Service Worker

The Santa Margarita Water District is seeking a Service Worker in the Operations department to support a range of field and facility tasks, including equipment delivery, light maintenance, and assisting crews on water and wastewater projects across the District.

Meet Santa Margarita Water District 

Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region’s largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship. 

Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters. 

Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD’s goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies. 

Santa Margarita Water District’s values include: 

• Exemplary service excellence 
• Intelligent innovation that is forward-thinking and adaptive 
• Ethical fiscal responsibility and transparency 
• Environmental and resource stewardship 
• Employee development and leadership training 
• Building relationships that strengthen communities 

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions.

JOB SUMMARY

The Service Worker is an entry level position responsible for field support duties. The position is based in the District’s headquarters and supports the District’s shipping and receiving process by receiving incoming shipments, processing purchase orders, monitoring materials and supply inventory, and delivering equipment to facilities. Field support duties include small landscaping and painting tasks, assisting with HVAC and plumbing contractors, basic site cleanup, and supporting crews or administrative staff as needed. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

A Service Worker performs a variety of routine office support and facilities support duties. Work is performed with established schedules, procedures and standards. This position reports directly to the Regulatory and Logistics Manager or his/her designee.

Essential Functions:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS 

The duties listed below 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 this class.

1. Receive, inspect, and document incoming shipments to ensure accuracy and condition of materials; communicate discrepancies to appropriate personnel. Perform cycle counts of inventory to support accurate material tracking. 
2. Process purchase orders and packing slips in accordance with District procedures and maintain accurate records of transactions.
3. Utilize District vehicle/equipment to deliver tools, equipment, and materials to field crews and District facilities in a timely and safe manner.
4. Complete minor painting projects to support facility maintenance and appearance standards.
5. Assist with basic landscaping and grounds maintenance at District-owned sites, including trimming, weeding, and general upkeep.
6. Support HVAC and plumbing contractors on-site by coordinating access, verifying work scopes, and providing logistical assistance as directed.
7. Assists with field support and warehouse functions.
8. Operates and performs routine maintenance and repairs to standard office equip­ment, including computers, copiers, printers and/or scanners; copies, sorts and collates various documents and materials, including large duplication orders; submits work orders for facilities maintenance and repair.
9. Operate a vehicle and a variety of hand tools and test equipment related to the work.
10. Operates vehicles in performing assignments; ensures assigned vehicle is checked for proper fuel and fluid levels; inspects and fuels vehicle; reports any inoperable deficiencies through daily trip logs. 
11. Observes safe work methods and safety practices related to work; cones and flags work sites to secure from traffic; shores trenches; uses appropriate safety equipment; operates and maintains a wide variety of hand tools related to the work, including spaders, tampers, breaking guns, jackhammers, concrete saws, etc.; learns to operate a variety of trucks and equipment; inspects vehicles and performs minor maintenance, reports needed repairs.
12. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education, Training and Experience:

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and some clerical experience; or an equivalent com­bination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred. 

Knowledge of:

1. Safe driving practices and techniques.
2. Safe and proper methods of handling, loading, securing and unloading material, supplies and equipment.
3. Local area streets and freeways and location of District facilities.
4. Basic warehouse storage and procedures.
5. Proper lifting techniques; safety policies and safe work practices.
6. Recordkeeping, filing and basic purchasing practices and procedures. 
7. Uses and operations of computers, standard business software and specialized database and spread­sheet applications. 

Ability to:

1. Safely operate a District vehicle on city streets and freeways. 
2. Read maps to make deliveries quickly and efficiently.
3. Properly and safely operate equipment used to move and store cargo. 
4. Perform minor maintenance repairs as assigned.
5. Prepare and maintain basic records accurately.
6. Operate a computer and standard office equipment related to area of assignment.
7. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 
8. Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
9. Represent the District effectively in dealings with vendors and suppliers.
10. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance program.

Additional Information:

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; climb or balance on ladders or stairs; stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl; and smell. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 50 pounds unaided and 100 pounds with assistance.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

Mental Demands 

While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; analyze and solve problems; use basic math and mathematical reasoning; work under deadlines with interruptions; and interact with others encountered in the course of work including District managers, employees, contractors and vendors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works in office and warehouse environments where the noise level ranges from quiet to loud. The employee frequently works on ladders/scaffolding or in high, precarious places and near moving mechan­ical parts, equipment and heavy traffic. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.