UTILITY LOCATOR

Description The City of Visalia is recruiting for Utility Locator to join our Public Works Department. Please click here for the recruitment announcement and more information on this exciting opportunity.

THE DEPARTMENT The City of Visalia's Public Works Department serves the Public and other City Departments by providing Solid Waste and Recycling Services, Streets Maintenance, Traffic Maintenance, Fleet Management, Water Collection and Treatment, as well as conservation efforts. With over 150 employees, the Public Works Department is one of the largest departments within the City. Each Division is responsible for the development and implementation of services provided to or for the Public. The Division’s staff is committed to customer service, safety, and providing high-quality services to other City Departments and the Public.

Examples of Duties

THE POSITION The City is seeking a Utility Locator to work in the Traffic Division. The position will report directly to the Traffic Operations Supervisor. Key duties will be identifying, locating, and marking the City’s utilities in accordance with California government codes and City policies and procedures for USA tickets.

Qualifications / Requirements IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate for this position will have knowledge of locating City underground utilities and experience in using underground utility locating devices, underground construction and have the ability to read maps and drawings and possess basic computer software skills. Additionally, this candidate will need a strong work ethic, the ability to work independently, and have strong written and oral communication skills, as well as exceptional customer service skills.

Experience And Education Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skill, and ability is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skill, and ability would be:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years experience in the construction, maintenance, surveying, or utility line locating field involving underground facilities is desired.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.
• May be required to respond to emergency situations after normal working hours, including nights, holidays, and weekends.

Please click here for a detailed job description.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL STANDARDS Positions in this class require moderate to heavy physical work with prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing, lifting, and carrying loads weighing between 50 to 95 pounds. Positions also involve fieldwork resulting in exposure to the weather.

SELECTION PROCESS Application and supplemental materials will be evaluated and applicants who appear to be most qualified will be invited to participate in a job related interview and/or examination process. Successful candidates may be required to pass a background, physical examination, and/or drug screen.

Note: Applications will be accepted until the posted deadline or until 100 applications have been received, whichever occurs first.

Compensation And Benefits The City of Visalia offers a competitive total compensation package that includes: Monthly Salary $3,716 - $4,672

CalPERS retirement program

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

Onsite City Health and Wellness Clinic (no out of pocket expenses)

Longevity Pay

Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave and much more...

Review the Benefits tab for more information. Experience Visalia. Enhance Your Life. If work-life balance is important to you, consider living in a thriving community that offers the most affordable housing in California with a typical commute time of less than 20 minutes. With a population of over 148,000, Visalia offers small town charm with metropolitan amenities. Visalia has a world class health care system, our own Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, a flourishing arts community, a minor league baseball team, a downtown convention center, and numerous fine dining establishments.

As the Tulare County seat, Visalia is the principal retail center in the region, and home to several large industrial employers. Visalia has a vibrant downtown district, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, institutions for higher learning, and low cost of living. The City has many community parks, organized team sports, a municipal golf course and private country club, a multi-sport family-oriented regional sports park, and numerous outdoor and recreational activities.

Located in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley, Visalia offers easy access to the nearby mountains, national parks, lakes and rivers which provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation within an hour or less. Visalia was ranked as the top Central Valley community and one of seven California cities in the top 25 of Gallup Sharecare's latest State of American Well Being Index. Our strong sense of community and social well-being keeps Visalians happy, healthy and moving forward. Come discover all Visalia has to offer!

The City of Visalia is an equal opportunity employer.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. Please refer to the MOU for further information. Bargaining Unit: Employees in this class are represented by the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council (Group M bargaining unit). This bargaining unit may establish and collect dues for their members' independent from the City of Visalia. Those that elect to join may be required to pay dues per the provisions in the MOU.

Salary Policies: The salary range for the job is stated on the job announcement. Candidates are normally hired at the minimum of the salary range. Salary increases are given based upon employee work performance, up to a maximum of 5% per fiscal year.

Longevity Pay: Association members are eligible for longevity pay based on all years of full-time service with the City of Visalia as a percentage of base wages at the following intervals: 2.0% at 5+ years, 10+ years, 15+ years, and 20+ years.

