Oak Lodge Water Services - Water Distribution Utility Worker
Posted: 9/4/2026
Salary: $35.04 - $44.35
Location: Oak Grove, OR
Overview
Join Our Team as a Distribution Utility Worker!
Starting Pay: $35.04 – $44.35 per hour
Certification Differential Per Hour: +$0.75 (Cert 2) | +$1.25 (Cert 3) | +$4.00 (Cert 4)
Schedule: 9/80 work schedule, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with alternating Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and every other Friday off.
Help keep clean, reliable drinking water flowing to nearly 30,000 neighbors while building a career with excellent pay, benefits, and advancement opportunities.
Why You’ll Love Working Here:
- Competitive Pay: Annual step increases up to $44.35/hr plus certification pay.
- Generous Benefits: 95% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision; PERS retirement; short- and long-term disability; paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 holidays.
- Career Growth: Certification differentials reward your skill development, and we support training to help you reach higher certification levels.
- Team Environment: Work with a supportive crew that takes pride in protecting public health and serving the community.
*Position is open until filled.
Position Description & Duties
What You'll Do
Join the Oak Lodge Water Services team and help maintain the infrastructure that provides safe, reliable drinking water to our community. This is a hands-on, outdoor position working alongside an experienced team to install, repair, operate, and maintain critical water distribution system infrastructure.
Water System Maintenance & Construction
Install, maintain, and repair water mains, service lines, valves, fire hydrants, water meters, and other distribution system components. Work includes water main and service repairs, system flushing, valve exercising, hydrant maintenance, meter replacement, and installation of new water system infrastructure.
Perform new installations including water mains, service connections using specialized tapping equipment, fire service lines, air release valves, water quality sampling stations, and other system improvements. Work may involve excavation, backfilling, traffic control, site restoration, and concrete sidewalk repairs.
Equipment & Field Operations
Safely operate and maintain the tools, vehicles, and construction equipment necessary to perform water distribution work. This may include backhoes, excavators, dump trucks, tapping machines, pumps, compressors, cutoff saws, compactors, and a variety of hand and power tools.
Maintain tools and equipment in good working condition and ensure service vehicles are organized, stocked, and ready to respond to routine work and emergencies.
Emergency Response & Customer Service
Respond to unexpected water system issues such as water main breaks, leaking service lines, damaged fire hydrants, and other system failures. This position requires the ability to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Troubleshoot water distribution system issues and assist customers with concerns involving water pressure, discoloration, leaks, or other water service issues. Communicate professionally with customers and coworkers and use sound judgment to identify appropriate solutions.
Safety, Documentation & Technology
Perform work in accordance with OLWS safety procedures, OSHA requirements, and established water construction standards. Maintain accurate records and complete required reports using computers, mobile devices, GIS, utility maintenance software, Word, Excel, Outlook, and other systems used by OLWS.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 4 years of construction experience, utility experience is strongly preferred.
- DWS Operator certification or ability to obtain one within 2 years of hire.
- CDL or the ability to obtain after hire.
- Ability to safely operate tools, heavy equipment, and vehicles.
- Team-oriented, customer-focused, and ready to work in varying weather conditions.
- Able to work independently, utilizing knowledge of water systems and sound judgment.
Knowledge of standard practices, methods, tools, and materials used in water distribution systems; knowledge of current OSHA regulations and safety practices/procedures; knowledge of computers and software used in a utility system maintenance environment; basic knowledge of computer systems like GIS, Word, Excel and Outlook; and knowledge of Oak Lodge Water Services goals and obligations. Skill to operate small hand tools, power tools and construction equipment or the ability to learn and perform these skills on the job. Skill to operate motor vehicles, including backhoe and dump truck or the ability to learn and perform these skills on the job. Ability to learn and apply water construction standards. Ability to learn and apply all required safety standards. Ability to produce written reports. Ability for effective verbal communication with coworkers and customers and ability to professionally manage unhappy customers. Ability to work independently in a productive and professional manner. Ability to maneuver moderately heavy objects (75 pounds). Ability to analyze intricate plumbing systems and recommend solutions. The ability to respond to a system emergency. Ability to work outdoors in varying environments and weather, including inclement weather.
How to Apply: