About the role
Stormwater Pipe Journeyman - 2 Positions
Location: 22211 U.S. Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33765
Schedule: Monday to Thursday or Tuesday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Position Summary
The Stormwater Journeyman performs skilled, journey-level trade work in the construction, maintenance, and structural repair of county stormwater conveyance systems. This position serves as the lead hands-on craftsman and crew leader for a small field team executing open-cut pipe replacements, driveway culvert restorations, concrete drainage structure construction, and ditch conveyance grading.
Key Responsibilities:
- Set up and operate laser survey equipment to establish pipe grades and flow lines.
- Install various types of stormwater pipe to required design elevations.
- Construct and repair masonry catch basins and inlets.
- Pour and finish concrete driveway aprons.
- Install mitered end sections (MES).
- Serve as the technical lead for a small crew, providing direction on equipment operation, safety, and daily work.
- Document work orders and completed work in the County’s work management system.
Required License:
Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class B with an acceptable driving record. Class A is preferred.
What Would You Do?
- Lead Small Crew Operations: Guide, instruct, and work alongside a small crew in the field; coordinate daily site tasks, maintain productivity, and enforce safe work habits around open excavations and heavy equipment.
- Pipe Repair & Replacement: Excavate, bed, align, join, and backfill stormwater pipes (RCP, HDPE, corrugated metal, and polypropylene); verify proper joint sealing and mechanical compaction around pipe zones.
- Laser Survey & Grade Setting: Set up, calibrate, and shoot grades using rotating pipe lasers, builder’s levels, and grade rods; calculate and verify slope percentages, fall, and flow-line invert elevations directly from blueprints, bench marks, or field schematics.
- Driveway Culverts & Restorations: Perform end-to-end replacement of residential and commercial driveway culverts, subgrade preparation, base compaction, and full driveway apron restoration (concrete pouring/finishing or asphalt patching).
- Mitered Ends & Apron Protection: Install, form, and set concrete or metal mitered end sections (MES) on culvert crossings; place geotextile fabric, rubble riprap, and slope protection to prevent scouring and erosion.
- Box Building, Lids, & Masonry: Build, modify, and repair catch basins, drop inlets, junction boxes, and ditch bottom inlets using concrete masonry units (CMU), brick/mortar, or form-and-pour techniques; set, adjust, and replace damaged lids, ring-and-cover assemblies, and inlet grates to finished road/curb grade.
- Trench Safety & Job Site Controls: Ensure compliance with OSHA excavation standards and the Florida Trench Safety Act; verify trench box placement, sloping, or shoring; implement Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) setups; coordinate Sunshine 811 utility mark-outs prior to digging.
- Work Tracking & Reporting: Assist supervisory staff by tracking daily labor hours, linear feet of installed pipe, structural materials used, and equipment run-time within the County's Cityworks database.
- Emergency Storm Response: Serve on mandatory emergency response crews during tropical storms, hurricanes, and severe wet-weather events to clear conveyance bottlenecks, handle emergency washouts, and run bypass pumps.
- Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned.
What Do You Need to Have?
Experience: Three (3) years of skilled experience in public works construction, underground utility pipe laying, or stormwater drainage maintenance, including lead worker, crew chief, or senior journeyman responsibilities.
Education: Associate degree or vocational certification in Construction Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, or a closely related trade, plus one (1) year of experience in utility or stormwater pipe construction.
- Three (3) years of experience as described above; or,
- An associate degree as described above, and one (1) year of experience as described above; or,
- An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
Additional Requirements:
- Driver’s License: Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B (Class A preferred) with an acceptable driving record.
- Physical & Environmental Requirements: Ability to perform heavy manual labor outdoors in high heat, humidity, rain, and muddy or submerged conditions; ability to enter confined spaces (trenches, catch basins, manholes) in compliance with safety standards.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Software Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, and other software applications necessary to perform the duties of the position.
- Grade & Elevation Layout: Demonstrated skill in shooting grades, using pipe lasers, calculating run/fall ratios, and reading engineering plan-and-profile sheets.
- Structural Concrete & Masonry: Practical craftsmanship in building brick/block inlets, parging walls, forming/pouring footers and collars, and screeding/finishing flat concrete.
- Heavy Equipment Operation: Proven capability operating mini/mid-size excavators, backhoes, skid steers, vibratory trench compactors, and cut-off saws.
- Safety Certifications: FDOT Temporary Traffic Control (TTC/MOT) certification; OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour Construction / Trenching & Confined Space Competent Person training.
Our benefits rank among the top in the area!
Looking for a strong retirement? We have you covered as members of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) with investment and pension options.
We have deferred compensation programs and wellness centers to name a few perks. Check out these and more!
Want to Learn More?
Please review the full classification description with the Physical/Mental Demands, Working Conditions, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the below link.