Plumber/Pipefitter/Steamfitter

Job no: 502616
Position type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Bellingham, WA
Division/Equivalent: BFA - Business and Financial Affairs
School/Unit: Facilities Operations (5710)
Categories: Business and Financial Affairs

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Position Title Plumber/Pipefitter/Steamfitter
About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department Facilities Development & Operations supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position

This journey-level position involves performing skilled work in plumbing, steam fitting, and related mechanical systems. Working independently, the incumbent is responsible for inspecting and diagnosing system malfunctions, as well as maintaining, repairing, and testing plumbing, heating, cooling, and process piping systems. Duties also include the installation and modification of these systems to ensure efficient and reliable operation.

Plumbing/Pipefitting/Steamfitting:

  • Read and interpret design documents and specifications. Lay-out and construct piping assemblies with respect to walls, structures, and other obstructions, allowing for proper operation, expansion and contraction, and alignment using fittings, hangers, anchors, guides in accordance with accepted pipe fitting practice and applicable codes.
  • Organize, lead, instruct helpers, and coordinate the work of other trades, as required to complete projects. Estimate time and materials needed to complete work.
  • Cut and weld with oxyacetylene torches; SMAW all types of pressure pipe lines; GTAW all types of light gauge metals.
  • Cut, fit, fabricate, and assemble a wide variety of articles, materials, and devices including steel, brass, glass, plastic, cast iron, copper, corrosion-resistant pipe, tile, concrete, and transite.
  • Construct various types of pipe joints for high or low pressure systems, including threading, brazing, soldering, or welding.
  • Maintain and repair piping, tanks and pressure vessels for fuels, steam, condensate, water, air, gas, and draining systems. Install, service, field repair, and adjust pumps, ejectors, valves, dishwashers, stills, heat exchangers, and coils.
  • Remove, replace, or install all types of plumbing fixtures such as water closets, sinks, drinking fountains, showers, kitchen, laboratory and other equipment.
  • Inspect and diagnose malfunctions, repair, maintain, and test automatic fire sprinkler and standpipe systems, plumbing, heating, cooling, steam, swimming pool, and gas systems and equipment, and other process piping systems.

Administrative:

  • Participating in training sessions, completing material orders and timecards, attending shop meetings, and utilizing computers for work-related tasks.
Required Qualifications
  • Must possess and maintain a Washington State journey level plumber’s license, PLO1.
  • Acquire and maintain certification for testing and inspection of back flow devices.
  • Knowledge of applicable Washington Administrative Code (WAC) regulations, and local building and plumbing codes.
  • Knowledge of plumbing materials and methods and maintenance of consistent journey-level workmanship in plumbing, steam fitting, welding, and related tasks.
  • Demonstrated experience working in sensitive situations such as: operational offices, classrooms, dorm rooms, rest rooms, etc.
  • High school diploma or graduation equivalency diploma (GED) certificate.
  • One year of related experience in a commercial or institutional setting.
  • Valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work in order to drive a state-owned vehicle for travel to work locations.
  • Physically perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to perform daily work tasks independently under limited supervision.
  • Possess technical accuracy and recordkeeping skills.
  • Ability to work with computer hardware and software required to track work orders and record time worked.
  • Possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a friendly and cooperative manner with students, staff, and faculty at all levels of the organization and in contacts with the public.
  • Ability to manage time well and work under pressure situations with tight schedules and deadlines to complete projects.
  • Effectively read and understand written information and instructions.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Knowledge of Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) rules and regulations, standard job safety rules, proper use of a face respirator.
  • Possess and maintain ASME Section IX welding certification with AWS B2.1-1-205-96 (R2007) in accordance with ASME B31.1. UA-21 certification is acceptable.
Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary  $6,446 - $7,471/month depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Classified Positions
Bargaining Unit This position is part of bargaining unit B and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Washington Federation of State Employees.
Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Closing Date Notes Position open to current permanent (no longer on probation) WFSE employees only; position closes 07/21/2025 at 11:55 pm.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Advertised: Pacific Daylight Time
Application close: Pacific Daylight Time

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