Job Appointment: Full time
Work Schedule: 4 x 10-hour days; Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday.
Work Location: 1900 N. Interstate Ave, Portland, OR
Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position
Union Representation: (District Council Trade Union, DCTU). To view this labor agreement, please click here. Applicants start at the entry salary rate.If you are a DCTU represented employee, see labor agreement for additional information or talk to your union representative.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

Position Summary

Are you seeking a career path in construction? The Portland Water Bureau is seeking Water Distribution Worker (Trainee) to join their team!

In this Trainee position, you will learn about water system infrastructure installation & maintenance, worksite preparation, maintenance and clean-up, tool use and maintenance, hydrant, fountain, and water facility site maintenance, as well as receive a large amount of safety training.

Work duties are varied and all over the City, but as employees gain experience, assignments may become more complex and of a skilled nature. Trainee work is usually closely supervised with the employee receiving specific instructions at the beginning of each new job. Less supervision is exercised over routine and repetitive tasks, which can be carried out without difficulty once they are learned. Work is subject to review in progress and upon completion.

Our paid training program includes:·

Variety of construction, maintenance, and operational functions.
Learning and performing light to heavy manual labor and assisting in the performance of skilled tasks, including the maintenance and construction of the City's water distribution system.
Employees occupying positions in this class are responsible for, driving all classes of trucks, transporting work crews, and equipment, and performing.
Portland Water Bureau site maintenance.
CDL Training & Licensure.
Water Distribution Certification training and Level 1 Certification.

To be successful in the program, you must have a strong work ethic, willingness to learn, the ability to work effectively and courteously with the public and coworkers and be interested in starting a career with the Water Bureau.

Graduation and /or promotion are based on approval and authorization of the Maintenance & Construction Training Committee.

Overview of the Water Distribution Worker Trainee Program

This is a 4000-hour (approximately 2 years) program that provides Trainees with the knowledge and skills required to be a Water Distribution Worker in the Portland Water Bureau through a combination of on-the-job and outside classroom training.

In addition to the 4000 hours of on-the-job training, education is required. When hired into the Trainee Program, there is a process in place for reviewing credit for previous education, work experience, and training which may shorten the actual length of your Trainee program. The Trainee's skill development is assessed throughout the program and raises are based on progress in the program.

The 4000 hours of On-The-Job Training are in the following areas:

Water system infrastructure installation

Pipe laying and installation
Water service installation
Installation of gates and valves

Water systems infrastructure maintenance

Leak repair
Service Renewals
Routine maintenance

Work site (preparation, maintenance, and clean-up)

Preparing street.
Returning to use
Excavating site
Maintaining locate marks

Tool use and maintenance

Hand tools (e.g. shovels, tile spades)
Power tools (e.g. saws, pipe cutters, jackhammers

Hydrant and fountain maintenance

Connecting, painting, and repairing drinking fountains and hydrants

Safety

First Aid/CPR/AED's/Blood borne pathogens
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Traffic control
Excavation safety
Confined space
Hazard communications
Defensive driving
Customer service
Standard operating procedures and policies (SOP's)

Additional Training/License Requirements

120 hours per year of outside education (some of which is on paid time)
You will be required to obtain a commercial driver's license.
Water Distribution Certification Level 1
Maintain 2.0 minimum CEU’s every 2 years to maintain WD certification.

About the Division:

The Portland Water Bureau is the largest drinking water provider in the state. The Maintenance and Construction Division is the workgroup that maintains the city's drinking water infrastructure 24-7 365 days a year. Our crews typically consist of 4-5 teammates who work together to ensure the safety of each other, the system is working as designed, and the public is receiving the greatest benefit possible from our rates.

About the Portland Water Bureau:
The City of Portland Water Bureau’s mission is to serve excellent water every minute of every day to almost 1 million customers in the Portland Metropolitan area. We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We are committed to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply for this position.

Our mission: We serve excellent water every minute of every day.

Our vision: The water our community loves is safe and abundant for generations to come.

Our equity commitment: We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We commit to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities.

More Information about the bureau: www.portlandoregon.gov/water

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Anna.Morgan@portlandoregon.gov

To Qualify

Applicants must provide details in their supplemental question responses and resume that demonstrate how their education, training, and/or experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Experience understanding and following oral and basic written instructions.
2.Experience using common hand tools and simple power tools applicable to the work and the ability to learn and apply safe working practices.
3. Experience providing excellent customer service.
4. Ability to work for long periods of time in confined spaces and in all types of weather conditions.
5. Ability to perform simple math calculations, write legibly, and complete simple forms.
6. Ability to work courteously and effectively with a diverse group of people.

Applicant must also:

A valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
High School Diploma/GED.

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between September 30, 2024 – October 11, 2024

Required Application Materials:

Resume
Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

Application Tips:

Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
Do not attach any additional documents.
Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of October 14 - Week of October 21, , 2024

An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of October 28, 2024

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. (Update if a Ranked list or other type of list is used)

Step 4: Selection (Interview): Mid-Late November

Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

Step 5: Offer of Employment: Early December

Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment. (Include if requires an in-depth background investigation.)

Step 6: Start Date: Early/Mid-December

A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

Recruitment Process - Work Status
Equal Employment Opportunity
Veteran Preference
ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

Portland Water Bureau

New Jobs

Water Distribution Worker Trainee - REVISED