POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 1 I. OBJECTIVES: POSITION DESCRIPTION STAKING TECHNICIAN The position of Staking Technician was created to help further the purpose for which the Association was organized, which is: Our mission at Benton Rural Electric Association, a member-owned and operated cooperative, is to provide affordable and reliable energy and other member-driven compatible services that enhance the quality of life for all of our members. Our mission will also provide a stable, competitive career-oriented work environment for the Association's employees. Our mission is being pursued through the highest ethical standards using progressive marketing in conjunction with sound financial and management principles. Benton REA intends to accomplish this mission by assigning specific operational duties and responsibilities to be delegated to a competent, well-trained person whose knowledge of and ability in this position will contribute to the attainment of the current mission of the Association. This person must be adaptable, self-motivated, responsible, accountable, and energetic. The specific objectives for this position and the responsibilities to be fulfilled to achieve these objectives include: A. Meeting with the Benton REA members and providing efficient and courteous service that results in positive member relations. B. Providing engineering design and field surveying services for line extensions and system improvements. C. Assisting with updating and maintaining the GIS mapping system. D. Assisting with equipment resources and labor resources. E. Maintaining a positive work environment, and exhibiting cooperative behavior. E. Performing other functions when qualified and assigned.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 2 II. RELATIONSHIPS: A. Reports to: Distribution Engineer, Primary Engineering Manager, Secondary Responsible for keeping the Distribution Engineer informed regarding issues concerning work in progress and work completed. The Staking Technician will consult with the Distribution Engineer concerning problems that hinder efficient and effective completion of the duties and responsibilities relating to the Staking Technician. B. Coordinates and Cooperates with: 1. Internal: a. Distribution Engineer: with respect to schedules of project completion, aspects of projects that affect the Engineering and Operations departments, coordination on technical issues, and exchange of information. b. Engineering Manager (in the absence of the Distribution Engineer): with respect to schedules of project completion, aspects of projects that affect the Engineering and Operations departments, coordination on technical issues, and exchange of information. c. System Engineer: Coordinates with the System Engineer, as directed by the Distribution Engineer and as needed, on the technical issues involved with metering, sectionalizing, and power quality requirements on the distribution system. d. Metering Technician Leader and Journeyman Metering Technician: with respect to consulting and coordinating on special metering requirements, as directed and as needed. e. Operations Superintendent or Operations Manager - with respect to construction schedules, operational or construction problems and issues, as directed and as needed. f. Billing Department: with respect to exchange of information that is necessary for maintaining the accuracy of Association records. g. Community Development and Member Relations Manager - regarding providing technical expertise to the Member Services Department.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 3 h. Engineering Clerk, and Operations Clerk - with regard to matters of appointment scheduling, cost estimate details, recording easements, and providing assistance in answering technical questions from members. i. Other Employees: to develop and promote a team spirit and to provide quality assistance to all fellow employees with the intent of achieving the objectives of the Association. 2. External: a. Members: regarding answering questions, providing instructions and explanations with regard to electric service installations, and providing technical expertise with regard to electric plant construction options. Resolves member service complaints referred to the Engineering Department personnel in the field involving member issues and concerns. Refers those complaints to the Distribution Engineer, and then follows up to ensure the complaint has been resolved. b. General Public: maintains friendly, cooperative relationships with the general public in the performance of these duties. III. RESPONSIBILITIES: To fulfill the objectives of this position, the employee so designated shall perform all of the following duties and responsibilities: A. Specific duties relating to Objective A: Meeting with the Benton REA members and providing efficient and courteous service that results in positive member relations. 1. Establishes a high-quality level of service by: a. Assisting those members who have questions on new services and by providing them with the necessary information in a professional manner in a time frame that complies with the internal service standards. b. Assisting members by providing options to meet their needs for electrical service and to assist them in determining the most costeffective manner to meet their service requirements. c. Maintaining a schedule for making member contacts that is acceptable to the members and which complies with the internal service standards.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 4 d. Providing any other additional services, in a professional and courteous manner, to meet the reasonable construction schedules for the members, in a time frame that complies with the internal service standards (when applicable). e. Ensuring that the internal service standards are met by maintaining accurate records of all correspondence related to any members request for service that requires the creation of a work order. 2. Ensures compliance with Association polices that are related to the members by reviewing the relevant member policies and by following the policy provisions when performing all the daily work for which the Staking Technician is responsible. 3. Performs other functions as needed to accomplish the objectives set forth in this section. B. Specific duties relating to Objective B: Providing engineering design and field surveying services for line extensions and system improvements. 1. Ensures that power line system construction and improvement plans are properly completed by: a. Preparing and verifying the accuracy of designs for line extensions, conversions, retirements, relocations, replacements and joint-use make ready evaluations. b. Preparing accurate construction unit summaries and project cost estimates using available technology (design software, GPS and other data collection equipment). c. Performing the field surveying and the staking of jobs in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), National Electric Safety Code (NESC), and in accordance with any other applicable design standards and codes. d. Providing necessary information so that contracts, agreements, easements, and permits can be prepared. e. Providing necessary information to assist with verifying the accuracy of documents and information utilized to close work orders, complete "As-Builts", and post construction work performed to the GIS mapping system and work order tracking database records. f. Providing accurate information to assist with the inspection and verification of construction work for compliance with staking sheets
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 5 and other applicable standards, codes, plans, and specifications. g. Providing information to facilitate research regarding County and State records for easements, crossing permits and right-of-ways. h. Assisting the Distribution Engineer, or the Engineering Manager, with the preparation of construction material specifications. i. Performing other functions as needed in order to accomplish the objectives set forth in this section. 2. Assists, as needed, with field-work to research data for the prevention of problems before they occur on the electrical distribution system. Works with the Distribution Engineer or the Engineering Manager regarding field work necessary to prepare a system analysis for work plans, sectionalizing studies, voltage drop studies, and member voltage problems. C. Specific duties relating to Objective C: Assisting with updating and maintaining the GIS mapping system 1. Assists the Distribution Engineer with updating and maintaining the mapping system by preparing computer generated drawings and system maps as directed and as needed. 2. Provides field changes and GPS field verification to assist the Distribution Engineer with updating the mapping system with current information, as directed by the Distribution Engineer or the Engineering Manager. 3. Assists the Distribution Engineer by providing field information and GPS field verification to ensure that any switching information is current and up to date, as directed by the Distribution Engineer or the Engineering Manager. 4. Performs other functions as needed to accomplish the objectives set forth in this section. D. Specific duties relating to Objective D: Assisting with equipment resources and labor resources. 1. Assists the Distribution Engineer with maintaining and utilizing vehicles, tools, and equipment for peak performance and safety (for the vehicles and equipment assigned to the Distribution Engineer and the personnel working under this position) by making sure that the vehicles are maintained and stocked, and that tools are maintained in good condition. The Staking Technician is directly responsible for the care and proper use of all vehicles and equipment that are assigned to the Staking Technician.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 6 2. Performs the functions of staking, mapping, posting, gathering field data operational information, gathering field data engineering information, and providing estimates by utilizing labor resources and equipment in the most economic, efficient, and safe manner. 3. Coordinates with the Distribution Engineer by: (a) (b) periodically consulting with the Distribution Engineer with regard to work plans and schedules so that the work may be done in an efficient and safe manner. reporting the results of work-in-progress to the Distribution Engineer as instructed and as necessary. 4. Prepares timely and accurate records by being responsible for the completion of documentation regarding the functions of staking, mapping, posting, gathering field data operational information, gathering field data engineering information, providing estimates, and by being responsible for the completion of time sheets, mileage records, and any other necessary paperwork. 5. Performs other functions as needed to accomplish the objectives set forth in this section. E. Specific duties relating to Responsibility Objective E: Maintaining a positive work environment, and exhibiting cooperative behavior. 1. Maintains a friendly attitude and willingness to work with other employees and associates. 2. Creates a high standard of morale among employees by encouraging team spirit and enthusiasm within and among the Benton REA personnel and between the Association s departments. 3. Is willing to help out in areas where qualified and requested. F. Specific duties relating to Objective F: Performing other functions when qualified and assigned. 1. Investigates complaints received from members of the Association by coordinating with the Distribution Engineer and by following up in a timely manner to satisfy the members. 2. Promotes a safe work environment by: a. Wearing and using protective equipment when required.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 7 b. Observing safety rules and regulations adopted by the Association, and encouraging others to do the same. c. Notifying the Distribution Engineer of all staking, mapping, and field data gathering personnel accidents or sickness by reporting these incidents to the Distribution Engineer and by filling out the proper paper work. d. Maintaining familiarity with traffic laws and by using safe driving habits. e. Performing safety inspections of assigned vehicles and equipment on a periodic basis. 