Job Description

Job Appointment: 2 Vacancies: 1) Full time; 2) Limited Duration

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week Monday - Friday

Work Location:  Reporting in-person daily to the Water Interstate Building, 1900, N. Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97227 then working out in the field

Benefit:  Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Union Representation:  District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). To view this labor agreement, please click here . Applicants start at the entry salary rate .   If you are a DCTU represented employee, see labor agreement for additional information or talk to your union representative.

Application Material: 

Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

The Portland Water Bureau is seeking two Water Meter Readers I

Position Summary

Water Meter Readers I are responsible for accurately reading residential and commercial water meters and recording the volume of water consumption utilizing handheld computerized meter-reading devices. Generally, Water Meter Readers I are assigned routes, which may involve walking up to ten (10) miles per day, including up and down hills and in areas without sidewalks, opening and closing ground level meter boxes, opening vault doors,  lifting and pulling manhole covers that weigh up to 100 pounds, and climbing into and out of underground vaults to read meters. Water Meter Readers I have frequent customer contact answering questions about water consumption, billing practices and rates, and general Water Bureau and City issues. Work is performed independently outside in all weather  conditions and is reviewed for accuracy and compliance with Water Bureau policies and standards. Possession of a high school diploma or GED is preferred, but not required.  

As a Water Meter Reader I, you will: 

1. Read water meters for residential, commercial, and industrial customers; accesses meter in the field, including those in confined spaces; enters and records data.

 
2. Calculate usage and analyzes past usage history to determine changes or problems related to consumption, maintenance, or meter reading; creates work requests for maintenance and repair of meters as appropriate; provides information and explanation for billing as appropriate.

 
3. Respond to inquiries from customers and the public as a representative of the City; suggests appropriate referral of a wide variety of issues.

 
4. Perform routine maintenance on meter boxes, such as cleaning boxes and dials, replacing rings, and cutting grass around meter box.

 
5. Perform related duties as assigned

Wage Information
Starting salary: $26.07 per hour
At six months: $28.36 per hour
At year 1: $32.13 per hour
At year 2: $33.12 per hour

PLEASE NOTE: If you are hired, you will be considered an essential employee and a member of the bureau's 24-hour response team , working up to 12 hour shifts which require an after-hour, evening, weekend, and holiday emergency response .  

About the Division  

The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) has over 192,000 customers and the Customer Service (CS) group is responsible for those customers' meters to cash.  The meter reading department is part of the Customer Service Field Group. It’s comprised of 12 water meter readers and 1 water meter reader lead. Collecting the water meter reading is the first  step in the meters to cash process. 

About the Portland Water Bureau:   

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to nearly a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 53 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,200 miles of pipes. The bureau employs approximately 600 people in a variety of professions including maintenance and construction, engineering and design, water treatment and resource protection, customer service and communications, and much more. The bureau values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply for this position.

Our mission:  We serve excellent water every minute of every day.  

Our vision: The water our community loves is safe and abundant for generations to come.

Our equity commitment: We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We commit to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities.  

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources

anna.morgan@portlandoregon.gov

Applicants must describe in their supplemental question responses and résumé how their education, training, work experience and/or lived experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Ability to effectively use hand tools for digging and operate data collector device.
2. Ability to read and understand water maps.
3. Ability to work independently in the field and manage workload to meet deadlines.
4. Skill in performing basic math computations.
5. Ability to navigate rough terrain in all-weather conditions.

Applicants must also: 

• Possess a valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record . 
• Pass a pre-hire physical examination .

STEP 1: Apply online between  November 4, 2024 – November 12, 2024

 
Required Application Materials:

 

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

 
Optional Application Materials:

 

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

 
Application Tips:

 

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• How We Determine Pay : The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act . Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills. 
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of November 18, 2024 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List:  Week of November 18, 2024 

 

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

STEP 4: Selection (Interview): Early December

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

STEP 5:  Offer of Employment:  Early January 2025

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

 

 

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer  

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Work experience placement, Shift work, Weekend work, Afternoon shift, Monday to Friday,

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