Senior Meter Service Technician

Sacbar; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Oceanside is seeking a Senior Meter Services Technician to lead the Meter Services team and oversee AMI meter data collection for accurate billing. You will troubleshoot customer inquiries and ensure 45,000+ meters are tested, repaired, and read accurately.

Prospective candidates should have AMI/AMR experience, strong technical knowledge of meters, and excellent communication skills to interact with residents and City Departments. This on-site role supports Water Utilities operations.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in AMI/AMR metering.
• Experience in testing, replacement and repair of water meters.
• Strong customer service and ability to interact with residents and businesses.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS, MDMS, and related software.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, and supervise staff operating the AMI system and meters.
• Provide technical guidance on meter service activities.
• Inspect meters and repair or replace as needed.
• Maintain data records and assist in billing accuracy.
• Coordinate with AMI vendors and manage field operations.

Skills

Customer service

Lead supervision

AMI systems

Meter reading

Data collection

Education

High school diploma

Tools

MDMS

ArcGIS

GPS

AMI software

Job description

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.

About the Position

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.

• 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

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of an automated and manual meter reading program.
• Principles of lead supervision and training.
• Principles of customer service.
• Equipment, methods and materials used in the construction, maintenance and repair of water meters.
• Use and competency with computers, software, modern office machines and equipment including automated software applications.
• Software applications including AMI, GIS, Microsoft Office and other related software.
• City geography and location of meters.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Principles and practices of record keeping.
• Mathematical principles.
• Basic computers operations.
• 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.
• Assign and schedule personnel, materials and equipment effectively.
• Support the operation and maintenance of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system (AMI).
• Estimate the costs of maintenance or repair projects.
• Identify and report meter discrepancies or malfunctions.
• Provide excellent internal and external customer service.
• Interpret, explain and enforce department policies and procedures.
• Perform routine maintenance on meters.
• Perform mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Assess readings to determine consumption discrepancies.
• Work independently and efficiently to carry out assignments.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience and Training

Experience: 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.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

License/Certificate

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Possession of State of California Water Distribution Grade II Certificate.

Environmental Conditions

Field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to noise, dust, smoke, fumes, gases and inclement weather; extensive public contact.

Physical Conditions

Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing, sitting and bending for prolonged periods of time; moderate or light lifting and carrying; operating motorized equipment.

Selection Process

All properly completed applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Failure to provide all required application materials will result in disqualification from the selection process. The process may include any combination of a written exam, oral exam, application appraisal, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the Eligibility List and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months. Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting) and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required. RESUMES ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS, BUT MAY BE ATTACHED. CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.