Utilities Operations Trainee Vernon CA 1 of 3
JOB DESCRIPTION
Utilities Operations Trainee
Date Prepared:
Date Revised:
December 18, 2018
October 2023
Class Code: 8060
SUMMARY: Under close supervision, to learn and assist in performing electric, gas, and fiber utility related maintenance work and operational activities and related tasks as required. Performs routine manual labor involving minor construction, maintenance, repair activities and a wide variety of tasks in the inspection, monitoring, installation, and repair of City public utility facilities.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Utilities Operations Trainee is a full- time, entry- level classification in which incumbents gain experience performing increasingly skilled work in the construction, maintenance, and repair of City utility operational systems. Under close supervision, incumbents learn to perform semi-skilled and skilled duties in installation, repair, and maintenance of the City electric, gas, and fiber-optic related operations. Employees in this class typically report to a Supervisor and may receive lead work direction and guidance from a Journey or Lead level employees.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Assist in basic manual high voltage switching operations under close supervision. Assists in performing substation, water, and gas facility routine inspections. Assists in a variety of routine facility maintenance and repair activities such as painting, carpentry, welding/fabrication, custodial and various types of construction; performs power plant and grounds maintenance duties as assigned.
Assists with emergency calls for service, emergency response, outage restoration and traffic control activities.
Assists with spill response/cleanup, dead animal retrieval, broken hydrants, fallen trees, utility pole issues and water quality complaints.
Assist in the basic installation, testing, maintenance, and repair of substation equipment including air, vacuum and oil circuit breakers, supervisory equipment, transformers, disconnects, load tap changers, batteries, substation structures, relay and protections systems and associated substation equipment. Assist in basic maintenance of records on substation equipment. Assists in the testing, installation, maintenance, and repair of electric meters. Assists in responding to Dig Alert tickets; updates logs; extracts information and inputs data into computer systems.
Assists in updating records and advising supervisor of any materials that need to be ordered. Assists in downloading meter data to customer service division. Digs and back-fills excavations using manual and/or powered tools and equipment. Assists in making temporary and permanent repairs; cuts, threads, and prepares pipe for welding and fusing; tests completed joints and applies protective coatings.
Utilities Operations Trainee Vernon CA 2 of 3
Stocks inventory supplies; inspects tools and City vehicles to ensure they are clean and in safe working order; reports deficiencies to supervisor as necessary. Inspects all tools and vehicles to verify they are clean and safe to operate; makes arrangements for or notifies supervisor of necessary repairs or cleaning.
Assists in maintaining regulator stations and pressure recorders; assists in maintaining and calibrating customer meters and regulators.
Assists with pipeline patrol of transmission and distribution lines; inspects valves for problems. Assists with the inspection and readings of pumps, boosters, wells, motors, and reservoirs. Assists in inspecting and maintaining underpasses before, during and after rain events. Assists in exercising valves and performing routing flushing operations. Assists in performing meter reading for utility billing. Assists the Gas Department with excavation and exposing gas mains; may assist other City work crews. Loads and unloads materials, equipment, and supplies. Installs barricades and flashers for public safety purposes. Provides manual assistance to semi-skilled and skilled workers. Works with others while engaged in emergency repair and restoration activities. Ensures the work areas are maintained in a clean and orderly manner.
Assists to respond to emergency calls for service; inspects affected equipment; identifies a cause; and efficiently restores service or as required.
Assists to learn to operate systems as needed or directed. Assists with and performs daily equipment inspections and routine preventive maintenance of equipment; removes trash and weeds; inspects facilities and reports security concerns. Assists to takein taking readings and makes observations as required on equipment and notifies Control Room Operators of abnormalities, concerns, and trends. Assists in to perform duties in the handling, cleanup, and disposal of hazardous materials, related to an industrial facility.
Assists toin requesting and or implementings system equipment Lockout/Tagout to safely conduct. maintenance, testing, repair and overhaul of equipment or systems. Assists to performin performing water and chemical treatment testing and analysis, performs corrective actions as needed upon review with Control Room Operator.
Assists to perform a variety of routine facility maintenance and repairs such as painting, carpentry, welding/fabrication, custodial and various types of construction; performs power plant and grounds maintenance duties as assigned.
Assists to promoteContributes to a safety conscious work environment by closely following City, State and industry established general, electrical and plant standard operating procedures, subscribing to industry best practices, and complying with regulatory requirements.
Assists to support the relationship between the City of Vernon and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.
May assist in the operation of light to medium trucks, skip loaders, pavement breakers, hydraulic pumps, jackhammers, pipe cutters, power generators, tampers, and a wide variety of other hand and power equipment.
Assists in the monitoring, construction and repair of the telecommunications, internet services and fiber optic backbone system.
Once fully trained may cCovers open Electric Operator and Field Operator rotating shifts on an emergency or exception basis asare necessary.
Utilities Operations Trainee Vernon CA 3 of 3
Supports the relationship between the City of Vernon and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of workrelated issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:
High School diploma or equivalent. One year of construction, or repair and maintenance of mechanical equipment and machinery, or electric power systems work experience. One year of college level course work or trade school in electrical, mechanical, or related field may be substituted for one year of experience.
Knowledge of:
City organization, operations, policies, and procedures. Regulatory requirements for the operation, maintenance, and repair of gas, electric and bulk power utilities.
Principles of electric theory, power system operations including power plant operations; fundamentals of alternating current circuits, and electrical safety policies and procedures. State and federal environmental protection codes and regulations; Emergency response and firstresponder procedures and other safety, environmental compliance rules, requirements, and regulations including Cal-OSHA and Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures. Common hand and power tools.
Customer service standards and protocols.
Skill in:
Learning the operation of power plant equipment, electric substation equipment, gas system materials and equipment and fiber-optic materials and equipment.
Working in an operational capacity in a utilities field environment, in a transmission and distribution system and in a power plant setting.
Understanding, interpreting, and applying detailed work procedures and standards applicable to repair, maintenance and installation of utilities systems and facilities. Comprehending and executing written and verbal instructions. Safely operating and maintaining tools and equipment. Building relationships and fostering teamwork.
Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing. Establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with supervisors and leads, fellow employees and the public.
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
A valid California State Driver’s License is required.
Must complete 240 hours of high voltage training and qualification within 12-months.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a standard office environment and an electric generation plant, electric subtransmission, and distribution substation environment, in and around water wells, water pumping plants and water distribution systems, and natural gas transmission and distribution environment; may be exposed to energized equipment. May be exposed to dangerous machinery, hazardous chemicals, electric shock and moving traffic. Routine exposure to the elements. Works a set schedule per department needs, however, 24/7 operations may require the need to work alternative schedules including nights, weekends, and rotating shifts.