Bilingual pay of $900 per year, pro-rated on a pay period basis, is available to those who are eligible and qualify.

Communications Training Pay: Communications Operators certified and assigned as “Communications Training Officers” will receive $1,000 per year, prorated and paid bi-weekly as part of regular payroll.

Uniforms and Uniform Allowances: The City shall provide the necessary uniforms and safety equipment needed to perform the job. In lieu of the City providing boots, for those required to wear protective safety footwear, employees will be given an annual boot allowance of $300 for boots and related accessories (laces, insoles, etc.) paid in the pay period that includes July 1st. Group M employees of the police department shall receive a uniform allowance of $800 per year, prorated and paid bi-weekly as part of regular payroll for the maintenance of appropriate uniforms and equipment. Employees working in the following areas of the Police Department that are required to wear a uniform are eligible for uniform allowance: Dispatch, Records, CSO personnel, Property and Evidence, Crime Lab, Duty Officer personnel, Parking Enforcement, and Digital Evidence Technicians.

Holidays: Regular non-shift full-time City employees receive 11 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year. In lieu of holidays, Police shift employees receive 4 hours of compensatory time off and 4 hours of regular pay in the pay period the holiday falls. In addition, shift employees receive one floating holiday in the pay period that includes January 1.

Vacation: Regular full-time employees earn 10 days per year. After 2 years, employees are eligible for 11 days; after 4 years, 14 days; after 9 years, 17 days; and after 16 years, 20 days of vacation per year. Employees are eligible for vacation usage after six (6) months of service. Employees hired from another governmental agency may be entitled to receive years-of-service credit for their vacation accrual rate for such previous employment and applies only to the government agency the employee was employed with immediately prior to employment with the City of Visalia.

Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per year, accrued per pay period. Employees are eligible for sick leave usage after three (3) months of service.

Annual Sick Leave Buy Back: For employees covered under the Sick Leave I provision of the policy, the City will automatically cash out all sick leave hours over 480 hours at 40% of the employee's base rate of pay.

Administrative Leave: Employees classified as FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime pay) currently receive 56 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Any unused administrative leave hours are automatically paid out on the first paycheck in December.

Compensatory Time Off: Regular full-time employees classified as FLSA non-exempt (eligible for overtime pay) currently receive eight (8) hours compensatory time off per calendar year.

Health Insurance: The City provides employee health insurance which includes medical, dental, and vision care. Employee contribution rates are determined by employee's bargaining unit and plan selected. Health benefits are also available for an employee's dependents for an additional contribution rate. Eligibility for health insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire. Contribution rates are reviewed for adjustment annually.

Life Insurance: The City pays the premium for a life insurance and accidental death or dismemberment policy of $30,000. A supplemental life insurance policy may be purchased and paid through payroll deduction. Eligibility for life insurance benefits begins on the first of the month after the date of hire.

Retirement: The City of Visalia is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). New employees are covered under the 2% @ 62 plan. [Employees with previous PERS qualifying service (Classic employees) may fall under the 2% @ 60 plan.] Each pay period, the employee pays an employee contribution at the CalPERS established rate. The City pays an employer contribution towards the retirement benefit and employees are responsible for contributing 4% of the employer contribution in addition to the required employee contribution.

Social Security/FICA: City employees are not subject to regular Social Security (FICA) deductions. However, Federal law requires that the Medicare portion of the FICA is deducted.

Section 125: The City offers a voluntary Section 125 program whereby tax-free contributions are put into a trust account and are available for withdrawal with documentation of an unreimbursed healthcare or dependent care expense (i.e. premium, dependent care, medical care).

Long Term Disability: Regular full-time City employees are eligible for disability insurance (up to 2/3 of their salary) in the event they are disabled for more than ninety (90) days. LTD premium cost is paid by the employee.

Worker's Compensation: Full-time and hourly employees who sustain an occupational injury or contract occupational illnesses receive standard Worker's Compensation benefits as prescribed by law.

Other Benefits: The City also offers additional benefits such as an employee assistance program (EAP), a pre-tax deferred compensation plan, education assistance up to $1,500 per fiscal year, as well as a City-sponsored clinic staffed by clinicians 6 days per week available to all full-time employees and covered dependents. Services include general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.

