Wastewater Collections Operator

City of Gresham • Full-time • Gresham, Oregon, United States • $28.60 - $36.49 / hour • 3w ago

The City of Gresham is seeking a qualified and enthusiastic individual to fill a full-time Public Utility Worker (PUW 2) vacancy in the Wastewater Division of the Department of Environmental Services.

First review of resumes for consideration and interview will take place on Monday, November 2nd, 2026. To be considered in the first round of review please have your application in no later than midnight, November 1st.

The ideal candidate will possess the necessary technical skills, self-motivation, initiative, solid work ethic, good problem-solving skills, and a positive attitude. This person must have the ability to follow directions, maintain attention to detail, work well with co-workers and other public works crews, and communicate professionally and courteously to the public. Furthermore, this individual will assess situations quickly and make sound decisions which may change work tasks or priorities.

The Wastewater Public Utility Worker 2 (PUW 2) utilizes heavy equipment, machinery, power tools and hand tools to perform maintenance and construction on over 300 miles of sanitary sewer within the Gresham city limits. This role is also responsible for cleaning H2S Media and Siloxane tanks, as well as FOG tanks.

As Oregon's fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve, and go 'one step beyond' to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

Position Description

What you will get to do:

Sewer line cleaning - Inspect, clean, remove debris from wastewater collection systems including sanitary sewer mainlines, laterals and manholes. Input cleaning data and findings into asset management system. Use confined space entry equipment. Develop a traffic control plan, and use flaggers as needed
CCTV Inspections - Inspect wastewater collection lines, cross connections, and manholes either manually, or through remote cameras. Test and monitor sanitary mains and laterals to confirm connections, breaks, and flow direction. Coordinate with homeowners, inspectors, and contractors for inspections. Enter inspection data into asset management system.
Construction repairs - Perform skilled construction, repair, and maintenance of wastewater system facilities. Operate a variety of power equipment and ensure public health by preventing sewage overflows and blockages. Use excavators, tractor loader back hoes, and loaders for open trench excavations. Use Vac Truck to hydro excavate around utilities. Install trenching and shorting equipment for open trench excavations. Install pipe patches for trenchless repairs. Enter in to confined spaces.
Utility locates - Use GIS, TV reports and the Oregon 811 program to gather information needed to locate and mark wastewater collection mains and laterals.
Investigations - Use Vac truck, CCTV van, lateral launch cameras, mini camera system, portable power jetter, and power snake to clear and identify potential causes of blockage, or pipe failures.
Offroad manhole inspections - Use GIS, GPS, camera systems, TV reports, and asset management software to look up data and location of asset to be inspected.
Use confined space entry equipment.
Implement traffic control plans and use flaggers as needed.
Perform general labor and support
Work with hand and power tools, jackhammers, concrete and pipe saws, and heavy equipment as trained.
Respond to spills and illicit discharges that may have an impact on public health and safety.
Communicate effectively with the City's customers by phone and/or in-person
This position may be required to carry an on-call emergency Vac truck support pager 2 to 3 weeks each year.

What we are looking for:

Collaborative: Someone who works well with other Public Utility Workers within their team and other divisions and is willing to mentor seasonal staff.
Nimble: Someone who has the ability to navigate from one assignment to another, even on short notice while maintaining a positive attitude.
Practical: Someone who is self-motivated with a solid work ethic and embraces the significance of wastewater systems and the impact they have on the environment if not taken care of properly.
Inventive: Someone who can evaluate circumstances and adapt their work according to what matters most while recognizing opportunities for improvement and utilizing problem solving skills.
Working Conditions are generally outdoors performing various manual labor tasks which will require bending, reaching, pushing, pulling and standing for long periods of time. Depending on the task, you may be required to lift and/or move objects and/or equipment ranging in weight from 25 to 85 lbs.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Basic maintenance and repair methods as well as procedures used in the wastewater collection system.
Safety practices and procedures applicable to the team.
Safe and effective operating practices of light equipment used in the wastewater collection system.
Techniques of flagging and traffic control.
Computers and computer applications.

Ability to:

Operate heavy equipment and power tools used in public works maintenance operations.
Work independently or as part of a crew.
Perform heavy manual work under confined and uncomfortable conditions, including adverse weather conditions.
Perform routine arithmetic calculations.
Communicate effectively and courteously with City employees and the public.
Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Respond to emergencies on a 24 hour basis as needed.
Work in environments requiring the use of a respirator.
Physically perform the functions of the position.
Ability to work in confined spaces and manholes for extended periods of time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma or G.E.D.
One (1) to four (4) years of related full-time work experience
Valid Driver's License
Good driving record (based on the driving matrix below)
Any combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

Required certifications and licenses:

CPR/AED and First Aid certification is required within twelve (12) months of hire.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Confined Space certification is required within twelve (12) months of hire.
Oregon or Washington Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class A with Air Brakes and Tanker endorsements is required within six (6) months of hire.

Desired Qualifications:

Ability to obtain a Wastewater Collection Certification.

Driving Matrix: You will be disqualified from this process if you possess any of the following driving infractions:

A major traffic offense or accident that results in death or major injury.
Driving under the influence (DUI) offense within the last 5 years.
Have more than 3 moving violations within a 3-year period or more than 2 within a one- year period.
Have more than 2 accidents within a 3-year period.

Selection Process

To apply for this position, click 'Apply' at the top of this job posting.

Required application materials:

Complete online application (Do not type 'see resume' in any fields or leave work experience fields blank in the application template.)
Answers to supplemental questions
3 or more professional references

The City of Gresham offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education verified in your application. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Oregon Equal Pay.

If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability, please provide your request in writing to HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov, or by phone to 503-618-2729, upon submitting the required application documents.

A review of application materials including your response to supplemental questions submitted will determine which candidates will be invited to an interview.

Communication with candidates will be done primarily through e-mail. Sometimes these messages may land in a spam or junk mail folder. We encourage you to monitor your inbox as well as the inbox within the governmentjobs.com portal for important updates related to this process.

Veteran's Preference

The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment iopenn accordance with state law. Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veteran's preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

Our Commitment

The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, Oregon, or local law.

Please direct questions about this position to 503-618-2729 or HRRecruiting@GreshamOregon.gov.

If you need assistance with the online application, please contact NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check, driving record review, job-related physical, and drug screen.