Valve Maintenance Foreman

Are you looking to make a meaningful impact on public health and the environment? Join the MWRA team! We deliver some of the nation's highest-quality drinking water to 3 million residents, restored Boston Harbor, and continue to invest in protecting vital public resources. Be part of a mission-driven organization where your work truly makes a difference-in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Summary

Supervises assigned crew in the inspection, operation, maintenance and repair of water valves and related facilities of the MWRA water supply system and performs related work as required. Performs taps on live and isolated water mains for the installation of valves.

Posting Period: 3/4/2026 to 4/4/2026

Location: Chelsea, MA

Salary: $75,590.09 - $ Annually $1,453.66 - $2,095.40 Weekly

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm



Key Responsibilities

• Participates in the preparation of major water system operations plan, including work sequencing, scheduling and cost estimating, and assists in assembling work order packages.
• Carries out written work and operation plans for each water system operations plan.
• Prepares daily and weekly job status and time utilization reports to track execution of written work plan. Details include, but are not limited to, crew time productivity, material utilization and costs, equipment utilization and costs, valve data collection information, and valve identification information.
• Utilizes computer technology, computerized maintenance management software and other software to perform work order reporting, time utilization, and written work plan completion.
• Supervises operation and maintenance of valves to empty, chlorinate, flush, fill, de-chlorinate, and place into service pipelines, reservoirs, aqueducts, storage tanks and standpipes.
• Supervises work crew in the exercising, maintenance, repair or alteration of air valves, mainline valves, blow offs, and control valves, and conduct water quality tests within the water system of the MWRA.
• Supervises and assists pipe laying and valve installation crews in cutting and laying of pipe, caulking of joints in new construction or repair of water lines within the MWRA system.
• Supervises and assists in the installation of taps up to 2" on live and dry mains up to 60" in diameter using the Mueller B-100 and D-5 tapping machines, or equivalent.
• Supervises and assists in the installation of insertion valves up to 24" in size on MWRA pipelines.
• Supervises and assists in the maintenance of the control valves within the water system including Pressure Reducing Valves, Flow Control Valves, Surge Anticipator Valves, Pressure Sustaining and other head breaking devices etc.
• Supervises and assists in the installation of valves including the site preparation and restoration.
• Supervises and assists in the replacement of parts such as pinion gears, actuators, gearboxes, stuffing box glands, cleaning, oiling and greasing of related parts.
• Supervises and assists in the repair and replacement of manual and automatic air valves.
• Drafts clear sketches and drawings of work to be performed and final sketches once work has been completed.
• Ensures that assigned staff are working in accordance with Authority and Department safety policies and procedures such as Confined Space Entry, Excavation and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Oversees, measures, and where appropriate, improves assigned work crew productivity.
• Supervises assigned crews including taking disciplinary actions (issuing verbal warnings and initiating written warnings) when necessary, conducting performance reviews, and preparing regular reports, as required, on work accomplished and crew productivity.

• Basic reading, writing, mathematical and oral communication skills as normally attained through a high school education or equivalent; or
• At least five (5) years of experience in installation, maintenance, and repair of Water Distribution Valves and Regulators
• Of which three (3) must be in a supervisory capacity. Successful completion of the MWRA sponsored supervisory training program and receipt of the training certificate may be substituted for supervisory experience; and
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Massachusetts Drinking Water Supply Facilities Certified Grade 2D Full Operators License.
• A valid Class D Motor Vehicle Drivers License.
• Regular, on-call rotations. May be required to work overtime in extended workday and emergency situations.
• This position has been designated as essential in instances where the MWRA Executive Director requires essential personnel to report to work such as inclement weather and other emergencies.

• Thorough knowledge of the hydraulics and pressure zones of the MWRA Water System.
• Knowledge and ability to operate Mueller B-100 and D-5 tapping machines.
• Ability to read blueprints of record plans showing locations of water mains and take the necessary measurements required to locate the proper area to be…