Water Meter Repair Technician

Department: Charlotte Water Department

Salary: $25.00 - $29.93 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

Charlotte’s local government, with more than 9,000 employees and a total budget of $4.49 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play

Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with over 330,000 customer accounts and over 1300 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 27 operating budget is $685.6 million and a five-year capital program of $2.5 billion.

Salary:

The salary for this position is: $25.00 per hour.

Job Summary:

The Water Meter Repair Technician (Assistant Technician), under the general supervision of the Industrial Meter Repair Crew Chief, is responsible for assisting the lead technician on a meter service truck in completing assigned field work. This hands-on role involves a variety of skilled mechanical and field service tasks such as testing, repairing, rebuilding, installing, and changing out water meters ranging from 1½” to 12” in size. The assistant helps the Lead Technician with locating and repairing leaks, servicing fire lines, valves, registers, endpoints, and other related components, frequently working in confined spaces and inside meter vaults up to 15 feet deep. The work often requires the use of specialized tools, power equipment, and manual labor in outdoor environments and challenging conditions. In addition to fieldwork, the technicians respond to customer service requests and investigate service-related issues. This is a physically demanding role that requires stamina, precision, technical skill, and sound decision-making, along with a strong commitment to safety, teamwork, and excellent customer service, particularly in high-pressure or emergency situations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:        

• Assists the lead on a two person work crew, including responsibility for the assigned vehicle and tools, while completing daily assignments.
• Receives, reviews and performs work while serving as a competent person on the job site.
• Disassembles, repairs, reassembles, tests, installs, and changes out multi-family, commercial, and industrial water meters in accordance with AWWA and City Utility Department standards.
• Performs physically demanding tasks using machines or tools to cut pipes or other materials inside meter vaults.
• Works in confined spaces, often under high water pressure conditions.
• Inspects water meter connections for leaks; replaces pipes and other materials as needed.
• Assists with correcting meter vault deficiencies and repairing service lines.
• Reports on fire hydrant leaks, water main leaks and other distribution issues in a timely manner. 
• Interrogates endpoints/transmitters to ensure readings match the register; follows SOPs for quality assurance.
• Assists the Lead with maintaining accurate records of all work performed, including findings, actions taken, and customer interactions.
• Conducts field inspections of metering equipment for maintenance or replacement needs.
• Investigates customer complaints related to meter readings, pressure, noise, water quality, or leaks. Evaluates billing history and educates customers on meter operation, usage, and transmitter functions. Escalates complex issues as needed.
• Assists the Lead in ensuring proper maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
• Educates customers on Charlotte Water’s meter reading and billing processes, service responsibilities, and repair limitations on private property.
• Sets up and removes warning signs and traffic control devices as needed.
• Performs preventative maintenance and daily inspections of vehicles and equipment, reporting any deficiencies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.   

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• Two (2) years of related work experience, preferably in customer service and water utility operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of related work experience, preferably in customer service and water utility operations.
• Experience in plumbing, water meter installation, or water system maintenance.
• Knowledge of and experience performing various semi-skilled maintenance and manual labor tasks.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

• Requires a valid Driver’s License.
• Must obtain and maintain a City’s Driver’s Permit.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency with hand and power tools (e.g., cut-off saws, grinders, torches, jackhammers, chainsaws).
• Physical ability to work in confined spaces and extreme outdoor conditions.
• Willingness to perform heavy manual labor.
• Ability to follow directives and instructions.
• Knowledge of service order management systems, as well as the operations, services, and activities of a water distribution system
• Ability to assess hazards and implement traffic control.
• Ability to stay calm and effective under pressure or in emergencies.
• Knowledge of meter operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with utility field customer service operations and meter billing processes.
• Proficiency in using business computing software (e.g., MS Office Suite).
• Ability to read and interpret AWWA industry standards.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Strong time management, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to apply quality best practices. 

Physical Demands:

Daily driving; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and lifting (0–60 lbs.). Must be able to apply 20 lbs. of force constantly, 30 lbs. frequently, and up to 100 lbs. occasionally. Requires climbing, entering confined spaces, balance, manual dexterity, auditory and visual acuity, and physical endurance on uneven terrain and in various weather conditions.

Work Environment:    

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that may periodically involve unexpected requirements or demands. The role requires flexibility, sensitivity to change, and the ability to adapt to shifting goals, priorities, and needs. Most work is conducted outdoors in all weather conditions, with exposure to natural elements such as heat, rain, sleet, and snow. Work is frequently performed in confined spaces and in field settings where hazardous tools are used and team members operate in close proximity, requiring constant awareness and coordination. The position may also require working overtime and various shifts, responding to emergencies, and being on-call. Frequent exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and potential hazards should be expected. Employees must be able to tolerate working around foliage, seasonal pollen, dirt, dust, mud, and water, with consistent exposure to risk in outdoor environments.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.