Apprentice Powerline Technician

Job Overview

Title: Apprentice Powerline Technician (PLT)

Reports to: Manager, Electrical Utility

Status: Full-time

Classification: Electrical Utility Location: Mahone Bay & Riverport

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (with a half-hour unpaid lunch); hours and days of work will not be subject to a strict schedule and may be irregular, overtime and stand-by duties are expected.

Scope

Apprentice PLT is a training position where the incumbent learns to:

· Operate trucks and all line equipment used in construction, maintenance, and removal of overhead power lines.

· Perform maintenance, construction, and switching in substations for distribution voltages.

· Repair and replace overhead distribution power lines and associated equipment.

· Use safety equipment, such as hot sticks and cover-ups, to safely work on or near energized conductors and associated electrical equipment.

· De-energize and ground power lines and equipment to permit safe working conditions.

· Climb poles or ride in a bucket that is attached to a truck-mounted boom. Clear rights of way vegetation.

· Drive trucks, operate equipment, and load and unload materials.

Qualifications

Experience

· High school diploma or GED equivalency.

· Graduate from an approved community college program in utility linework - construction and maintenance or hold a red seal as a construction electrician.

· Enrollment in an approved apprenticeship program for powerline linemen.

· Must possess a valid Nova Scotia Class 3 driver's license with air brakes (and good driving and safety record) or willing to obtain.

· Training including CPR Certification, Flagging, and First Aid or willing to obtain.

· Experience with fieldwork/GIS software preferred.

Skills

· Talking and/or listening in person and on mobile radio or cell phone.

· Near and far vision for driving.

· Color vision for identifying color-coded wires.

· Handling and fingering in the use of power and hand tools.

· Depth perception for driving and constructing overhead and underground power lines.

· Crouching, stooping, reaching, twisting, turning, and balancing required while climbing and working on power poles.

· Lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing items in excess of 20 pounds, with occasional items exceeding 100 pounds.

· Proficient computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office.

· Knowledge and skill in the proper use and care of tools and equipment.

· Working as a member of a team.

· Cooperative, "can-do" attitude focused on safety and customer service.

· Able to work in conditions with exposure to environmental factors.

Summary of Principle Duties and Functions

· Representing the Town/RELC in a positive and professional manner.

· Performs skilled work in the reconstructing, maintaining and repairing electrical systems and equipment, including substation, distribution systems, transformers, and energized power lines.

· Performs skilled work in placing and removing cross arms, stringing wires, tapping wires, repairing cross arms and wires, placing and replacing insulators and setting transformers.

· Digs holes, frames poles, sets poles, set anchors, strings wire, hangs transformers, sags up wire, energizes power lines.

· Digs trenches and lays conduit and vaults and pulling wire in conduit.

· Splices wire and cable.

· Operates a variety of equipment and trucks, and the use of attached equipment such as power diggers, winches or cranes.

· Installs and maintains underground or overhead wiring systems as required.

· Provides temporary power connection for contractors.

· Installs and connects wire, meters and other electrical services on customer premises.

· Responding to emergency call-out after normal working hours, when needed.

· Trims trees and branches.

· Maintains safety practices and procedures.

· Keeps inventory, time and material records, as assigned; stocks service vehicles as required.

· Participates in responding to repair requests and outages, including on weekends and evenings.

· Ensures equipment is in proper working order.

· Responds to customer complaints.

· Serves as a member of various employee committees.

· Assists other public work employees in the overall maintenance of the Town.

· Performs related duties as required.

Compensation

This position is eligible for the benefits as outlined in the Town of Mahone Bay Human Resource Policy Manual. The compensation for this position is on an 8-step scale beginning that begins at step one and increases every six months as outlined below:

Step Amount (per hour)

1 (55%) 23.25

2 (60%) 25.35

3 (65%) 27.48

4 (70%) 29.60

5 (75%) 33.83

6 (80%) 35.94

7 (90%) 38.04

8 (95%) 40.16

Please note, if the successful candidate is a red-seal electrician, they qualify to be an electrical inspector and compensation will be increased by $2 per hour.

Physical Requirements

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Considerable physical skill is required. Job requires coordinated physical activities, usually learned through formal and detailed training, combined with considerable practice. Speed, precision, and/or timing are important and difficult to achieve. Body movement sequences tend to be involved and somewhat diverse.

Job requires very heavy physical effort equivalent to continuous labor involving the use of heavy tools, materials, and/or equipment. Job may be characterized by very demanding, full-body exertion and strenuous lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, etc.

Work Environment

Work pressure, disturbances of work flow, and/or irregularities in work schedule are expected to occur on an intermittent basis. Work hours in excess of 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week are expected to occur on an intermittent basis. This position also participates in the afterhours standby rotation, during which time the incumbent will respond to weekend and evening repair requests.

Extensive and continuous exposure to hazardous conditions. Dangerous work situations. High likelihood of serious injury or illness if proper precautions are not taken.

Applications (resumes with cover letters) will be accepted on an ongoing basis with interviews to be conducted periodically. Please submit by email to:

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.25-$40.16 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Benefits:

• Extended health care
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person