As a potential applicant, you are about to participate in a series of events collectively called the employment process. Because the goal of the employment process is to obtain the most qualified candidates to fill City positions, examinations are administered to qualified applicants. These examinations are conducted in a variety of ways (written, oral, practical, and/or performance), yet they share a common purpose - to test applicants based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job. The employment process occurs in several stages which are described below:

Application: Perspective employees must submit a City of Visalia application and other documents required as outlined in the announcement by the closing time specified on the final filing date. Final filing dates and times are listed on the front of each announcement. Separate original applications must be submitted for each recruitment/position applied for.

Examination: Applicants will be evaluated and applicants who clearly appear to be more qualified in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be invited to take an examination or combination of examinations. Written, practical, oral, and/or performance examination scores, or a pre-determined combined examination score, will determine standing on the eligible list.

Exam Accommodations: If you are most qualified for the job, but need reasonable accommodations to take the exam, contact the Human Resources Division at least five (5) days prior to the exam. We want to work with you to design a fair and effective means by which you can demonstrate your ability to perform the essential functions of this job. Be prepared to furnish proof of the need for accommodation. Such proof should normally be a signed statement on letterhead by a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis.

Eligible lists: Eligible lists contain names, in descending order of score, of applicants who have obtained passing scores. Eligible lists are maintained for no less than six (6) months and no more than one year unless otherwise determined by Human Resources. The City retains the authority to reestablish an eligible list for a specific job opening when deemed necessary. Separate eligible lists are established for each recruitment.

Selection: A departmental interview is conducted with the top candidates from the eligible list. The number of candidates interviewed depends on the number of vacancies.

Background Review: Depending on the position, prospective employees will be subject to clearing a background investigation which may include, but is not limited to, a reference check, credit check, criminal history review, social security verification, DMV record check, polygraph, and psychological evaluation.

Post Offer Medical Examination: Prior to starting work, all prospective employees are required to take a drug/alcohol screening administered by the City's medical provider and/or pass a medical examination. Candidates are cautioned not to quit or give notice to present employers until the medical examination has been completed and passed.

Probationary Period: Employees appointed to a new position through an open or promotional process are required to serve a twelve (12) month probationary period. Employees appointed to Assistant Communications Operator or Communications Operator positions are required to serve an eighteen (18) month probationary period. An employee may be terminated without recourse for any reason and at any time during the probationary period.

Immigration Law: Prior to employment, applicants will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, alien registration, or authorization to work in the United States at time of appointment, and complete an I-9 form. Failure to do so within three (3) days from date of hire may be cause for termination. Once hired, failure to maintain authorization to work in the United States may be cause for termination of employment.

Driver's License: Some City positions may require possession of a valid California Driver's License. Employees may also be required to submit a DMV printout with proof of automobile insurance as some positions may require the use of your vehicle on the job. Additionally, employees may be required to drive City vehicles or equipment.

Non-Smoking Policy: A non-smoking ordinance adopted by the City provides a smoke-free environment.

Drug-Free Workplace: The City is a drug-free workplace and has adopted a comprehensive substance abuse policy.

Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy: A zero-tolerance discrimination and anti-harassment policy adopted by the City provides employees and volunteers with a professional work environment in which they are not exposed to harassment and illegal discrimination of any kind.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained in the announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. 01

Please answer the following questions. The information is required, as it will be used to initially determine minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of required supplemental responses. Please do not say “see resume” or your application and supplemental questionnaire will be deemed incomplete. Yes, I acknowledge and agree to the above statement.

• Yes
• No

02

The information provided in your application must support your answers to the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be verified and documentation may be required. Please be honest and as accurate as possible. With the completion of this supplemental questionnaire, you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any misstatements, omissions, or falsification of information may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Yes, I acknowledge and agree to the above statement.

• Yes
• No

03

Describe your experience in construction, maintenance, or line locating. Include the functions you performed, and the length of time you performed these functions.

04

What different types of locating instruments are you familiar with?

05

Describe your experience maintaining logs or records.

06

Describe your experience in map reading and interpreting project plans including blueprints and related materials to determine location of utilities.

• Required Question