Distribution Technician

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

The Distribution Technician performs a variety of activities to support the operation, maintenance, repair and construction of water distribution facilities. These duties include all work, in compliance with Company and regulatory requirements, associated with service of distribution system piping, hydrants, valves, customer services, booster stations, and all other components related to a distribution system.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Maintains equipment at the assigned water production facilities and booster stations.
• Operates and maintains water distribution systems including water mains, valves, hydrants, service lines, etc. 
• Completes service work orders, updates and maintains appropriate system documentation of activities using company technology and closes work orders in the work order management system in accordance with department policies and procedures.  
• Ensures daily work complies with OEPA and PUCO regulatory requirements for operations.  Ensures that daily work complies with established company safety policies. 
• Operates and performs maintenance on all equipment and vehicles used in the maintenance of the water system.
• Reads and interprets maps, drawings and schematics to include GIS data.
• Performs field service representative and meter reading work as assigned.
• Interacts with internal employees and external customers regularly.  Communicates via email and text as needed to keep clients and management informed of work status.
• All other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent.   
• A valid U.S. driver’s license.
• A valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-A) or must acquire one within the time frame specified in the bargaining unit agreement.  
• Hold OEPA Class I Distribution License or obtain one within the time frame specified in Bargaining Unit agreement. 
• Hold competent person certification per Bargaining Unit agreement or obtain within specified time period.
• Company may require the employee to pass reasonable tests--oral, written or practical--to determine his/her qualifications.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must be proficient at using computer/tablet Window based applications
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) with internal customers
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment                       

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• May be subject to extreme temperatures, noise, wet and/or humid conditions, mechanical, electrical, gas exposure hazards, fumes, dusts, mists, gases and /or poor ventilation atmospheric conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 100 pounds.                             
• Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable)
• Must be available to be on call nights and on weekends to adequately staff a 24 hour/7-day operation
• Overtime required

The physical demands 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.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.