Project Assistant - Austin Water

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What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

ABOUT AUSTIN WATER
For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers.

Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles.

The utility draws water from the Colorado River into three regional water treatment plants, Handcox, Davis, and Ullrich, which have a combined capacity of 335 million gallons per day.

Austin Water has two wastewater treatment plants, Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional, that can receive up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage to treat. Wastewater is cleaned into high-quality effluent that is safely returned to the Colorado River to augment environmental flows.

More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses.
Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description:

Project Assistant

Purpose:

Under direct supervision, this position provides support to the project management team by organizing various projects, contract agreements, and programs. Participates in the development of a project and provides support in scheduling, budgeting, and implementation phases of the project.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Assists in planning stage of projects, including the coordination of existing bonds and future bond projects.
  
• Assists in planning, scheduling, or coordination of project activities to meet deadlines.
  
• Provides assistance in creation of a communication plan to field staff, including Project Managers and Project
  
• Coordinators. Creates and maintains project progress monitoring data to track each project. Coordinates status updates for project related matters including providing updates to internal and external customers.
  
• Updates and maintains schedule data to ensure project consistency and optimization.
  
• Assists in resolution of project issues including any potential risks to team members by providing supporting documentation including policies and procedures.
  
• Communicates roles, expectations, and accountabilities to all team members on a regular basis.
  
• Advises management of problems, issues, and status of ongoing projects.
  
• Provides assistance to ensure established project deadlines and related tasks are completed as assigned.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of basic project practices and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws applicable to bond projects.
  
• Knowledge of applicable City practices, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of contract development and monitoring.
  
• Skill in project planning and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in oral and written format to a variety of audiences.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and available software packages.
  
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a related field, plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
  
• Experience may substitute for education up to the maximum of four (4) years.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting a facility, maintenance, or construction coordination team.
  
• Experience coordinating contractors, scheduling, assisting, and implementing phases of a project.
  
• Experience in reporting and evaluating performance measures to ensure critical work processes are operating efficiently.
  
• Certifications such as Project Management Professional, Contract Management Certification, LEEDS Certification, or similar certifications or licenses or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of employment.
  
• Experience in computerized management systems.
  

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview:

The Project Assist will be responsible for providing project support to a facility maintenance and project coordination team, including maintaining systems, computerized management systems, coordinating contractors, scheduling, reporting, evaluating performance measures, and implementing project activities such as utility-wise seating charts.

Critical Employee:

This position has been designated as critical for the City of Austin. Critical positions are necessary and vital, and support activities that impact City or department operations. Work can be performed at a designated work site or at an alternate work location. Critical employees may be reassigned to another area to provide essential services to support any extraordinary situations or emergency conditions.

Salary Range:

$29.23 - $37.37 per hour.

Work Location:

Waller Creek - 625 E. 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Days and Hours:

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM; Monday - Friday, with limited flexibility. Other hours as business needs require.

Benefits:

Working with Austin Water provides a number of benefits, including medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities, and more! Click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held.
  
• The starting salary will be based on the overall relevant experience outlined in your application.
  
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions inquiring about experience should be reflected in the application.
  
• When completing the City of Austin employment application, the work experience listed must include a month and year.
  
• Please be sure to detail all current and previous employment on the application that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• Statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
  
• A résumé and cover letter are required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  

If you are selected to interview:

• Your skill level in some of the competency areas for this job - specifically Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Outlook- will be assessed through skills testing with a required minimum passing score of 70%.
  
• Your skills and competencies for this job will be assessed before you are invited to an interview.
  
• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution and proof of your professional licenses or certifications.
  
• If you are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  

Secondary Employment:

• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department.
  
• Austin Water must review all secondary employment.
  
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.
  

Pre-Employment Requirements
Candidates must pass a Criminal Background Investigation before a start date can be confirmed.

Travel:

If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite - including construction sites, parking lots, garages, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. The use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite, including construction sites, parking lots, garages, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Please note this posting may close at any time after 7 days.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply; however, the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the listed date. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend saving or printing a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

Effective October 1, 2014, all Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite - including construction sites, parking lot, garage or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2025-10-13

• 

• City of Austin

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