Water Utility Worker Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $72,883.20 - $92,248.00 Annually
Location : Oak Grove, OR
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 00042
Department: Drinking Water Operations
Opening Date: 09/02/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME
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.
Oak Lodge Water Services offers a generous benefits package to all regular status employees working at least 30 hours per week.
Medical Insurance: You may choose between a traditional (Regence Blue Cross PPO) or a health maintenance organization (Kaiser HMO). Coverage includes you and your dependents. Each plan includes a vision and prescription drug benefit. Employees are responsible for a 5% contribution to the plan and OLWS is responsible for the remaining 95% of the premium cost. OLWS also offers a medical/dental/vision opt-out payment of $500 per month for employees who voluntarily choose to opt-out of coverage provided they produce an acceptable certification of valid coverage.
Dental Insurance: You and your dependent family members are eligible for a dental insurance plan. Staff members have the choice to be covered by either SDIS/Delta Dental, Willamette Dental or Kaiser's dental plan.
Retirement: OLWS participates in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Staff members new to PERS will be eligible following 6 months continuous service. There are two types of contributions:

• Member contributions are 6% and immediately vested.
• Employer contributions are vested after contributions have been made in five separate calendar years.
• You also have a choice of two 457 deferred compensation plans to which you may contribute additional pre-tax dollars up to federal limits.

Life Insurance: OLWS fully pays for your basic life insurance in the amount of your annual salary to a maximum of $50,000 and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) to a maximum of $50,000.
Short Term Disability Insurance: OLWS provides you with a short-term disability (STD) plan which provides up to 60% of your salary up to a maximum benefit of $900 per week for up to 180 days.
Long Term Disability Insurance: OLWS provides you with a long-term disability (LTD) plan which provides up to 60% of your salary, up to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month for qualifying disabilities following a 180-day waiting period.
Flexible Spending Account: OLWS offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). FSA's allow eligible employees to pay for non-covered health related expenses and child care expenses with tax-free income.
HRA VEBA: OLWS provides an employer funded HRA VEBA to eligible employees. A health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is a spending account you can use to cover medical care expenses such as copays, deductibles, prescription drugs, and retiree and Medicare insurance premiums. Money goes in tax-free, is invested tax-free, and comes out tax-free.
Paid Time Off: OLWS recognizes the value of rest and relaxation away from work for all its' staff members and offers the following paid time away from work: Employees accrue eight (8) hours of vacation per month for the first three (3) years of service, and will increase according the current schedule. Sick leave accrues monthly at a rate of eight (8) hours per each month worked. OLWS also grants leave with full pay for employees required to report for jury duty.
Holidays: OLWS recognizes the following 12 paid holidays during the calendar year:
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King's Birthday
• President's Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• The Friday after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day