Utility Maintenance Foreman

Job Posted 2/22/2025
Alamogordo, NM
La Luz, NM 88310
United States
Job Description
Salary : $69,680.00 Annually
Location : La Luz, NM
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 81150002
Department: Utilities
Division: Utility Maintenance
Opening Date: 02/20/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
Under general supervision, performs daily work assignments for the Utility Maintenance Division of the Utilities Department in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, City of Alamogordo Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority.

Recruitment Qualifications
Required:
  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent;
  • Distribution Systems 3 (DS3) and Collection Systems 2 (CS2) certifications* issued by the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission;
  • One (1) year of progressive experience supervising employees;
  • Valid Traffic Control Supervisor (TCS) certification;
  • Successful completion of NM811 training (Excavation Law Class) within sixty (60) days; and
  • Valid New Mexico Class A Commercial Driver's License with Tank (N) endorsement and a driving record acceptable to the City of Alamogordo. Drivers shall be granted a period of six (6) months to upgrade and remove an automatic transmission (E) restriction if one exists.

* Acceptable substitutions for DS3 and CS2 are Water Supply Level 3 (WS3) and Wastewater Level 2 (WW2) certifications, respectively, issued by the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission. Minimum qualifications for certifications are determined by the NMED Utility Operator Certification Program. Testing eligibility and renewal requirements are subject to change pursuant to the Program.

Essential Duties

  • Supervises direct-report staff by coordinating, assigning, and reviewing work to ensure compliance with policies and procedures;
  • Assists with employee evaluations, introductory and annual; makes recommendations for hiring, promoting, and releasing employees;
  • Initiates and administers corrective action, as necessary, according to the Employee Manual;
  • Mentors employees to their full potential and ensures appropriate training is given to meet the standards of the position held;
  • Assists with the development and maintenance of the departmental budget:
  • Responsible for proper traffic control compliance using the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (M.U.T.C.D.) standards to ensure employee safety with equal considerations for public safety and convenience;
  • Ensures appropriate methods, materials, and techniques are used in the construction, repair, and maintenance of water and wastewater utility line systems, City roadways, and concrete projects;
  • Ensures self and employees attend training necessary to meet City required safety training hours, State and Federal regulations, and continued education requirements to maintain certifications and licenses required of positions;
  • Maintains current knowledge of safety-related regulations, new technology, and methods; conducts weekly safety meetings and maintains a record of the meeting subjects and those in attendance as outlined in the City of Alamogordo Safety Manual;
  • Acts as a working Foreman, as time allows, or where the complexity of projects demands;
  • Oversees, supervises, and participates in complex work involving the construction, renovation, modification, and installation of water distribution and collection systems in accordance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (PL93-523), New Mexico Environment Department Water Quality Bureau, and the City of Alamogordo Technical Standards;
  • Ensures that duties are performed following industry safety standards for shoring, trenching, confined spaces, lockout-tag out, and PPE, including hearing and eye protection;
  • Ensures that work orders are completed and turned in;
  • Calls in requests for line locates needed to perform work and responds to requests for line locates from other entities;
  • With proper licensing, uses various powered and non-powered equipment to complete daily activities of the Division;
  • Inspects work in progress for compliance with policies, procedures, safety guidelines, schedules, and required specifications;
  • Ensures the availability and assists the Division Manager in the acquisition of adequate and properly working tools, materials, and equipment and makes sure they are properly maintained and meet any scheduled maintenance requirements;
  • Ensures that work areas and service trucks are organized and clean; ensures that equipment is cleaned after use;
  • May be asked to support other departments with personnel, equipment, or training as part of the City "team" effort;
  • Drives City vehicles in the performance of duties;
  • Establishes procedures to assure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance;
  • Responsible for investigating, reviewing, and addressing department or division accidents to prevent future occurrences and control risk management-related costs;
  • Contributes to a high-quality work culture through participation in training and mentoring to develop skills, including safety-related training and skills;
  • Interacts professionally and provides excellent customer service to all levels of City staff and citizens to ensure high operational and service standards; and
  • Performs duties in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, City of Alamogordo Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority.

OTHER IMPORTANT DUTIES
  • Must maintain required licenses and certifications;
  • May act in the absence of the Division Manager;
  • Required to perform on-call rotation duties outside of normal work hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays;
  • Non-traditional work hours are necessary during evenings, weekends, and holidays to prevent or reduce the disruption of utility services to customers;
  • Maintains the confidentiality of information obtained during the performance of duties; and
  • Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. 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.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
  • Proper maintenance and repair of water distribution and collection systems;
  • Safe operation of vehicles and equipment;
  • Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction, repair, and maintenance of water and wastewater utility line systems;
  • Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction, repair, and maintenance of City roadways;
  • Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction, repair, and maintenance of concrete-related projects;
  • Safety practices used when working around electrical, gas, water, and sewer systems;
  • Principles of customer relations;
  • Proper traffic control compliance using the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (M.U.T.C.D.) standards to ensure employee safety with equal considerations for public safety and convenience;
  • Job related O.S.H.A requirements;
  • D.O.T. Regulations for Rights Of Way;
  • Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (PL93-523);
  • New Mexico Environment Department Water Quality Bureau;
  • New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code; and
  • City of Alamogordo Ordinances, City-wide Policies and Procedures, current City of Alamogordo Technical Standards, Departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and any other applicable laws regulated by an outside authority.

Skill and Ability to:
  • Demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communication; understand and follow instructions, drawings, and blueprints;
  • Perform tasks and other daily activities in a positive and professional manner alongside employees of varied backgrounds and personalities;
  • Attend work, as scheduled and on a regular basis, to effectively perform the position's essential duties and responsibilities;
  • Exercise common sense and good judgment in the performance of essential duties;
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
  • Demonstrate professionalism and tact with the public; respond quickly and positively to customer complaints;
  • Operate a computer using standard City software (MS Word/Excel) and enter data into those and other City computer programs;
  • Maintain accurate legible records, prepare technical reports and diagrams, status reports, and completion of work requests as required;
  • Supervise and locate, repair, and maintain water and sewer lines and associated valves and pumps;
  • Operate backhoe, dump truck, pump truck, hydro jet, and various handheld tools, applying safety standards to prevent hazards;
  • Safely operate various light and heavy equipment used in the daily activities of the Division;
  • Service and make minor repairs on equipment applying safety standards to prevent hazards;
  • Tolerate outside working conditions, including exposure to adverse weather conditions;
  • Perform heavy manual labor;
  • Follow principles and practices of employment supervision, including employee development, labor contract relations and requirements, and disciplinary practices;
  • Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, identifying the best persons for each job;
  • Identify employee training needs and activities to improve employees' performance;
  • Manage simultaneous tasks and projects, and meet multiple deadlines;
  • Analyze problems; identify, recommend, and implement solutions;
  • Maintain professionalism under pressure;
  • Make mathematical computations; and
  • Provide excellent customer service to ensure high operational and service standards are met and maintained for the citizens of Alamogordo.

Work Environment

  • Work is typically performed outdoors and may be subject to inclement weather conditions;
  • Daily physical labor that includes extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending, reaching, climbing ladders, lifting heavy objects, and swinging heavy hammers;
  • May be subject to repetitive motion such as digging and driving;
  • Lift and/or move items weighing up to fifty (50) pounds; the lifting of any object greater than fifty (50) pounds by a single individual is prohibited. Lifting objects, materials, or equipment weighing more than fifty (50) pounds requires the buddy system or the use of devices designed to assist with lifting or moving. Proper lifting techniques shall be used when lifting items of any weight;
  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud;
  • May be exposed to hazardous traffic conditions as well as hazardous chemicals, contaminants, and toxins;
  • Will work near gas lines, meters, and other utilities, including electric;
  • Work will be performed near moving mechanical parts; and possibly in high or precarious places;
  • Terrain may be uneven or undeveloped; and
  • Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for job assignments, including protective footwear, marked by the manufacturer, with a minimum standard of M/F I/75/C75, 6" ankle height work boots, per current ASTM F2413 standard.

PAY
Pay range is based on position.

INSURANCE BENEFITS
  • Medical and Dental coverage are paid 60% by the employer and 40% by the employee.
  • A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided at no cost to the employee.
  • Vision and Disability coverage are available at 100% of the cost being paid by the employee.
For complete plan information:

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan is available voluntarily, with all contributions being made by the employee.
RETIREMENT
The City of Alamogordo participates in the New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).

The following information pertains to a member of the PERA plan on or after July 1, 2013 (Tier 2):

PERA Retirement Plan Tier 2
  • 85 or age 65 with five (5) years of service
  • Five (5) year vesting period
  • 90% pension maximum (2% pension factor)
  • Five (5) year final average salary calculation
  • Employee contribution equals 7.55% pre-tax
  • Employer total contribution equals 15.90%
  • Retiree health, NM plan, requires a 1% employee contribution
For complete plan information:

PAID HOLIDAYS
Ten (10) paid Holiday days per year (New Year's, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day).

FLOATING HOLIDAY
One (1) Floating Holiday per fiscal year.

PTO
Employees begin accruing Paid Time Off ( PTO) immediately. For the first five (5) years an employee can earn 21.5 days per year. Accrual rates increase incrementally after five (5) years of service and based on subsequent service years.

PTO is available for use after the introductory period is successfully completed.

PTO cash-out options based on accrued balance.