Sewer Locator
Position Summary
The Sewer Locator is responsible for accurately locating, identifying, and documenting underground sewer facilities to support safe excavation, utility construction, boring, trenching, and telecom/utility installation work. This position plays a critical role in preventing damage to sewer infrastructure, protecting crews and customers, and ensuring work is completed safely, accurately, and in compliance with company, customer, municipal, and regulatory requirements.
The Sewer Locator will work closely with field crews, supervisors, project managers, municipalities, utility owners, and third-party locating services to verify sewer locations before construction activities begin.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Locate and mark underground sewer lines, laterals, cleanouts, manholes, and related sewer infrastructure using approved locating methods and equipment.
- Read and interpret utility maps, sewer as-builts, construction drawings, permits, GIS information, and customer-provided records.
- Perform field verification of sewer facilities before excavation, directional drilling, potholing, trenching, or other construction activity.
- Identify potential conflicts between proposed construction paths and existing sewer infrastructure.
- Communicate sewer conflicts, field conditions, and safety concerns to supervisors, project managers, and construction crews.
- Document sewer locate findings, including photos, measurements, sketches, notes, and electronic records as required.
- Use locating equipment, sondes, cameras, and other tools to assist with identifying sewer paths and depths.
- Coordinate with municipalities, utility owners, inspectors, and customers when sewer facility information is unclear or incomplete.
- Support crews in the field by providing timely and accurate locate information to minimize delays and prevent utility damage.
- Verify locate marks remain visible and accurate throughout the work period.
- Assist with potholing or visual verification when required to confirm sewer depth, alignment, or conflicts.
- Follow company safety policies, JHA requirements, traffic control procedures, confined space awareness requirements, and applicable OSHA standards.
- Maintain company vehicle, tools, and locating equipment in clean and working condition.
- Report damaged, missing, or inaccurate sewer records or field conditions to management.
- Maintain professionalism when interacting with customers, municipalities, inspectors, and the public.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Experience locating underground utilities, sewer systems, or related underground infrastructure preferred.
- Ability to read and understand construction drawings, sewer maps, utility prints, and as-built documents.
- Familiarity with underground construction, directional drilling, trenching, potholing, and utility installation practices.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately document field conditions.
- Ability to work independently and make sound field decisions.
- Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
- Ability to use mobile devices, tablets, cameras, and field reporting applications.
- Ability to communicate clearly with field crews, supervisors, municipalities, inspectors, and customers.
- Commitment to safety, quality, and damage prevention.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience with sewer locating, utility locating, telecom construction, municipal sewer systems, or underground utility construction.
- Experience using utility locating equipment, sondes, sewer cameras, GPS/GIS tools, or electronic field documentation systems.
- Knowledge of 811 requirements and damage prevention practices.
- OSHA 10, competent person, confined space awareness, or traffic control training preferred.
- Experience working around directional drilling, trenching, boring, and excavation crews.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.
- Ability to walk job sites, rights-of-way, easements, alleys, streets, and uneven terrain.
- Ability to lift and carry tools or equipment up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to bend, kneel, climb, stand, and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to work safely around traffic, construction equipment, open excavations, and active job sites.
- Ability to visually inspect markings, manholes, cleanouts, and surface features.
Work Environment
This position is primarily field-based and requires travel to job sites, customer locations, municipal rights-of-way, and active construction areas. The Sewer Locator may work near traffic, heavy equipment, excavation sites, sewer infrastructure, and public utility corridors. Work may require early starts, overtime, or occasional weekend work depending on project schedules and emergency needs.
Key Competencies
- Safety-focused
- Detail-oriented
- Reliable and self-motivated
- Strong communication skills
- Good judgment in the field
- Problem-solving ability
- Accurate documentation
- Team-oriented approach
- Customer and municipality professionalism
Performance Expectations
Success in this role is measured by accurate sewer locates, clear documentation, timely communication of conflicts, reduction of sewer damages, support of safe production, and responsiveness to field crews and project schedules.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
