Utility Locator

Under general supervision, the Line Locator receives and responds to utility locate requests and identifies, locates, and marks City-owned underground water, wastewater, reclaimed-water, electric and related Public Works infrastructure. The position researches utility records, operates electronic locating and field-documentation equipment, communicates with excavators and property owners, and maintains accurate locate records to prevent utility damage, service interruptions, injuries, and environmental impacts. The position also supports damage investigations, utility-record updates, and emergency response.

The following duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logically assigned to the position.

• Receives, reviews, prioritizes, and completes routine, emergency, update, recall, design, and damage-related locate requests within applicable deadlines to support lawful excavation and prevent delayed or missed responses.
• Researches GIS data, as-built drawings, construction plans, service records, field notes, maps, and other available information before each locate to identify City-owned facilities that may be present in the proposed excavation area.
• Inspects the requested work area and communicates with excavators, contractors, property owners, and City staff to clarify the excavation limits and determine the safest and most accurate locating approach.
• Operates electronic utility locators, transmitters, receivers, sondes, tracer-wire equipment, probing tools, GPS devices, and related equipment to determine the horizontal location and approximate path of underground City utilities.
• Identifies and marks water, wastewater, reclaimed-water, electric and other assigned City facilities with approved paint, flags, stakes, or other methods using established APWA color standards to provide clear guidance for excavation activities.
• Verifies locate results against visible facilities, measurements, records, and field conditions and arranges or performs additional investigation when information conflicts to reduce the risk of inaccurate or incomplete markings.
• Documents each locate with required measurements, sketches, photographs, GPS coordinates, notes, timestamps, and ticket status and submits an accurate positive response to maintain a defensible record of the City's response.
• Rechecks, refreshes, or extends markings when tickets are updated or field conditions change to keep utility information visible and useful throughout authorized excavation activities.
• Monitors excavation near critical or difficult-to-locate City facilities and coordinates with utility crews or contractors when on-site assistance is needed to protect infrastructure and support safe work.
• Responds to damaged, exposed, unmarked, or mismarked utility reports and assists with field investigation and documentation to support emergency response, repair decisions, and damage-prevention review.
• Identifies missing, conflicting, or inaccurate utility records and submits field corrections and documentation to appropriate staff to improve GIS, mapping, and asset information for future locates.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate work zones, warning devices, and traffic-control measures and follows applicable safety procedures to protect the employee, coworkers, contractors, motorists, and pedestrians.
• Inspects, tests, cleans, calibrates, charges, and securely stores locating devices, vehicles, safety equipment, paint, flags, and supplies to keep assigned resources safe, accurate, and ready for service.
• Maintains ticket logs, daily activity records, inventory, mileage, equipment records, and other required documentation to support workload tracking, legal compliance, quality control, and operational reporting.
• Provides accurate and courteous information to customers, contractors, developers, and City staff regarding locate status, City-owned facilities, and the limits of the City's locating responsibility to promote safe excavation and public confidence.
• Coordinates with water, wastewater, engineering, inspection, streets, GIS, and emergency-response personnel to resolve complex locate questions and protect City infrastructure during construction and maintenance activities.
• Assists with utility maintenance, system inspections, asset verification, and emergency operations when assigned to support continuity of Public Works services and strengthen knowledge of City infrastructure.
• Participates in on-call, after-hours, weekend, holiday, and emergency response assignments as required to address urgent locate requests and protect essential utility services.
• Maintains required technical and safety knowledge through training, field review, and regulatory or procedural updates to apply current damage-prevention and utility-locating practices.

Performs other related duties as assigned to support the operational needs and objectives of the City.Education and Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent and one year of experience in underground utility locating, water or wastewater utility maintenance, construction, surveying, GIS fieldwork, or a closely related area. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Texas driver's license with an acceptable driving record, or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
• Must complete City-required utility locating, Texas 811, traffic-control, and safety training within one year of hire.
• Utility locator or damage-prevention certification and experience locating municipal water, wastewater and electric facilities are preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Methods, equipment, terminology, and safety practices used to identify, locate, and mark underground utilities.
• Basic construction, operation, and maintenance of municipal water distribution, wastewater collection, reclaimed-water, and related utility systems.
• Texas 811 notification and positive-response processes and applicable underground-facility damage-prevention requirements.
• APWA uniform utility marking colors, symbols, tolerances, and field-marking practices.
• Utility maps, as-built drawings, construction plans, service records, GIS data, and common utility symbols and abbreviations.
• Electronic locating principles, including conductive and inductive methods, signal selection, tracer wire, sondes, interference, and common sources of inaccurate readings.
• Work-zone safety, traffic-control practices, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, and safe operation around excavation and construction activities.
• Customer-service practices and professional communication with excavators, contractors, property owners, coworkers, and members of the public.
• Basic recordkeeping, evidence preservation, and documentation practices for locate tickets and damage investigations.

Skill in:

• Operating and interpreting electronic line-locating equipment, transmitters, receivers, sondes, probing tools, GPS units, mobile devices, and related field equipment.
• Reading and comparing maps, GIS data, as-built drawings, plans, utility records, ticket information, and physical field indicators.
• Applying paint, flags, stakes, measurements, sketches, photographs, and electronic documentation to create clear and accurate locate records.
• Investigating conflicting information, identifying potential utility routes, and selecting appropriate locating methods based on field conditions.
• Organizing and prioritizing multiple tickets by due date, location, type, risk, and urgency while meeting required response times.
• Establishing safe work zones and using traffic-control devices in and near streets, rights-of-way, construction areas, and active equipment.
• Communicating clearly and professionally in person, by telephone, and through written and electronic systems.
• Using computers, ticket-management platforms, GIS applications, work-order systems, email, and standard office software.

Ability to:

• Accurately identify and mark assigned City-owned underground facilities under varying soil, weather, traffic, construction, and signal conditions.
• Exercise sound judgment when records are incomplete, signals conflict, facilities cannot be located, or excavation creates an immediate risk.
• Understand and follow locate tickets, maps, plans, laws, procedures, safety requirements, and oral or written instructions.
• Distinguish marking colors and interpret visual, audible, and electronic signals used in utility locating and field safety.
• Maintain detailed, timely, and accurate records that clearly explain the work performed and the basis for each locate response.
• Work independently in the field while remaining accountable for quality, productivity, safety, and communication.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, contractors, excavators, property owners, customers, and the public.
• Adapt to changing priorities and travel efficiently throughout the City to complete routine and emergency tickets within required timeframes.
• Respond to after-hours calls and work evenings, weekends, holidays, on-call rotations, and emergency assignments as required.
• Obtain and maintain licenses, certifications, and training required by the City or applicable regulations.
• Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.