Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

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Operations & Maintenance Trainee

Bargaining Unit: Miscellaneous Non-Supervisory Unit
Salary Code: 14
FLSA Designation: Nonexempt
Revision Date: March 1, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under direct supervision of the Senior Civil Maintenance Worker, Senior Mechanical Maintenance Worker, Senior Operator or Senior Preventive Maintenance Worker, receives training and experience in the performance of a variety of duties in the Operations, Planning & Maintenance Support, Mechanical Maintenance, or Civil & Preventive 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. Learns to perform tasks related to the operation of the water distribution and drainage systems including reading, recording, maintaining and repairing vertical and horizontal water delivery meters, including the use of notebook computers; checking delivery connections for compliance with District requirements; checking meter readings to ensure that ordered flow and odometer readings correspond to indicated flow; and initiating odometer updates and providing information to the Customer Accounting Department.
  2. Learns to perform assignments in scheduling maintenance work including estimating time, preparing weekly work schedule sheets, and coordinating activities with other departments, divisions, water users, other agencies, and county and State authorities.
  3. Learns to perform construction, maintenance, and repair of roads and right-of -ways, above ground and underground piping, valves, meters, concrete structures, canals, and related water distribution & drainage facilities including excavating, repairing, and replacing concrete, transite, steel, and plastic pipelines; and repairing and replacing air relief butterfly, check, gate and slidegate valves.
  4. Learns to perform construction, maintenance, fabrication and repair 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, to implement power and water pumping schedules of the Pleasant Valley Pumping Plant to accommodate District delivery demands.
  5. Learns to perform preventive maintenance, lubrication, or repair work and make adjustments to the 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; and initiate 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.
  6. Maintains equipment usage files; and makes deliveries and pickups of supplies and parts.
  7. Processes and distributes incoming and interoffice mail; processes outgoing mail, and maintains appropriate log books.
  8. Sandblasts and applies protective coatings and molecular materials.
  9. 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.
  10. Exercises a variety of valve above and below ground.
  11. Operates lift truck and material handling equipment portable high-pressure cleaning equipment, weed spray equipment, a mechanical trash rake, and power and hand tools.
  12. Utilizes procedures for confined space entry, the use of hazardous materials, cranes, and heavy equipment safety.
  13. Assists in the weld shop with cutting and mig welding.
  14. 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:

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

Note: Recruitment may be limited to candidates with an education or experience background related to the specific position vacancy.

Knowledge of:

  • The 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 record keeping.
  • Basic math.

Skills/Abilities to:

  • Follow and prepare both verbal 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 including the public.
  • Operate a District vehicle and/or equipment observing legal and defense driving practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Heavy lifting, carrying, and/or pushing of materials and supplies up to 100 pounds.
  • Use hazardous materials.
  • Possess the physical strength and agility to work outdoors under adverse climatic conditions.
  • 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 in size from 3 feet to 13 feet in diameter), and dewatered sumps and turnout facilities (approximately 30 feet below ground level).

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

  • Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider is required.
  • Depending on assignment, it may beneficial to obtain a California Class A Driver’s License with air brake endorsement, or a California Class B Driver’s License, along with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider.
  • Depending on assignment, it may be a requirement to attend a Western Area Power Administration High Voltage Switching safety training workshop offered by the District.