Utility Specialist (Highway & Parks)

CITY OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND

Personnel Division

Employment Advertisement

UTILITY SPECIALIST

(Highway & Parks)

The City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island is conducting a search for a Utility Specialist.  Working under the direction of the Highway Superintendent, the Utility Specialist will be involved with grading and paving the City streets according to specifications.  The person in this position will also do other City maintenance jobs as directed.  Must be able to work independently and as well as part of the maintenance team.  Must have at least five (5) years of paving experience, with five (5) of those years as a paving machine operator.  A high school diploma or a GED equivalent, is required.  Must possess a CDL License.

Application deadline:   Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Union:   Local 670, RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

Weekly Rate:   $955.34/Week        [M57B]

Hours of Work:   40 hours per week

Examination Date:   To Be Determined

To Apply:  The City of Woonsocket offers a competitive benefit and compensation package.  For more information on this position including a full position description and application visit the “Employment” section on the City of Woonsocket website via the following URL: 

https://www.woonsocketri.gov/personnel-department/pages/employment-opportunities

Please forward your completed application and resume to Nikki Aphonphanh, Personnel Division, City of Woonsocket, 169 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895.  You may send your information electronically to naphonphanh@woonsocketri.gov.

A City of Woonsocket Application for Employment must be completed and one can be obtained by visiting the “Employment” section of the City’s website at www.woonsocketri.org.

About Woonsocket:  A City that upholds forward thinking principles for both employees and residents.  Located in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley, the City of Woonsocket is a vibrant, urban community and is surrounded by the growing suburban communities of Lincoln, Cumberland and North Smithfield, and boasts a positive business climate where City officials and the business community work together to build a strong economy.  Woonsocket is centrally located in the Boston/Worcester/Providence triangle, and home to CVS Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.

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JOB TITLE:                           Utility Specialist (Highway & Parks)

DEPARTMENT/DIVISION:  Public Works Department/Public Service Division

PAY GRADE/HOURS:          Grade M57B  /  40-hour work week

UNION:                                  Local 670, RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

POSITION SUMMARY:  Under supervision, the Utility Specialist is responsible for paving City streets, operating asphalt machinery.  Performs other general maintenance work and does related work as required.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operates paving machine to spread asphalt and/or other paving material on roads according to grade specifications.
• Lights burners or start heating units of machines and regulates screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
• Fills tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving material.
• Tamps asphalt with tamping machinery to compact asphalt as needed.
• Inspects, cleans and maintains paving equipment; reports all machine malfunctions to supervisor.
• Shovels blacktop on road beds when needed.
• Observes distribution of paving material in order to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicates low spots for workers to add.
• Drives asphalt machinery onto truck trailers, and drives truck to transport machinery to and from job sites.
• Performs other maintenance duties included, but not limited to, repairs to buildings, facilities, equipment, furniture, doors, windows, etc.  Paints interior and exterior of public buildings.  Repairs and replaces broken plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
• Operates bucket truck and chain saw to perform certain tasks.
• Performs all assigned tasks either independently, or a member of a maintenance crew.
• Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:  A high school diploma or a GED equivalent, is required.  Must have five (5) years of paving experience, with five (5) of those years as a paving machine operator.  Must have basic mechanical ability as well as common knowledge of hand tools used in general building and maintenance work.  Must possess a CDL License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES:  Thorough knowledge and skill of common hand tools used in building and equipment maintenance work, carpentry, painting, plumbing and electrical trades.  Skilled in the use of tools, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and mechanical ability.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to finger, handles or feel; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

An Equal Opportunity Employer