Utility Meter Reader - City of Salem, OR

Make an impact:  
Be a part of the City of Salem Public Works Utility Billing Customer Care Team!
 
Our Utility Customer Care team is looking for a dedicated, collaborative, and skilled problem solver to be part of the Public Works Department.  Public Works plans, constructs, and maintains the City’s infrastructure including streets, parks, and water, stormwater, and wastewater utilities.
 
The Utility Customer Care Team provides customer care and support for over 58,000 customer accounts in the Salem community on the phone, in person, in writing, and in the field.  The team also assists in maintaining the City’s utility infrastructure by reading and maintaining water meters.
 
Learn and grow: 
Public Works offers a variety of growth opportunities and encourage personal development for all of our employees. Further training, development, and opportunities would be discussed as necessary and/or applicable. 

What you will do: 
We need an enthusiastic individual to accurately read water meters and record usage on established routes in all weather conditions. Meter reading is time-sensitive and performed daily in a fast-paced environment. Meter readers are required to drive and walk in and around the community to read meters and complete designated routes efficiently to meet utility billing schedules.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Frequent contact with utility customers and the public;
• Accurate collection of meter usage data using handheld devices, computers, and software;
• Document route notes;
• Perform mathematical computations;
• Report broken meters/meter boxes/meter lids and meters blocked by vegetation or other obstacles.
• Meter reading staff work independently in the field with little to no in-person supervision and must be able to perform meter reading by walking meter routes to collect meter reading data daily in all weather conditions.
• Meter readers must exercise independent judgement in completing tasks as well as work in a team environment when needed to complete routes based on tight deadlines.  

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is in-person work and is generally completed Monday - Friday 07:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., however overtime is required when needed to meet operational needs.

The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay. 

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver License and the ability to meet the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Graduation from high school or completion of General Education Development (GED) test, and one year customer service or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions.
• Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to give detailed information in your application that includes your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as requested in the supplemental questions and job advertisement.

About us:
The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.
 
A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:
Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members.


The Public Works Department values employees and their professional development.  If you are someone that takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas, proactively responding to community needs, and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you! The Public Works Department promotes a healthy work life balance, while maintaining the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team!
 
The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.
 
Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Utility Meter Reader or view by clicking here.
 
How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
 
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application.
 
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
 
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!
 
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.