What are the responsibilities and job description for the PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE WORKER / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS position at Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources?
EXAM NUMBER: C5923C-EA
Applications will be accepted from January 22, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) until February 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT).
The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
Los Angeles County Public Works is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Public Works Maintenance Worker vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.
Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.
Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Public Works Maintenance Worker.
Essential Job Functions
Flood Control:
- Employs shovels, axes, chains and handsaws to clear brush, trees, shrubs, and other vegetation or obstructions from flood control channels.
- As a member of a crew, inspects and repairs storm drains adhering to all safety practices and procedures required for working in underground and confined spaces.
- Locates and injects sealing material into cracks, chips out and repairs spalled areas of concrete and performs any and all operations required to remove and patch eroded areas of channels including replacement of reinforcing steel.
- Measures, cuts, fits, and braces forms for concrete and asphalt projects such as repair or construction of access roads, walks, and District rights of way.
- Performs sluicing, booming, and removal of debris at debris basins and reservoirs.
- Performs construction, maintenance and guniting work on steep slopes, irregular surfaces, dam abutments, debris basins, dam spillways, levees, etc. as part of rappel crew.
- Operates diversion structures that control dispersal of water from channels and basins into spreading grounds in accordance with directions from the Water Resources Division.
- Opens and closes gates to control flow and depth of water; clears trash racks and inlets of debris; takes water samples and measures amount of sediment for allowable parts per million.
- Under the direction of appropriately licensed personnel, operates herbicide spraying vehicles or manually operated devices while wearing protective clothing and breathing equipment; exercises care in the loading and dispersal of herbicides to protect self, fellow workers and the public.
- Inspects, cleans, and repairs pumping station sumps, sub-drain vaults and pumping plant outlets.
- Performs a variety of tasks required to operate and maintain salt-water intrusion barriers such as the removal, inspection, repair, and replacement of Ball, Baily, Clay, and 4-way valves.
- Inspects safety equipment such as safety belts, oxygen deficiency and explosive gas detection meters, flashlights and protective clothing to ensure appropriate quantity and proper operating condition.
- As required, operates a variety of automotive powered equipment such as trenchers, loaders, dump trucks and small boom trucks.
- Participates in a vermin and rodent control program; applies proper control material as required.
Road:
- Assists in road construction projects, performing such work as checking the grade, spreading and smoothing base materials, spreading oil and asphalt, rolling and tamping finished surface, and building berms.
- Assists in patch paving; prepares sub-base; applies oil, rock, and asphalt; and tamps or rolls surface.
- Assists in repairing concrete structures such as curbs, gutters, small drainage structures, and sidewalks; sets forms; mixes and pours concrete.
- Assists in sealing asphalt roads using oil and rock or slurry.
- Paints, re-stencils, installs, and repairs signs, barricades, and guard rails to repair damage.
- Assists in the installation of corrugated culvert pipes and in the construction of head walls.
- Performs emergency work during storms, including clearing debris from roads and draining structures and placing sandbags.
- Operates such equipment as skip loaders, emulsion sprayers, asphalt spreading machines, and power brooms.
- Drives automotive equipment to work sites, which include combination truck units with trailers of 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or over.
- May provide lead-assistance in directing a small crew in routine work, such as clearing debris from streets and drainage structures, spraying weeds, and minor patch work.
- May assemble, fabricate, wire and maintain traffic signal components including signal heads, signal pole assemblies, and pedestrian push button devices.
- May assist in the construction, modification, and maintenance of traffic signals and electrical services.
- May maintain traffic signal devices.
- Inspects and cleans sewer lines with the use of specialized hand or power operated tools and equipment, including sewer cleaning machines, pumps, air compressors, blowers, etc.
- Checks maintenance holes for vermin and rodents; applies proper control materials as required.
- Assists in the containment and removal of sewage overflows.
- Excavates and reconstructs sewers using tractors, backhoes, pneumatic tools, winches and cables, and installs sheeting and shoring.
- Assists in preparing accurate records on work completed.
- Lays pipes and installs saddle connections in sewer lines.
- May operate closed circuit television equipment used for internal sewer inspection.
- May work on crews specializing in some phase of sewer maintenance operations such as inspection, cleaning work or assisting in the maintenance of treatment plant operation.
- Drives automotive equipment and other vehicles supporting sewer maintenance operations.
Bridge:
- Performs the manual labor required to maintain, repair, and construct bridge structures and appurtenances.
- Loads and unloads materials and supplies from trucks; lifts and moves heavy equipment.
- Works at high elevation on bridges and over bodies of water.
- Prepares and uses rigging equipment for harnessing purposes to tie down heavy equipment and provide safety measures for workers.
- Performs a variety of tasks required to maintain, repair, and construct bridge structures.
- Assists in pouring concrete and placing reinforcing steel, sawing rotted timbers and bolting bridge plates, and placing jacks for the replacement of new timbers.
- Operates and utilizes a variety of hand tools such as saws, drills, and screw jacks in the repair of bridge structures and appurtenances.
- Drives vehicles and equipment to and from work sites including performing the daily inspections of vehicles and equipment prior to and after use each day.
- May maintain stock inventories and records.
- All positions may be required to drive vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
OPTION I:
One year of experience in the construction, repair, and maintenance of flood control and water conservation structures and facilities.
OPTION II:
One year of experience in the construction, repair and maintenance of road, streets or bridges.
OPTION III:
One year of experience in the maintenance and repair of sewer systems, and the satisfactory completion of a specified sewer maintenance on-the-job training program.
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions. A valid California Class A or Class B Driver License, and special endorsements to drive assigned vehicles may be required for some positions in this class.
Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of his/her driving record from the California State Department of Motor and Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant’s driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted or revoked.
The County is required to comply with the Federal regulations which require pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to work, follow up, and random urine drug and breath alcohol testing of employees who carry commercial driver's licenses and who are assigned to drive certain vehicles.
You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class IV – Arduous: Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.
Additional Information
EXAM CONTENT:
Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add aargueta@dpw.lacounty.gov, pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov, as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
SPECIAL INFORMATION: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Department Contact Name: Angela Argueta
Department Contact Phone: (626) 458-2141
Department Contact Email: pwexams@dpw.lacounty.gov
Teletype Phone: (626) 282-7829
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Your Responsibilities:
1. Completing Your Application:
a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.
c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.
2. Requirements on Job Posting:
a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.
b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.
c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.
3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.
4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on www.governmentjobs.com and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.
5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:
a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.
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The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.
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Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.
Veteran’s Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran’s credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.
This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran’s credit. More information available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/
Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf (Download PDF reader) and http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_AC E_Resource_Guide.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at https://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov/#/.
Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a “new member” of the County’s defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) – unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.
Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.
Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.
Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.
Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.
COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
Updated February 2024