Field Service Technician II - Ozarks Electric Cooperative

Ozarks Electric, headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas with offices in Springdale, Arkansas, Stilwell, and Westville Oklahoma incorporated in 1938, is a member-owned electric cooperative, serving more than 90,000 meters across nine counties in Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma.

Ozarks provides its employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive wages, fully paid medical and dental coverage for both you and your dependents, a defined benefit pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions. Additionally, we provide paid time off, nine paid holidays, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

High school diploma or equivalent required. Must successfully complete Northwest Arkansas lineman college curriculum, designed for this position within 18 months.

JOB KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Must have basic knowledge of electricity. Must possess a class A CDL without violations. Must have a thorough working knowledge of service applications and billing processes. Must be familiar with the considerable hazards that exist in falls, electric shock, electric flash, automobile traffic and falling objects and with proper use of all PPE. Must be proficient in CPR, first aid, and pole top/bucket rescue.

MAJOR JOB TASKS:

• Performs field collection activities, which includes collecting payments on past due accounts or removing energized meters and setting or resetting energized meters up to 240 volts. Can assist with voltages above 240 volts under direct supervision of a qualified employee.
• Completes general service work associated with metering problems.
• Uses an extendo stick to connect or reconnect transformers when needed.
• Takes part in scheduled rotation of resetting meters when resets are performed after the end of a normal
• May read residential and commercial meters as assigned. Verifies meter number, number of dials, multiplier, if applicable, status of account, rate class and locations.
• Identifies and reports safety hazards, vandalism, meter tampering and other problems spotted in the field.
• Responds to member questions and reports service problems to appropriate Cooperative personnel.
• Assists lead lineman in performance of service duties and after-hours on-call duties. Must be available for outage restoration call outs any time of day or night.
• Serves as an assistant to Lineman to include proper positioning of equipment and digging of holes, prepares materials for each project including but not limited to cutouts, arrestors, meter loops and transformers.
• Performs all ground activities and will be able to: frame poles and interpret a speck book, also be able to distinguish between different voltages and know how to test those voltages for live or deenergized lines.
• Ensures that vehicles are kept clean and orderly and are stocked with adequate material.
• Complies with safety rules and regulations. Cooperates with all employees in maintaining good working relationships and high morale, exchanging ideas, information, and job experience.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

The Field Service Technician II position shall be required to perform any other duties assigned to fulfill the objectives of the cooperative.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Consumer/Members: Courteously answers inquiries, and, if unable to do so, directs them to the appropriate person, making every effort to gain their increased understanding and acceptance of the cooperative plans, programs, and policies.
• Public officials: Works with and assists Highway departments state and local; law enforcement state, county, and city when necessary.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a current driver's license without violations that would prevent insurability and with a class A commercial endorsement. Must be familiar with all equipment necessary to work on electric distribution lines, vehicles, and tools necessary for connection and disconnection of electric meters and power line maintenance. Must know how to use all office equipment laptops, pads, and cell phones.

• Must be able to read and interpret maps, diagrams, and technical information. Must acquire within a reasonable time span knowledge of material specifications, national safety code, appropriate cooperative safety rules and regulations and policies and procedures. Must be familiar with the use of computers and various software used by the cooperative. Must have the ability to organize, plan, prioritize multiple responsibilities with minimal supervisions, and have demonstrated the ability to successfully balance and complete numerous tasks and job functions simultaneously. Must be able to work in a fast paced, high-pressure work atmosphere. Must be able to identify nominal voltages and electrical hazards. Employee may be required to climb poles and work on primary and secondary poles as well as help lineman with aerial work. Example changing transformers and any line assistance needed.
• This position is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, high precarious positions, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock. The employee is occasionally exposed to vibration. The noise level in the work environment varies from low to loud. Hours may be irregular and include nights, weekends, and holidays.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to perform all activities listed in the job description with or without reasonable accommodations. This position is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk and hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• The physical activities and environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

SUPERVISES:

• NONE

Ozarks Electric is an EOE/AA/W/M/VETERAN/Disability employer