General Technician Apprentice Below Ground

General Technician Below Ground

This is a position for a member of a crew engaged in installing, maintaining, and repairing gas mains and service lines. Performs basic tasks including operating heavy equipment, using hand tools, basic leak investigation, assisting in mechanical joining, landscape maintenance and traffic control. Responsible for completing a variety of tasks in support of field operations to include deactivation of service, delayed match, corrosion inspections, meter paints, reading meters and assisting with other maintenance activities as needed. Performs meter reading, ERT installations and ERT programming in conjunction with Automated Meter Reading duties. This is a bargaining unit position (IBEW Local 1997). This position will have an automatic progression pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provides assistance with all distribution activities involved with the installation, repair and maintenance of the distribution system to include : operating basic equipment and tools, traffic control, landscaping and general maintenance, digging, shoring, repairing leaks, testing and wrapping pipes, pressure recording devices, using a variety of tools (hand, air, shovels, etc.) while performing distribution crew activities, ensuring truck is stocked with equipment, supplies, tools and other equipment in neat and orderly condition, efficiently working a route to complete customer and compliance orders in a timely manner and in accordance with company policies and procedures and operator qualifications procedures, observing all safety requirements and regulatory guidelines to ensure compliance, actively and accurately capturing documentation in the Mobile Data Terminal and recognizing abnormal operating conditions such as corrosion, meters under stress, etc., assisting in connecting and disconnecting gas service, manually turning meters on and off, assisting in conducting investigations of high bill complaints, stop meters and special readings by meter reading validation, assisting in performing regular meter inspections, paints and maintenance of above and below ground gas systems, responding to questions from customers and providing answers directly or by referral, operating Automated Dispatch system to complete meter reads and turn-offs service at customer's premise, identifying abnormal operating conditions and taking appropriate actions, performing simple sniff tests to detect gas leaks, performing other job-related duties as required.

Education, Certificate / Licenses

Required : High school diploma or GED, mechanical aptitude, basic knowledge and use of hand tools and equipment, ability to pass basic skills and knowledge assessments, valid driver's license. Preferred : Field operations experience to include distribution crew work, experience with heavy equipment operations, technical school training and certification, welding experience or certification; commercial driver's license or permit or equivalent academic education and experience.

Specific Skills & Knowledge

Required : Good written and oral communication, ability to use good judgment when working in potentially hazardous and emergency environments, MS Office and computer skills basic proficiency, customer service, mechanical aptitude, able to operate basic equipment, machinery and simple tools, good interpersonal skills, ability to resolve and diffuse difficult / escalated situations, knowledge of assigned geographical territory, ability to smell odorant used to detect gas leaks.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

Exposure to outside elements (heat, cold, high winds), safety sensitive, heavy lifting, bending, stooping, walking.

Disclaimer : This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities.