Water Agency Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $73,925.79 - $89,850.52 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/08-5082-OWTR
Department: Sonoma County Water Agency (WTR)
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 12:00 AM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 10
Position Information
Bring your experience operating heavy equipment and Class A driver's license to Sonoma Water.
Join our team as a Water Agency Maintenance Worker II!
Starting salary up to $43.05/hour ($89.850.52/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

Join Sonoma Water
Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions, including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs.
As a Sonoma Water Maintenance Worker II, you will perform a range of semi-skilled, light, and heavy manual tasks related to flood control and vegetation management, including maintenance of water channels and at wastewater facilities. Duties also include:

• Operating Class A Commercial vehicles, including dump trucks, vacuum trucks, and water trucks
• Performing trail and access road maintenance by mowing, pruning, and chipping vegetation
• Operating power tools and heavy and light equipment, including tractors, mowers, excavators, and chippers

The position's hours are typically 10-hour days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, for a total of 40 hours per week, and work is performed outdoors at sites located throughout Sonoma County.
What You Bring
As our ideal candidate, you are punctual, safety-oriented, and interested in physically demanding outdoor work. You have an interest in learning new skills and possess:

• A current, valid California Class A Commercial Driver's license or the ability to obtain a California Class A Commercial Driver's license within six (6) months of hire
• Experience in vegetation management or landscaping
• Knowledge of riparian ecology and fire fuel reduction concepts, such as shaded fuel breaks
• Experience operating large vehicles and/or towing trailers

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Water Agency Maintenance Worker II position in Sonoma Water. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and our
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include two years of experience in construction, maintenance, mechanical, and/or vegetation habitat work which includes performing heavy physical labor, the use of light mechanical equipment, machines, and power tools, or one year of experience in flood control or sanitation maintenance with the Sonoma County Water Agency.
Licenses and/or Certifications: The specific licenses and/or certifications vary, depending on assignment. However, once obtained, all required licenses/certifications must be maintained throughout employment in the assignment within this classification.
Driver's License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. Positions assigned to operate heavy equipment require a valid State of California Class A Commercial Driver's License, including any valid and appropriate California Endorsement(s) (e.g., tanker endorsement).
The position advertised in this announcement will be assigned to operate heavy equipment and requires possession of a valid California Class A Commercial Driver's License or the ability to obtain a California Class A Commercial Driver's License within six (6) months of hire.
Water/Wastewater Assignments: The California Water Environment Association's (CWEA's) Grades I, II, and/or III, a National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) Pipeline Assessment Certification, a CA Distribution Operator Certificate (D1), and Cal/OSHA training on working in confined spaces and excavations are highly desirable for these assignments.
Vegetation Management Assignments: An International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Arborist or Arborist Municipal Specialist credential, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's Agricultural Pest Control Advisor License, and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tress Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) are highly desirable for these assignments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: general construction materials, safety practices, and tools commonly used in wastewater collection and water distribution system construction and maintenance and/or in vegetation management, including basic types, styles, and sizes of pipes, parts, and fittings; principles and practices of a diverse range of semi-skilled and skilled trades areas such as carpentry, irrigation systems, drywall, asphalt, and concrete work, plumbing, fencing construction, and related trades areas; water and wastewater system functions and structures; flood control and collection system pipe laying procedures; methods, materials, and procedures used in bedding, backfilling, and black topping; materials and procedures used in repairing and replacing concrete structures; methods, equipment, and procedures used in water and wastewater system line cleaning; safety procedures, requirements, and equipment; repair, preventive maintenance, and safe operations of trucks, hand, and power tools; and light and heavy construction equipment; safe working practices and techniques including those for working within confined spaces and handling/disposition of hazardous materials.
Knowledge of: sewer systems standards as specified in California Uniform Plumbing Code; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition; methods and techniques of using closed circuit television (CCTV) equipment to diagnose and resolve sewer line issues; USA methods and techniques; principles and practices of record keeping.
Ability to: perform a variety of semi-skilled manual maintenance and construction tasks for extended periods and under unfavorable weather conditions; operate line cleaning equipment and hand and power tools; determine appropriate methods to clean water and sewer lines; demonstrate physical strength, endurance, mechanical aptitude, and skills for working in a variety of trades areas; operate CCTV equipment to diagnose collection system issues and identify required maintenance; mark and locate underground services; operate a diverse range of light and heavy equipment in performance of assigned duties; work in confined and/or underground spaces; understand and follow oral and written instructions; follow safety procedures; accurately complete simple report forms; work effectively with other employees and the public; speak, read, and write English at a level appropriate for successful job performance; read work maps and plans.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.
Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
Additional Information
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also r