Job Information
City of Tacoma WA Sewer Worker in Tacoma, Washington

Sewer Worker
Salary
$30.04 - $34.79 Hourly
Location
Tacoma, WA
Job Type
Classified
Job Number
5010-24
Department
Environmental Services
Opening Date
04/19/2024
Closing Date
5/6/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
Benefits
Questions
Position Description
The City of Tacoma is recruiting for the position of Sewer Worker. The Sewer Worker classification is the entry-level class of the Sewer Worker series. Sewer Workers perform technical and physical work related to the construction, maintenance and repair of stormwater and sanitary sewer mains to sustain a continuing program of sewer system maintenance.
Sewer Workers maintain Tacoma's municipal sanitary and surface water systems by:
Installing, cleaning, and repairing sewer lines and storm drains of grease, roots, dirt and other debris with rodding and water pressure equipment
Assisting in the installation, construction, and repair of pipes and pipe connections, reinforce and shore trenches, and work in confined spaces and within traffic zones.
Televising sewers and laterals; locating breaks in utility lines; inspects sewer lines for defects.
Performing traffic control functions such as placing barricades, directing/flagging, re-routing traffic.
Operates a variety of pneumatic, hydraulic, gas and hand powered tools, equipment and machinery related to duties,
Cleaning & maintaining sewer lines, traps, lift stations, and operating related equipment including sewer/vacuum truck.
Assisting with concrete street repair including: setting grades and forms, smoothing out, leveling and finishing.
Using cold patch to fill potholes and make other road repairs.
Utilizing proper safety measures and personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing job duties.
Responding to utility emergencies while on-duty and during off-duty hours, including
Frequent interactions with other City employees and the public.
Our Ideal Candidate/s are people with the following skills:
Enthusiastic, cheerful and helpful team members.
Great customer service skills
Excellent attendance
Strong work ethic
This recruitment is being conducted to create a civil service eligibility list that will be used to fill Sewer Worker vacancies as they occur for one year. There are both permanent and Project positions available in this classification.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Outdoor environment; subject to noise, fumes, adverse weather conditions and driving from site to site; subject to emergency calls during off-duty hours.
Position requires lifting heavy objects and climbing.
An employee in this position is exposed to raw sewage, traffic and underground construction hazards.
Work Schedule
This classification is overtime eligible, and employees are subject to a 24-hour call-out response to emergencies. These positions are staffed as a 9/80 schedule, which is defined as follows: in a two-week pay period, four days at nine (9) hours, Monday – Thursday, and one eight (8) hour day, Friday, the first week, followed by four days at nine (9) hours, Monday – Thursday, each work day with a one-half (1/2) hour unpaid lunch, with the fifth day, Friday, off work, the second week.
Week 1
Lunch
Hours
Week 2
Lunch
Hours
Monday - Thursday
30 minutes
unpaid
9
Monday - Thursday
30 minutes
unpaid
9
Friday*
30 minutes
unpaid
8
Friday*
30 minutes
unpaid
0
- Or the reverse of Week 1 & Week 2
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success.
In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
Qualifications
Graduation from high school or equivalent.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1-year paid work experience performing general construction or repair work, which has included excavation, trenching, shoring activities or heavy physical labor
Sufficient training and experience to demonstrate the knowledge and abilities listed above (also in the knowledge and skills section).
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid Washington State Driver’s License at time of appointment, with maintenance thereafter.
Depending on position, a Valid Washington State Class A Commercial Driver's License with N (tanker) endorsement within nine (9) months of appointment into the classification with maintenance, thereafter, may be required (This is not a requirement for incumbents appointed into the classification prior to April 26, 2022)
Traffic Control Flagging, CPR and first-aid certificates will be required prior to the completion of the probationary period with maintenance thereafter.
Knowledge & Skills
KNOWLEDGE:
Methods, practices, procedures, and techniques of storm and sanitary sewer installation, repair, maintenance, and cleaning.
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy. Health and safety regulations.
Proper methods of storing equipment, materials, and supplies.
SKILLS:
Learn storm and sanitary sewer main and lateral distribution and runoff lines.
Perform heavy manual labor for extended periods.
Operate various tools and related equipment.
Operate trucks to perform sewer-related activities.
Lift objects weighing up to 90 pounds.
Understand and follow oral and written directions.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others and the general public.
Observe legal and defensive driving practices.
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
To be considered for this opportunity:
Interested individuals must apply online and meet the minimum qualifications to progress in the examination process.
Candidates who are eligible for Veteran's Preference scoring criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4, (proof of military discharge form) at time of application, to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points.
Examination Process:
This is a competitive selection process. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the Supplemental Questions # 10-14 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities.
Candidates who pass the test will be placed on an Eligible List for potential interview and hiring consideration.
Any vacancy that comes up within a one-year period of time will draw from candidates on the Eligible List for potential interview selection.
Per City of Tacoma Personnel Management Policy #170, the City of Tacoma is a drug-free work environment. Appointment is subject to passing a pre-employment background check and references check, a pre-employment medical exam, drug and alcohol screen and physical ability test.
