Water System Trainee

Position Description

Come and join the City of Fresno in achieving our mission of Building a Better Fresno!

Jump-start a hands-on career that keeps Fresno's water flowing! As a Water System Trainee, you'll dive into the essential work of maintaining, constructing, and operating the City's potable and recycled water systems. With guidance from skilled professionals, you'll learn water testing, treatment, distribution, and infrastructure repair while working toward your D1 or T1 Operator certification. Whether you're supporting distribution, production, or water quality, you'll gain real experience, real skills, and a real pathway into the water industry. Ready to learn, grow, and make an impact? Apply today!

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Assist with installing and repairing water system components
- Help operate light and heavy equipment
- Perform manual labor for maintenance and construction
- Set up and remove traffic control devices
- Clean and prepare City vehicles and equipment
- Collect water samples as needed
- Assist with trenching and shoring
- Help with minor concrete work
- Support utility locating and pavement marking tasks
- Perform related duties as required

Duties and schedules may vary by assignment, please inquire about specific duties and/or schedules if called upon for an interview.

The full job specification is available to view at:
https://www.fresno.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Water-System-Trainee10_25-10w1129.pdf

View "We Work For You" video to get an inside look at how rewarding it is to work for the City of Fresno: https://youtu.be/RjOUf52KPrk?si=NmkwtgYbTxdKcKOz

This class is in a flexibly-staffed series, which allows incumbents to flex to the Water Distribution/Production Technician or Water Quality Technician after obtaining the Water Distribution or Treatment Operator Certificate, Grade D1 or T1 (depending on assignment). The job specifications for these positions are available to view at: https://www.fresno.gov/personnel/jobs-specifications/

While in this class, incumbents will not achieve permanent status within the classified service, as defined in Fresno Municipal Code Section 3-202(p)(5).

Vacancies currently exist in the Department of Public Utilities, Water Division. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the City's discretion. If the examination process is suspended for this recruitment, the eligible list may be limited to three (3) months.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that are necessary to safely, effectively, and efficiently perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. This classification's physical demands involve heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally with assistance, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical demands may be required: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity, walking.

Pay,Benefits, & Work Schedule

UNIT 1 Classification - International Union of Operating Engineers, Stationary Engineers- IUOE (Local 39)

HEALTH INSURANCE: The City contributes toward monthly premiums for PPO medical, dental and vision for employee and dependents.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: IRS 125 Plan for health and dependent care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary 457 plan with Fidelity Investments to increase your retirement savings.
VACATION LEAVE: Accrue 8-15 hours per month.
SICK LEAVE: Eight (8) hours per month, available after 90 days.
SUPPLEMENTAL SICK- 40 hours per fiscal year. 80 hours lifetime maximum
HOLIDAYS: Ten (10) City-observed annual holidays plus birthday and two (2) personal days.
SHORT TERM DISABILITY: Provided through California SDI program.
BILINGUAL PREMIUM: PAY: $100 per month
HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT: Eligible retirees can use remaining Sick Leave balance at 80% of hourly rate and other leave balances, if applicable, to reimburse medical insurance and qualified medical expenses, tax free.
RETIREMENT: City of Fresno Retirement Systems, one of the best funded public systems in the state. Reciprocity with other public California systems. Vested in Retirement benefits after 5 years of service. City employees do not participate in Social Security.
DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program): an optional, voluntary program that allows an employee to deposit retirement benefits in a special savings account within the Retirement System while continuing to work for the City of Fresno for up to 10 years. Participation minimum is age 50 and vested. Benefits includes ownership of accumulated funds, compound interest earnings, and alternative distribution options.

Additional information regarding the City of Fresno benefits is available at
https://www.fresno.gov/personnel/human-resources-support/#tab-1

The Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the posted filing deadline in order to qualify for the examination and do not assure placement on the eligible list.

High School Diploma or equivalent

AND

Six (6) months of continuous, full-time paid general labor or comparable experience.

Additional Requirements

The work experience section MUST be completed with detailed duties, dates and weekly hours worked for each title held. Please SPECIFY WORK DUTIES related to general labor or comparable experience.

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid Class C California Driver's License. Candidates considered for hire must provide proof of a valid driver's license and current copy of their driving record.

Incumbents must obtain a minimum of Water Distribution or Treatment Operator Certificate, Grade D1 or T1 (depending on assignment), from the State Water Resources Control Board within the two (2) year period following appointment. Failure to obtain Water Distribution or Treatment Operator Certification, Grade D1 or T1 (depending on assignment) within two (2) years of appointment will be cause for termination from this class.

The selected eligible candidates certified will be required to successfully pass a Department interview and a Department of Justice fingerprint prior to employment with the City of Fresno.

Please note: Some positions have been designated as being safety-sensitive and require all eligibles offered employment to successfully pass a drug test prior to performing safety sensitive work. Federal law requires that applicants for safety-sensitive positions involving the operation of certain transit vehicles, the transportation of hazardous materials, or heavy equipment over 26,001 pounds requiring a commercial driver's license, must undergo pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing as a condition of employment. Although incumbents in the Water System Trainee classification are not subject to pre-employment or random drug and alcohol testing, as a flexibly staffed classification an employee flexing to Water Distribution/Production Technician or Water Quality Technician may be subject to drug and alcohol testing.

How To Apply

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AN ON-LINE APPLICATION. PLEASE VISIT www.fresno.gov/jobs. TO APPLY. For information on how to complete an on-line application, please view "Instruction Guide" on the City's website, Personnel Services Career Opportunities page, or call (559) 621-6950 for assistance. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed employment application.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE regarding this recruitment and exam process will be sent via e-mail. All applicants will acknowledge such understanding when they complete their on-line application. Verify we have your correct e-mail address before you submit your application. It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email frequently to ensure they receive all pertinent communication from the Personnel Services Department on a timely basis. Applicants will receive an automatically generated confirmation e-mail upon a successful application submittal. The e-mail is the only proof of submittal.

It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email account and to ensure it is set up to accept emails from the City of Fresno. Dependent upon your settings, notices from the City of Fresno may be directed to the "junk mail" or "spam" folders. It is the applicant's responsibility to check these folders.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on the filing deadline or they will not be accepted for any reason. FOR THIS RECRUITMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PERMANENT FRESNO CITY EMPLOYEES APPLY THROUGH PEOPLESOFT SELF SERVICE.

Selection Process

The examination process may consist of the following:

Written Examination - 100%: The written examination is designed to assess a candidate's knowledge of common hand and power tools and equipment, basic custodial, equipment, building, or grounds maintenance practices, ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of assigned duties and other subject matter designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities of a Water System Trainee.

The written examination has been tentatively scheduled for the week of April 13th, 2026.

Candidates must achieve a passing score on the Written Examination to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Veteran Preference Regulations

Candidates applying for veteran's preference are required to submit a copy of their DD214 with their application during the specified filing period. Evidence must be presented to indicate that the candidate was discharged honorably from the military service. Veterans, including City employees, must resubmit proof of honorable service for every examination for which veteran's preference credit is requested. Qualified veterans who pass the examination will have five (5) points added to their final score.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Fresno is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Should you need a special accommodation due to a qualifying disability, please contact the Personnel Service Department at (559) 621-6950 in advance of the examination.

Closing Date/Time: 03/23/2026

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• City of Fresno

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