Employment Application. Only qualified applicants who provide proof of a valid driver’s license will be considered for this position.

Scoring Components and Their Weights
Experience and Training: 100%
May be Subject to:

Background Investigation: Pass/Fail
Medical Examination: Pass/Fail

Documentation of Academic Credentials must be Submitted Upon Request

When completing the Employment History and the Educational/Training History sections of the Employment Application, please be as thorough as possible when describing your education, training and experience relating to this position. Applicants will only receive credit for their experience, training and education as shown on the application. Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute to a fully completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Veterans Preference Points

To be eligible for veteran's preference points, the applicant must submit a copy of their DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with the Employment Application or upon request. The Director of Personnel may, in their discretion, accept alternate documentation.

City Residence Preference Points

City residents who pass an examination for a position in the classified service and do not receive any other preference will receive a five (5) point preference on a scale of 100 points on the exam. An additional one (1) point shall be added to the passing score of City residents who receive any other preference on a scale of 100 points. City residents must have resided in the City for at least one (1) year at the time of filing their application to be eligible for the preference points.

Accommodations

If assistance with the job application is necessary based on a physical impairment, mental impairment, or otherwise, they should reach out to the Office on the Disabled with contact information. This office will not disclose any information that an applicant or employee has a disability or has discussed possible accommodations without the applicant's or employee's prior consent.