3. Assists with the Benton REA Annual Meeting, when available and as requested. 4. Participates in staff standby duty for outages and other after-hours issues by responding to after-hours and weekend calls as requested and pursuant to the standby procedures manual provided, and by assisting others as needed when they are on standby duty. 5. Performing other functions as needed to accomplish the objectives set forth in this job description. IV. AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY: The Staking Technician shall have full authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this position in conformity with established policies and procedures and shall utilize time in such a way as to fulfill the objectives of this position and the organization. This employee is encouraged to use initiative and judgment in making decisions, remembering that the Association's best interest can be affected by all actions. The employee should feel free to make suggestions for the improvement of operations and efficiency. The employee shall secure the approval of the Distribution Engineer in making decisions when policies are not clear and when further explanation is needed. Nothing contained above should be construed to be a guarantee of or assurance of employment. Employees are expected to meet the standards of work performance and to perform their jobs competently, to maintain satisfactory interpersonal relations with coworkers as well as supervisors, and to conduct themselves appropriately in the work place. Failure to meet these standards in the judgment of management may result in discipline, including discharge. Disputes resulting from implementation of this position description are subject to the provisions described in the most recent version of Association General Policy No. 614 - Dispute Resolution Procedure Non-Bargaining Unit.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 8 ACCEPTED BY: DATE Employee APPROVED BY: DATE Supervisor REVIEWED BY: DATE General Manager The employee has a valid driver s license at the time that he or she signed this Job Description: Yes NO
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 9 MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE STAKING TECHNICIAN POSITION I. REQUIRED SKILLS: A. Education Requirements - High School graduate or equivalent (GED) required. B. Must have a practical and common-sense approach to engineering solutions. C. Must be able to work with people, resolve differences in a positive and productive manner, and be willing to be a team player. D. Must have personal computer experience, and a working knowledge of AutoCAD, word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. E. Must have a thorough knowledge of standard utility construction and maintenance activities. F. Working knowledge of Federal and State electric, safety, and construction codes required. G. Must have, or be able to obtain in a reasonable amount of time as specified by the Association, and maintain, a valid Washington State Driver's License. This item is required. H. Physical Requirements (Sufficient dexterity to perform the tasks as listed in the job description.) 1. Physical Skills Level B (Noticeable) - Some physical skill is required. Certain coordinated finger, limb, or body movements must be performed in the course of regular work routines. These can usually be learned on the Job over a relatively short period of time. 2. Physical Effort Level 3 (Moderate) - Job requires considerable and usually sustained physical effort, as in continuous movement over rough terrain or throughout precarious man-made structures; operation of physically demanding machinery; etc. Occasionally heavy exertion. Physical ability to traverse rough terrain with survey equipment and material for line staking required. 3. Sufficient dexterity to perform the tasks listed in the job description for this position is required. 4. Talking in person and on mobile radio required. 5. Listening in person and on mobile radio required. 6. Adequate near, and far vision (driving) required. 7. Adequate color Vision (color coded wires) required.
POSITION DESCRIPTION - STAKING TECHNICIAN PAGE 10 8. Handling, fingering, working with hand tools. This item is required. 9. Adequate depth perception (driving) required. 10. Lift, carry, pull, and push items in excess of 20 pounds. This item is required. 11. Some travel may be required. May be asked to take occasional trips out of the Benton REA service area in order to attend training classes and seminars. These trips may require driving a vehicle that is provided by the Association. 12. The ability to speak, read, write, and communicate the English language fluently is required. II. PREFERRED SKILLS: A. Previous experience with an electrical distribution cooperative financed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) - (Formerly known as the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) - is preferred. B. Previous experience in preparing and filing legal easements preferred. C. Working knowledge of RUS (REA) specifications, work order procedure system and design methods preferred. D. Experience with, and a working knowledge of, AutoCAD, word processing, spreadsheet, and database software preferred. E. Experience with surveying equipment (total stations, GPS data collectors, other field measuring equipment) is preferred. F. One year of experience performing electric utility project staking, layout and design preferred. III. WORK ENVIRONMENT: A. Work Demand Level B (Average) - Work pressure, disturbances of work flow, and/or irregularities in work schedule are expected and occur on an intermittent basis. B. Working Conditions Level 2 (Disagreeable) - Somewhat disagreeable conditions. Work may be performed in cramped or awkward positions. Occasional exposure to safety hazards, disease, or contamination results in chance for lost-time accidents. Occasional exposure to noises, temperature extremes, weather extremes, dust and dirt, etc.