Chief Meter Reader at City of Petersburg, VA

About the Department

General Description

The purpose of this job within the organization is to coordinate and supervise Water Service Technicians in a variety of meter services, e.g., meter reading, repairs, exchange and locating meters.

This job works under close to general supervision according to set procedures, but determines how or when to complete tasks.

Position Duties

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this job. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job as necessary.

Essential Functions:

Turns utility services on and off as required.

Inspects water meters and connections for damages, defects and illegal connections.

Plans work schedule and supervises the works of Water Service Technicians.

Assists in identifying complex consumption problems and recommends corrective measures; addresses pressure issues.

Responds to escalated customer service issues.

Flushes and greases fire hydrants routinely.

Troubleshoots problems related to meter reading.

Coordinates and monitors all meter services to ensure the accomplishment of departmental schedules, goals and objectives.

Additional Duties:

Performs related work as assigned.

Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts

Data Responsibility:

Data Responsibility refers to information, knowledge, and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation, interpretation, visualization, and mental creation.  Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols, ideas, concepts, and oral verbalizations.

Collects, classifies or formats data or information in accordance with a prescribed schema or plan to facilitate the identification and extraction of useful information.

People Responsibility:

People include co-workers, workers in other areas or agencies and the general public.

Speaks with or signals to people to convey or exchange information of a general nature.

Asset Responsibility:

Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization.

Requires some responsibility for achieving minor economies and/or preventing minor losses through the handling of or accounting for materials, supplies or small amounts of money.

Mathematical Requirements:

Mathematics requires the use of symbols, numbers and formulas to solve mathematical problems.

Uses basic addition and subtraction, such as making change or measuring.

Communications Requirements:

Communications involves the ability to read, write, and speak.

Reads routine sentences, instructions, regulations, procedures or work orders; writes routine sentences and completes routine job forms and incident reports; speaks routine sentences using proper grammar.

Judgment Requirements:

Judgment requirements refer to the frequency and complexity of judgments and decisions given the stability of the work environments, the nature and type of guidance, and the breadth of impact of the judgments and decisions.

Responsible for guiding others, requiring a few decisions, affecting the individual and a few co-workers; works in a stable environment with clear and uncomplicated written/oral instructions, but with some variations from the routine.

Complexity of Work:

Complexity addresses the analysis, initiative, ingenuity, concentration and creativity, required by the job and the presence of any unusual pressures present in the job.

Performs semi-skilled work involving set procedures and rules, but with frequent problems; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results or occasional exposure to unusual pressure. 

Impact of Errors:

Impact of errors refers to consequences such as damage to equipment and property, loss of data, exposure of the organization to legal liability, and injury or death for individuals.

The impact of errors is moderate – affects those in work unit.

Physical Demands:

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

Performs light to medium work that involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of the fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy.

Equipment Usage:

Equipment usage involves responsibility for materials, machines, tools, equipment, work aids, and products.

Handles or uses automated and manual meters, tools, equipment or work aids involving moderate latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items.

Unavoidable Hazards:

Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

Extreme heat and/or cold; Wet or humid conditions. Traffic; Moving machinery.

Safety of Others:

Safety of others refers to the level of responsibility for the safety of others, either inherent in the job or to ensure the safety of the general public. 

Requires some responsibility for safety and health of others and/or for occasional enforcement of the standards of public safety or health.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Entry level education for this position does not require completion of high school.   

Requires six months experience working with water meters and knowing how they work.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Valid Virginia Driver’s License.

Other Qualifications

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The City of Petersburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.   ADA requires the City of Petersburg to provide adequate accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.