Description

Journeyman Lineman/Water Operator Position Description

Title: Journeyman Lineman/Water Operator
Department: Water & Light
Reports to:  Water & Light Superintendent
FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt (Hourly)
Union:   Yes   (AFSCME)
Location:  Village of Newberry, Michigan

The Village of Newberry  (Newberry) is a small, rural municipality located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Newberry provides electric, drinking water, and wastewater utilities to a population of about 1400. The electric department lineman also serve as trained water operators. Newberry  has approximately 1440 electric customers. 

Newberry is surrounded by miles of state forests and is considered one of two gateways to the Tahquamenon Falls area. Centrally located between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, which are about 30 minutes away, Newberry provides opportunities for outdoor activities year round including: hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, trapping, snowmobiling, and many others.  Newberry is looking for an individual who is interested in a slower paced job assignment in a location covered in woods and water.  

General Summary: 

• Under general supervision participates in  the construction, repair, maintenance, and inspection of all overhead and underground electrical transmission and distribution lines, substations, water mains, metering, wells, well houses, associated and peripheral equipment and infrastructure.  The expected level of performance shall ensure the safe, efficient, and effective work performance of all assigned activities and tasks.                                                                                  
•  Individuals with the required lineman certifications and experience who do not have water operator experience will receive onsite training. Lack of water operator experience will not hinder applicants qualified for the Journeyman Lineman position.

Wage: $40.46 per hour (incentives paid for earning water licenses)

Benefits:  Traditional 7:00AM to 3:30PM, five-day work week with some standby/on-call requirements; BCBSMI Medical coverage; employer contributions to HSA; MERS retirement plan with 9% employer contribution, 16 paid holidays, life insurance. 

Journeyman Lineman  - Essential Duties and Job Functions:

Under general supervision, perform any of the duties required in the operation, maintenance, and construction of the electric distribution, transmission, and substation systems and, in addition, be able to direct one or more equal or lower rated employees, including such duties as:

1.       Possess thorough knowledge of all phases of electric distribution and transmission work procedures and safety rules, electric distribution standards, applicable state electric codes and statutes, and underground facilities and their purpose.

2.       Install, inspect, remove, and maintain poles, towers, cross arms, pins, insulators, and dead ends, as well as overhead, underground, and submarine wires and cables, etc. Including associated line and meter equipment in and out of energized circuits with appropriate cover up, primary rubber gloving, and/or hot sticking procedures.

3.       Trim and cut trees, install meter equipment, perform streetlight work, locate underground facilities, and investigate load, voltage, and other customer complaint problems.

4.       Assist in the installation, repair, and maintenance of regulators, reclosures, oil circuit breakers, transformers, fuses, and switch gear.

5.       Locate and repair faults and damaged equipment on all types of overhead and underground lines and equipment. 

6.       Operate equipment and vehicles such as aerial bucket trucks, backhoes, and any other equipment necessary for the satisfactory performance of job duties.

7.       Work in inclement weather conditions on energized facilities during trouble situations and/or work on facilities other than energized lines in all other situations. 

8.       Be capable and available to work standby and call-out duties, carry a pager or work cell phone.

9.       Be capable of performing all duties of lesser department job classifications and similar or related work.

10.   Assist in snow removal efforts for Village building and grounds, participate in cleaning and maintenance of building and grounds. 

11.   Participate in standby duty, on-call program.

12.   Other duties as assigned

Water Operator - Essential Duties and Job Functions:

Under general supervision, perform any of the duties required in the operation, maintenance, and construction of the water distribution and infrastructure systems and, in addition, be able to direct one or more equal or lower rated employees, including such duties as:

A.     Be capable of acquiring and maintaining a working knowledge of a small municipal drinking water system.

B.      Participate in routine bacteriologic sampling program, hydrant flushing program, and cross connection control program.

C.      Assist in maintaining an up-to-date general plan of the water system showing the location of valves, hydrants, water mains and their size, pumps, and wells.

D.     Participate in construction and/or modifications to the water supply system.

E.      Carry out necessary maintenance programs to maintain the water supply system in good repair (cleaning and painting of the pump house, pump house piping and appurtenances, fire hydrants, and water tower).

F.      Periodically operate and place online the standby power source to assure continuous operation of the water supply system. 

G.     Must attain and maintain S-3 and D-3 water operator certifications.

H.     Assist in snow removal efforts for Village building and grounds, participate in cleaning and maintenance of building and grounds. 

I.        Participate in standby duty, on-call program.

J.        Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1.       Possession of a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)

2.       Must have completed a formal apprenticeship program that included on-the-job-training and classroom instruction.

3.       Must have Journeyman Card/Certification and served as a Journeyman Lineman for at least two years.

4.       Must pass pre-employment physical, and alcohol and controlled substance testing. Must continue to pass testing for alcohol and controlled substances while employed.

5.       Valid Michigan Commercial Driver License Class B (air brake endorsement preferred) or must obtain within six months of hire date to retain position.

6.       Valid DOT medical examiner’s card.

7.       Must reside within 35 miles of the Village. When on standby duty, be capable of being onsite at the department no more than 45 minutes after receiving a call out.

8.       Must acquire S-3 and D-3 EGLE Drinking Water Certifications no later than four years from hire date to retain position. 

9.       Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with supervisors and co-workers as part of a small staff team. 

10.   Ability to use mechanical tools and equipment.

11.   Knowledge and experience in use of smartphones and basic computer operations, including use of email.

12.   Ability to display good judgement, tact, resourcefulness, integrity, initiative, and reliability.

13.   Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

14.   Ability to respond to emergency situations, as needed.

15.   Ability to participate in Standby Duty Program which requires employees to remain in a limited geographical area and refrain from consuming alcohol or controlled substances when assigned. 

16.   Ability to work at considerable heights on electric equipment.

17.   Must agree to register for and give employer permission to run reports in the Department of Transportation CDL Drug & Alcohol Database.

Physical Requirements/Demands:

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

A.     While performing the essential functions of this position the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. 

B.      The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and hear. 

C.      The employee is required to talk, sit, climb, perform work at great heights, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell. 

D.     The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally 100 pounds. 

E.      Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to focus. 

F.      The job functions require traversing areas where footing may be poor and the ground uneven and/or water soaked, or snow covered.

G.     While performing the essential functions of this position the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes, airborne particles, excessive noise, vehicles, dampness/humidity, and biting insects. 

H.     While performing the essential duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly exposed to possible bodily injury from electrical shock.

I.        The position is required to perform in various yearly cycle climates which can include, but is not limited to,  extreme cold, extreme heat, high winds, rain, snow, and sleet.

J.        The position requires some after-hours duties, including weekends and holidays. 
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The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. 

 The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

This position will require a probationary period to be evaluated by the Water & Light Superintendent and Village manager for permanent placement.
The Village of Newberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic to the extent protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy against harassment or discrimination extends to coworkers, contractors, and vendors.