This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Teamsters Local 313. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:
Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
Personal time off.
Paid holidays.
A great pension plan.
Our City:
With a population of over 210,000, Tacoma is the second largest city in the Puget Sound region, gracing the shores of Commencement Bay. We are a diverse, progressive, international city that serves as a gateway to the Pacific Rim and the rest of the world. Named one of the most livable areas in the country by Livability.com, Tacoma and the surrounding area is a playground for outdoor and maritime enthusiasts. Our businesses are vibrant, our parks are beautiful, and our schools are exceptional.
When you work for the City of Tacoma, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work/life balance, the potential for flexible work schedules (with some job classifications), continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/
http://www.traveltacoma.com/
The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.
The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend an hour or more entering the required information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.
If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400, before 4:00 pm on the closing date.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Public Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
The City of Tacoma has a technical requirement that employees filling classified roles be residents of the City at the time of their original appointment to a classified job. However, there is a process to request a waiver of this requirement from the Civil Service Board if we identify an outstanding candidate who is a nonresident. Not residing within the City of Tacoma is not an automatic disqualifier and everyone is encouraged to apply.
I understand that the City will request a waiver for me if necessary
Not applicable, I'm a City of Tacoma resident
02
The Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination process; accordingly, it should be completed carefully. It must be submitted with your application. Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. Do not indicate "see resume" or copy unrelated content from your resume when answering these questions. Answer all information requested in each question. Failure to do so may result in rejection of your application. I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.
Yes
No
03
Do you have a high school diploma or the equivalent, such as a General Education Degree (GED) or home-schooling certification?
Yes
No
04
This position requires the successful candidate to have a valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment, with maintenance afterwards.
Do you, or will you, have a valid Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment if you are selected for this job?
Yes
No
05
Please check the boxes of all of the below desired qualifications that you possess. Please note, a response of "None of the above" does not disqualify anyone from meeting the qualifications for this position.
1 year of paid work experience performing general construction or repair work which has included excavation, trenching, shoring activities or heavy physical labor
High school graduate or equivalent, such as a General Education Degree or homeschool graduate
None of the above
06
Individuals in the position are exposed to the outdoor environment, noise, fumes, heavy lifting of objects and climbing, confined space entry, adverse weather conditions and exposure to raw sewage, traffic and underground construction hazards. Please check Yes to acknowledge that you are aware of the working conditions.
Yes
No
07
Candidates who are given a Conditional Job Offer must first pass a physical assessment test as a condition to hire. The test will include: 45 lb upright row, 100 lb squats, 45 lb shoulder press, and aerobic bicycling. Please check Yes to acknowledge that you are aware of the assessment and that you must pass this assessment as a condition of employment.
Yes
No
08
Do you have any of the following? Please check all that apply. Please note, a response of "None of the these" does not disqualify anyone from meeting the qualifications for this position. Additional training is offered by the City
CDL class A with tanker endorsement
Confined space training
Flagging experience
Forklift experience
None of these
09
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TEST:
Questions #10-14 are the experience and training test that will be used to establish the eligibility list. These questions will be scored by subject matter experts who will not have access to any of your application materials, and will provide scores based solely upon your answers to the questions. Your answers must stand on their own merit. Please DO NOT RESPOND WITH "SEE RESUME" in lieu of answering this question, as raters will not have access to your resume or application, and this will result in a score of 0 points and you will fail the test. Your score on the experience and training test will ONLY reflect your response to the questions asked.
Please indicate "Yes" that you have read and understand the instructions for questions #10-14.
Yes
No
10
in detail, please your experience performing maintenance, repair, and cleaning storm and sewer lines. Please include types of equipment/machinery used, duties performed; also indicate if work was performed independently or as part of a crew. If you do not have experience, respond with N/A.
11
Please check the boxes of all of the below listed tools and equipment that you have training on and verifiable work experience operating.
CCTV inspection equipment (assist with placement)
Curb Saw/Concrete Saw
Gas Powered Tamper
Shovels, rakes, picks, sledges
Power tools, cut-off saws, grinders, chainsaws
Forklifts
None of the above
12
In detail, please describe any experience you have performing manual labor or working in the construction field. If you do not have experience, respond with N/A.
13
Please describe your experience working as a member of a team, detail your role and responsibilities on the team. If you do not have experience, respond with N/A.
14
Please describe your experience working with customers and/or providing services to clients (internal or external). What is your definition/idea of great customer service? If you do not have experience, respond with N/A.
15
How did you learn about this job opening?
City of Tacoma webpage
Internet search
Word of mouth
From a City of Tacoma employee
Professional Organization
Association of Washington Cities website
Union sharing the information
From a community organization
Other
16
If you selected "other", "professional organization" or "community organization" for question #15, please tell us how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your information will help us in our recruitment for future job openings.
17
If you are a military veteran, did you remember to upload a copy of your DDForm 214, Member 4 copy, for review for Veteran's Preference eligibility?
Yes
No
Required Question
Agency
City of Tacoma
Address
Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764
Phone
253-591-5400
Website
http://www.cityoftacoma.org
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