Water Agency Lead Mechanic

Full Job Description

Join our team to grow your career and contribute to your community!

The Water Agency Lead Mechanic is responsible for day-to-day oversight and mechanical maintenance of Sonoma County Water Agency’s Water and Wastewater infrastructures. The Lead Mechanic will oversee preventative maintenance programs and lead mechanics with mechanical repairs and replacement of equipment needed to operate Sonoma Water’s Wastewater & Water utilities. This position will also be responsible for:

• Reviewing equipment and material purchases
• Assigning daily work of the Water Agency Mechanics
• Attending meetings for construction projects and supporting construction activities
• Adjusting staffing resources as needed to respond to critical problems when they arise
• Working closely with Operations & Maintenance Coordinators where operational needs interface and overlap
• Assessing issues, making decisions, and determining when to escalate matters to Operations & Maintenance Coordinators

The ideal Water Agency Lead Mechanic candidate will be an effective leader who possesses problem-solving skills, the ability to build and maintain working relationships, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude. Additionally, they will possess many of the following:

• Journey-level experience with Water and/or Wastewater treatment equipment and processes
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent leadership and mentorship skills
• The ability to remain calm, perform well under pressure, and effectively deal with potential emergency situations
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills

About Sonoma Water

Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions, including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs.

Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $565 annual payment and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Local 39 and our Employee Benefits Directory.

Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill a Water Agency Lead Mechanic position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Requirements

Experience: Any combination of experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed above. Normally the possession of the equivalent of two years of qualifying experience beyond the attainment of recognized journey level status as a Water Agency Mechanic would provide such opportunity.

License: Possession of a valid California Class C motor vehicle operator's license. A California Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade T1 is required within 2 years of employment and a California Water Distribution Operator Grade D3 is required within 4 years from employment. Additionally, the possession of a Wastewater Mechanic Certificate and certificates to work in confined spaces, and perform back flow testing are desired.

Qualifications

Considerable knowledge of: principles, practices, methods, and materials used in the installation, maintenance, and repair of mechanical equipment common to water treatment, storage, distribution, and flood control facilities; water or wastewater treatment and distribution systems, including pumping plants, booster stations, reservoirs, aqueducts, water or wastewater service systems and related water or wastewater facilities and systems; the methods, materials, tools, equipment, practices and procedures used in the construction, installation, operation and technical maintenance of water or wastewater treatment and distribution facilities and systems; the installation, testing, calibration, repair, maintenance and operation of electrical, and related mechanical equipment associated with water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems, such as motors and generators, switch gears, complex pipeline hydraulic systems, pumps, valves and meters, cathodic protection and related equipment; preventative maintenance techniques and schedules; organizational and occupational safety practices and procedures especially those connected with work on electrical and mechanical equipment, equipment operating under high pressure, various chemical and equipment used in water and wastewater processing and treatment; and electrical theory and application as it relates to a highly sophisticated water treatment and distribution systems; use and care of hand and power tools, including machine tools common to the trade; and, shop mathematics.

Skill in: performing varied and complex mechanical maintenance and repair work; diagnosing problems and determining appropriate action; interpreting and working from sketches, blueprints, and specifications; estimating labor and materials; keeping accurate records and making reports; directing the work of and instructing one or more semiskilled assistants.

Ability to: plan, organize, assign and supervise the activities of skilled and semi-skilled employees; use initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; install, test, calibrate, repair and maintain electrical and related equipment associated with water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems; interpret and work from technical sketches and blueprints relating to water and wastewater treatment and distribution systems and facilities; prepare complex written reports and summaries of work activities; enter data on a computer in an established format; establish and maintain effective working relations with other governmental agencies, utility companies, employees and the public; and read and write English.

Working knowledge of: acetylene and electric arc welding and machining technique.

Working Conditions: duties require sitting, standing, walking on uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, kneeling, bending, stooping, crawling, squatting, crouching and grasping in the performance of daily duties; an acute sense of smell and hearing is needed in detecting chemical problems. The duties also require both near and far vision while making visual checks of the treatment process and working on equipment. The need to lift, carry and push motors, pipes, valves, fittings, pumps, and other equipment and supplies weighing 40 pounds or more is also required. Additionally, the incumbent must work in all weather conditions. The use of lubricants and working around hazardous sewer gases exposes the employee to fumes, dust and air contaminants which may cause eye and skin irritation. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to be exposed to raw and treated sewage; to climb ladders and walk on scaffolds, and ride personnel lifts at height; to work in confined spaces; to wear self-contained breathing equipment; to handle noise producing tools and equipment; and to drive a motorized vehicle.

Additional Information

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: VH