Utilities Operations Foreman

Assist in the supervision of staff and perform operation, maintenance and repair of Santa Fe County Utilities’ water and wastewater facilities.

• Under the supervision of the Utilities Division, directs the work of the operation and maintenance crews responsible for operation, maintenance, and repair of the Santa Fe County Utilities (SFCU) infrastructure.
• Supervises - members of the SFCU field staff in accordance with County personnel rules; evaluates subordinates and establishes improvement programs; recommends hiring, promotions, merit increases, and disciplinary actions; accounts for and reports the time worked by supervisees; assigns work to and determined goals for supervisees.
• Organizes and participates in quick reaction teams needed for urgent or emergency repair/maintenance of SFCU infrastructure.
• Solicits quotes or bids from appropriate vendors and procures materials, supplies, and services required for the operation and maintenance of the facilities.
• Ensures that employees practice safety in the workplace such that exposure to injury is eliminated or minimized to an acceptable level.
• Performs operation, maintenance, and record keeping duties of mid-level complexity in connection with the operation of County-owned water and wastewater systems, including public water supply, transmission and distribution systems, sewage collection systems and pump stations, biological treatment plants, and effluent disposal and reuse.
• Performs customer service in the field and interacts with technical and business support staff of the SFCU.
• Performs or supervises the collection, preservation, transportation, and analysis of water and wastewater samples in the field and in laboratory settings in accordance with standard procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Performs or supervises the location of underground utility lines in conformance with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission rules and regulations.
• Provides basic training to Utility Maintenance Workers, Certified Operators and others.
• Is responsible for maintenance and inventory accountability of equipment, tools, and other County resources and reports any equipment losses, damage, or other conditions that may need supervisory / managerial attention.
• Under the supervision of the Utilities Operation Supervisor, leads groups of individuals engaged in establishing and maintaining specialized initiatives within the utility (e.g. backflow prevention program, industrial pretreatment program, etc.).
• Inspects water and wastewater construction projects for conformity with SFCU, AWWA, state and national standards.

• General knowledge, training and understanding in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities and supervision of a field crew engaged in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities.
• General knowledge and understanding of state and federal laws and regulations governing water supply and wastewater collection /treatment and reuse in the State of New Mexico or other.
• Ability to plan, assign, direct, coordinate and review the work of others.
• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety practices in water and wastewater operation, maintenance and utility construction. Specific knowledge in confined spaced entry procedures.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work from sketches, diagrams, and blueprints; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; establish effective working relationships with associates and the public.
• Ability to use a desktop computer and common software (MS Office).
• Must be skilled in the operation of light and heavy equipment, such as: backhoes, excavators, skid loader, tampers, dump trucks, truck or trailer mounted jet-rodders and vacuum cleaning equipment and trailers used to transport light and heavy equipment. Specialized training in equipment operation preferred.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Five (5) years of experience in water or wastewater facility operation or maintenance with two (2) of the five (5) years of experience including:
  1. performance of lead water or wastewater operator responsibilities and
  2. preparation of Water and Waste Water Compliance reports.
• Must possess or obtain the New Mexico Water Level III and Waste Water Level III Operator certification within 12 months of hire.
• Must possess a valid New Mexico Class D driver’s license.

• Must obtain a New Mexico Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B, CPR, First Aid, Forklift Operator and Traffic Control Flagging Certifications within 6 months of hire.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed primarily outdoors and under different weather conditions, with exposure to dust, fumes, airborne particles, allergens, wastewater, heights, animals and extreme heat or cold. Work involves high risk and potentially dangerous situations working near hazardous/moving materials, equipment and machinery; and exposure to vibration and excessive noise. The use of protective clothing, equipment, devices and materials is required. Work requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands or arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk, hear, and smell; clarity of vision at short and long distance; and the ability to lift up to 50lbs. Work schedules may include evening and weekend hours, plus 24-hour emergency and on-call duty. Walking, bending, stooping and lifting up to 100 lbs. is required. Travel outside Santa Fe County may be required occasionally. Employee may be called out in emergency situations related to emergency water and wastewater system operations (i.e. water line breaks). When contacted, the employee is expected to report to work unless there are special non-recurring circumstances, regardless of the location of the employee’s residence. Incumbent must be available for 24-hour emergency on call duty and weekend work when required. Must have personal telephone or be available by any equally effective means of communication.

Conditions of Employment:

Selected candidate must submit to and pass a County paid pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening. Additionally, selected candidate must submit to and pass a county paid criminal background screening. Selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Class D Driver’s License as incumbent shall be appointed to drive a County vehicle during the performance of his/her duties. Candidate must obtain and/or maintain all certifications required.