Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

Operations & Maintenance Trainee

Bargaining Unit: Miscellaneous Non-Supervisory Unit
Salary Code: 14
Fair Labor Standards Act Designation: Non-Exempt
Revision Date: February 20, 2025

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under direct supervision of the Senior Civil Maintenance Worker, Senior Mechanical Maintenance Worker, Senior Water Distribution Operator or Senior Preventive Maintenance Worker, receives training and experience in the performance of a variety of duties in the Operations, Mechanical Maintenance, or Civil & Preventive Maintenance Departments. The Operations & Maintenance Trainee is an entry level classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The information below is meant to serve as examples of the job duties and responsibilities for this classification. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed.

  1. Operate the water distribution and drainage systems including reading, recording, maintaining and repairing vertical and horizontal water delivery meters, including the use of notebook computers; check delivery connections for compliance with District requirements; check meter readings to ensure that ordered flow and odometer readings correspond to indicated flow; and initiate odometer updates and provide information to the Customer Accounting Department.
  2. Constructs, maintains, and repairs roads and right-of-way, above ground and underground piping, valves, meters, concrete structures, canals, and related water distribution and drainage facilities including excavating, repairing, and replacing concrete, transite, steel, and plastic pipelines, and repairs and replaces air relief butterfly, check gate, and slide gate valves.
  3. Constructs, maintains, fabricates and repairs work on water distribution and drainage systems and related equipment including troubleshooting, disassembling, diagnosing, repairing, reassembling and assisting in manufacturing parts for pumps, valves, water delivery meters, traveling water screens, electrical and hydraulic components of valve actuators, and other mechanical facilities, and; depending on assignment, implements power and water pumping schedules of the Pleasant Valley Pumping Plant to accommodate District delivery demands.
  4. Performs preventive maintenance, lubrication, or repair work and makes adjustments to pumps, valves, traveling water screens, and other equipment on the water distribution and drainage system facilities including adjusting, repairing, and replacing mechanical equipment and structural facilities, repacking water lubricated pumps; initiates work orders for the removal, repair, or replacement of defective, worn or broken mechanical or electrical equipment at the pumping plant facilities and canal structures.
  5. Sandblasts and applies protective coatings and molecular materials.
  6. Performs general maintenance and weed control measures, which may include cutting, burning, and spraying; and disposes of aquatic and vegetative growth in and around pumping plants, reservoirs and canals.
  7. Exercises a variety of valves above and below ground.
  8. Operate lift truck and materials handling equipment, portable high-pressure cleaning equipment, weed spray equipment, a mechanical trash rake, and power and hand tools.
  9. Utilizes procedures for confined space entry, the use of hazardous materials, cranes, and heavy equipment safety.Utilizes procedures for confined space entry, the use of hazardous materials, cranes, and heavy equipment safety.
  10. Assists in the weld shop with cutting and MIG welding.
  11. Performs other duties as assigned.

CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience

Any combination of equivalent education and experience that has led to the acquisition of the knowledge required by the position. A typical way of acquiring the knowledge would be:

Possess a United States’ high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and one (1) year of equivalent experience performing duties related to industrial repair, storekeeping, general maintenance, mechanical maintenance, or construction.

Knowledge of:

  • Materials, methods, practices, equipment, and tools used in the installation and maintenance of water distribution and drainage systems.
  • Safety precautions, equipment, and tools used in the construction, maintenance and repair of water distribution and drainage systems.
  • Landscaping and weed control work.
  • Principles of the operation of meters.
  • Simple recordkeeping.
  • Basic math.

Skills/Abilities to:

  • Follow and prepare both oral and written instructions.
  • Communicate effectively.
  • Learn to read and understand technical documents associated with mechanical equipment.
  • Safely operate assigned tools and equipment in the installation and maintenance of a water distribution system.
  • Operate computer equipment including laptop and adding machines.
  • Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public.
  • Operate a District vehicle and/or equipment observing legal and defensive driving practices.
  • Heavy lifting, carrying, and/or pushing of materials and supplies up to 100 pounds.
  • Use hazardous materials.
  • Possess physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the job, including the ability to climb stationary ladders up to 100 feet in height, work suspended above ground level (approximately 45 feet) in a bosun chair or aerial lift, and work in confined spaces, such as in excavations (approximately 20 feet below ground level), buried dewatered pipelines and manifolds (ranging from 3 feet to 13 feet in diameter), and dewatered sumps and turnout facilities (approximately 30 feet below ground level).

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

  • Possess a valid California Class C Driver’s license with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider.
  • Depending on assignment, a California Class A Driver’s License with airbrake endorsement, or a California Class B Driver’s License, along with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider may be required.
  • Depending on assignment, may require attendance at a Western Area Power Administration High Voltage Switching safety training workshop offered by the District.