Senior Meter Service Technician

City of Oceanside • Oceanside, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department is an innovative and forward-looking organization whose goal is to ensure ongoing access to safe & affordable drinking water, reliable wastewater collection & treatment services, and environmental sustainability by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability and system efficiency. The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Senior Meter Services Technician in the Water Utilities Department. This position is invaluable in providing guidance to the Meter Services team, ensuring water usage data is collected and overseeing the efficient response to and troubleshooting of customer inquiries pertaining to their water meters. This position leverages modern computerized automated data collection through Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and helps to ensure this process runs smoothly and error free. This position has extensive and proven ability in maintaining the City's metering system and the entire AMI system installed water meters. You will need comprehensive knowledge on testing, replacement and repair, of water meters to succeed in this role. The public will expect you to understand all aspects of water service from the water main to the customer's home, or business. This position will work in conjunction with other divisions of the Water Utilities Department by implementing an accurate modern radio collection system of customer water usage data, so that the billing process may begin. This journey-level position will maintain a more independent workflow and general help to your co-workers and supervisors. You will work closely with the public and provide multiple City Departments assistance, all while accomplishing time sensitive tasks. A proven ability to complete tasks will ensure proper billing and smooth work order fulfillment. This position is active in the use of the City's customer portal, WaterSmart. You should be excited about this opportunity as you will... Be involved in maintaining, monitoring, and ensuring an accurate data-collection system to support our AMI and billing system. Have daily intensive interactions with residents and businesses within the City limits. Be able to utilize your expertise on the installation, testing, repair, monitoring and replacement of the more than 45,000 meters utilized by the Water Department. Be the very first step in making all the residents of Oceanside happy with accurate and timely water meter reads. The ideal candidate should be able to understand, operate, and troubleshoot an AMI system, upload/download data, dispatch work orders and ensure the work group is working efficiently. This requires close collaboration with the Meter Services Supervisor and staff within the workgroup. The ideal candidate should be able to operate software and related equipment; have excellent customer service, planning/organization and time management skills. Someone who will be active and have the ability to perform a physical job. We want applicants who will be happy with a workday demanding enough to feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of their day. This position will require an expert understanding that accuracy and a careful approach to assignments will be expected. Persons with a good ability to deal with difficult situations and customers. Rain or shine you are there to help those that need it. An ideal candidate will possess a dynamic understanding of water delivery and where issues may arise. This position may also aid other divisions within the department and/or work on special projects as required by the Water Utilities Director.

Requirements

• Knowledge of operations, services and activities of an automated and manual meter reading program.
• Knowledge of principles of lead supervision and training.
• Knowledge of principles of customer service.
• Knowledge of equipment, methods and materials used in the construction, maintenance and repair of water meters.
• Knowledge of use and competency with computers, software, modern office machines and equipment including automated software applications.
• Knowledge of software applications including AMI, GIS, Microsoft Office and other related software.
• Knowledge of City geography and location of meters.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of record keeping.
• Knowledge of mathematical principles.
• Knowledge of basic computers operations.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Ability to lead, organize, train and review the work of staff in the area of work assigned.
• Ability to assign and schedule personnel, materials and equipment effectively.
• Ability to support the operation and maintenance of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system (AMI).
• Ability to estimate the costs of maintenance or repair projects.
• Ability to identify and report meter discrepancies or malfunctions.
• Ability to provide excellent internal and external customer service.
• Ability to interpret, explain and enforce department policies and procedures.
• Ability to perform routine maintenance on meters.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Ability to assess readings to determine consumption discrepancies.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently to carry out assignments.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Three years of increasingly responsible experience in the installation, repair, maintenance, and operation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Automated Meter Reading (AMR) or manual metering program.
• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Possession of State of California Water Distribution Grade II Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, inspects and participates in the work of staff responsible for the operation and maintenance of the AMI system and reading meters
• Provides technical direction to workers engaged in meter service activities
• Assists in the interviewing, selection and evaluation of assigned staff
• Uploads and downloads information to and from mobile devices and the meter data management system (MDMS)
• Monitors gateway and repeater activity
• Coordinates with AMI vendors for equipment replacements and upgrades
• Rebuild, test and replace meter interface units (MIU’s)
• Tests meters to determine accuracy and meet regulatory requirements
• Sequence and data processing for new meters sets
• Use of ArcGIS mapping GPS, mapping software, vendor software, and AMI software
• Assigns and schedules job duties to Meter Technicians
• Estimates project costs
• Inspects work in progress and at completion
• Determines work project priorities
• Monitors projects
• Reschedules work crews and makes adjustments to crew assignments as required to meet project goals
• Interprets water meter readings and records consumptions in a handheld computer
• Responds to public complaints and inquiries
• Inspects meters and connections for damage, defects and unauthorized connections
• Makes minor field repairs
• Replaces damaged meter boxes and lids
• Cleans out meter boxes and registers
• Seals meters
• Installs, repairs or exchanges water meters
• Maintains work and time records
• Maintains and monitors inventory of supplies and equipment
• Inspects equipment for needed maintenance or repair and schedules work as needed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED