Meter Reader 2

Do you like working outdoors in all types of weather?  Want to have a job that allows you to be active all while reading and maintaining water meters throughout the City? Are you able to maintain a calm and customer-friendly disposition even when confronted with irate people? If so, the Meter Reader 2 may be just the right position for you!
 
Meter Readers perform a variety of semi-skilled maintenance and technical tasks involved in performing accurate readings of water meters.  Work is characterized by frequent contacts with residents, business owners, and other City employees. Proficiency operating a variety of specialized hand, power, and automotive equipment is necessary in the performance of daily duties.

**A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position. Please note that you cannot attach documents to your application after it has been submitted. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your online application, please call our office at (253) 856-5270 and we will do our best to assist you.**

This is a full-time, benefited position that is represented by the Teamsters union. 

All City of Kent employees are eligible to apply. Qualified candidates will be notified once an interview schedule has been established.

SALARY:

$5,596.00 - $6,799.00 per month, depending on experience

For a listing of benefits, please use the following link: Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)

Additional information may also be found in the Teamsters contract, which you can access at Human Resources | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the Customer Services Manager or designee, retrieve accurate water meter readings, maintain meter records, investigate water usage anomalies, and replace defective meters. 

Work is characterized by a substantial volume of semi-skilled maintenance and technical tasks involved in performing accurate readings of water meters. The Incumbent also performs a moderate volume of clerical duties in the collection of meter data and maintenance of meter records and reports. Incumbents of this classification operate a variety of specialized hand, power, and automotive equipment necessary in the performance of daily duties. All assignments involve the responsibility for safe use of tools and equipment and the safety of others in the immediate area.

Work is performed under continuing supervision. The supervisor indicates what is to be done, limitations, quality, and quantity of the work expected, deadlines, and priority of assignments. The supervisor provides additional, specific instructions for new, difficult, or unusual assignments. The incumbent will carry out recurring assignments independently but refers deviations from procedures to the supervisor for help or decision. Work is reviewed for technical accuracy and compliance with instructions or established procedures. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Read residential, commercial, and industrial water meters on assigned routes and record readings using hand held meter-reading devices.

Locate water meters that may be hidden under water, construction materials, or debris.

Load and unload meter readings into PC based system for processing of utility billing.

Check for leaks, mis-readings, and non-functioning meters, replace meters from 5/8" to 1" in size, activate and repair radio-read meters, and replace broken meter box lids.

Notify customers of possible service leaks, perform emergency turn offs, and perform delinquency notification and service turn offs.

Provide a full range of customer service related activities by interacting with the general public as well as city customers in person, by telephone, and through written correspondence.

Maintain City right-of-way to meters by clearing debris, brush, grass, etc., and removing rocks and dirt from meter boxes as needed.

Perform meter audits.

Prepare necessary records and reports concerning vehicle operation and maintenance.

Drive City vehicle in a safe manner to meter routes.

Actively support the vision, mission, values and goals of the department and the City.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Perform related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Meter sizes, types, and functions

• Proper and safe use of water meter reading/maintenance tools and equipment

• Utility billing process

• Municipal government policies, procedures, and structure and applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances

• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers and related software such as word processing and spreadsheet programs

• Recordkeeping techniques

• Correct usage of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary as it pertains to the job

SKILLED IN:

• Accurately reading and recording meter readings into hand held devices
• Effective interpersonal relations using tact, patience, and courtesy

ABILITY TO:

• Learn the geography and street mapping of the City      
• Safely operate a motor vehicle
• Effectively deal with aggressive dogs and other animals in a manner that will not result in injury
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with other employees and the public
• Operate standard modern office equipment including a personal computer, related software, and other office equipment
• Plan and organize work to meet schedules and timelines with minimal supervision
• Use proper telephone etiquette and techniques to properly assist a diverse assortment of inquiries and persons
• Interpret, apply, and explain general regulations, policies, and procedures related to area of work
• Read, write, and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos 
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide and compute fractions, rates, ratios, and percentages
• Apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and deal with problems involving several variables within standardized situations

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:

Education:   High school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent and

Experience:  One (1) year experience in meter reading and repair work at a level equivalent to a Meter Reader 1.

LICENSES AND OTHER INFORMATION:

• Valid Washington State driver's license, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment
• Successful completion of the City's Defensive Driving Course within six (6) months of employment
• Valid First Aid/CPR Card, or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment
• New employees must successfully pass the City's pre-employment driver's records check, and all employees must maintain an excellent driving record
• Must successfully pass a position specific background inquiry

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Standard and specialized hand and power machines, tools, and equipment used in meter reading including, but not limited to, pipe wrenches, screw drivers, socket wrenches, crescent wrenches, meter keys, pry bars, meter reading hooks, rakes, shovels, clippers, loppers, hedge trimmers, edgers, bilge pumps, water scopes, and metal detectors/locators.

Other equipment used includes, but is not limited to, rain gear, work gloves, safety boots, and outdoor reflective vests.

Typical business office machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, personal computer, cellular phone, copy machine, and calculator.

The incumbent is required to operate a City vehicle to travel to and from meter routes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand/ walk/use hands to operate/manipulate/assemble, reach with hands and arms, stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl, and talk/hear. The incumbent is occasionally required to sit, climb /balance, and type on a keyboard. The incumbent must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include seeing close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, adequate depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is usually performed in an outdoor environment, subject to emergency call-outs, and may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is occasionally exposed to a variety of hostile and unfriendly animals. The incumbent is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock and occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.