Meter Reader/Mechanic

East Bay Municipal Utility District; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking utility district as a Meter Reader/Mechanic, where you will play a vital role in ensuring accurate water consumption readings in diverse neighborhoods. This position offers a unique opportunity to work outdoors, interact with the community, and contribute to the efficient operation of essential water services. Ideal candidates will have a strong commitment to customer service and possess the skills to troubleshoot and resolve meter-related issues. With a competitive salary and the chance to grow within a dedicated team, this role is perfect for those seeking a rewarding career in public service.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and understand water meters and perform basic repairs.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Read and record water meter readings in various conditions.
• Repair and replace water meters and maintain records.
• Investigate unusual consumption patterns and report issues.

Skills

Mathematics

Customer Service

Mechanical Skills

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

The Position

Application materials can only be accepted online beginning at 8:00 am on Monday, May 12, 2025. Only the first 300 applications will be accepted by the Recruitment Division online at www.ebmud.com during the filing period.

NOTE: Concurrent to this recruitment, we are recruiting for Meter Mechanic I. Applicants who may be interested in both positions must apply separately for both recruitments.

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is accepting applications for Meter Reader/Mechanic. This recruitment will be used to fill a number of anticipated job openings for at least the next 12 months. Join a team of highly motivated and skilled individuals who read water meters in an assigned area to record water consumption, investigate and resolve meter maintenance, make repairs, and complete replacements of 1" and smaller water meters.

Typical duties include:

*Reading several styles of water meters in an assigned area, in varied neighborhoods including residential, commercial, and industrial areas and terrains, and in all weather conditions.

*Recording meter readings.

*Comparing the current reading with prior readings to determine accuracy and appropriateness of reading.

*Determining if there is readily apparent cause and reporting the reason for unusual conditions where consumption seems out of line with seasonal demand and rate of previous consumption.

*Checking for inoperative, defaced, or bypassed meters and for street, house, or meter number changes.

*Completing forms to alert the customer as a courtesy, when consumption is unusually high; initiating field orders to repair damaged meters or to report street leaks or unsafe conditions for which EBMUD is responsible.

*Answering questions regarding meter reading, customer billing, or consumption; referring the customer to the proper EBMUD unit if additional information is requested.

*Repairing, replacing, and testing water meters 1" in size and smaller in the field including automatic reading meters and related equipment.

*Performing meter maintenance functions to improve meter readability.

*Cleaning, setting, and replacing meter boxes and lids.

*Keeping records of meter repairs and replacements that are completed, in progress, and planned.

Every employee adds value to the EBMUD team as they are committed to responsible stewardship of our resources. The EBMUD employee standard is to demonstrate integrity, treat others with respect, and value a teamwork culture while fulfilling EBMUD's mission to provide reliable, high-quality water and wastewater services at fair rates.

Competitive candidates will share these values and also demonstrate:

*The ability to learn methods and procedures used in order to read a variety of water meters, test and check water meters, and repair and replace water meters.

*Knowledge of basic mathematics including fractions and decimal places.

The salary range is $7,554 per month increasing to $7,932, $8,329 and $8,745 after 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively.

EBMUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, marital or registered domestic partnership status, age for individuals age forty or older, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veterans status, family or medical leave status, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical condition), pregnancy disability leave status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and other categories protected by federal, state and/or local laws.

Requirements

1.A high school diploma or its equivalent.

2.Must possess the physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the class.

3.Willingness to work overtime as needed.

4.Willingness to work alone, in a variety of weather conditions, and where hostile dogs and irate people may be encountered.

5.Must possess a valid California driver's license with a satisfactory driving record. DMV reports will be reviewed during the exam process. Applicants who do not have a satisfactory driving record by Friday, May 30, 2025 will be disqualified from the selection process.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. To be considered under the "equivalent combination of education and experience" provision, it is your responsibility to include in your application materials written evidence of employment performed at the level of the typical duties of this position and/or coursework in subject areas directly related to this position. For more information, see our FAQ page at http://www.ebmud.com/jobs/job-resources/job-faqs-frequently-asked-questions/.

The Selection Process

1.Submit a completed EBMUD application and the required supplemental question responses beginning at 8:00 am on Monday, May 12, 2025 through 4:30 pm on Friday, May 16, 2025. Only the first 300 applications will be accepted by the Recruitment Division during the filing period.

2.Candidates must achieve a passing score on each test part in order to advance to the next step in the selection process.

3.Application materials will be reviewed and those applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be invited to an in-person written test scheduled for the week of June 2, 2025. The written test subject areas will include customer service and interpersonal skills, reading water meters, math, map reading, reading comprehension and mechanical concepts. Some of these areas are covered briefly in the online Sample Test Items Guide on the EBMUD website.

4.Candidates scoring the highest on the in-person written test will be invited to a qualifying physical abilities test tentatively scheduled for the week of June 16, 2025. The physical abilities test will cover lifting and carrying exercises and assembly/disassembly of a water meter. Each test is rated on a pass/fail basis. Candidates must pass all the test stations in order to be placed on the hiring list.

5.Successful candidates will be placed on the hiring list, based on rank, for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancy, as well as others occurring over the next 12 to 24 months.

6.The probation period for this position is 6 months. For those holding civil service status the probation period is 6 months.

7.All employment offers are conditional, pending the results of a Live Scan background screening. All selected finalists must participate in the Live Scan background screening process to remain in consideration for EBMUD employment.

Supplemental Information

As the first step in the selection process, responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted online with the regular EBMUD application.