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Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.
The City of Ames is conducting a recruitment to establish a Civil Service eligibility list for this classification in the Finance Department, Utility Customer Service division. The list will be valid for up to one year from the date of certification by the Ames Civil Service Commission and may be used to fill one or more vacancies in this classification. In addition, City of Ames Civil Service employees who have previously held Civil Service status in this classification and are interested in voluntarily demoting or laterally transferring into the current vacancy must submit their application by the deadline.
Under general supervision, this position performs work of moderate difficulty in reading and recording utility meter data, disconnecting and reconnecting meters and collecting accounts. This position will also perform other assigned work as required.
This position also is required to work a rotating schedule assignment of on-call duty for after hours (after 5pm) and weekends.
In order to be considered for this position, all applicants must submit their online application by the deadline listed on this posting. Your application includes complete responses to the supplemental questions. Please keep in mind that submission of a resume in lieu of work history on your application or answering the supplemental questions is not sufficient.
Residency Requirement:
The required residence area is the area bordered by the Boone and Story County lines on the north and south, State Highway 65 on the east; and on the west, County Road R27 north of Boone, and the Des Moines River south of Highway 30 to the Boone County line. Communities intersected by the borderlines, and Zearing, shall be considered within the area. The permitted residency area is that area inside the borderlines. The area adjacent to but outside the borderlines is not included.
Compensation:
This position is under a collective bargaining agreement, which establishes the pay structure. Starting salary is set as $23.07/hour, or $47,985 annualized until June 30, 2023, then this step increases to $23.82/hour, or $49,545 annualized, until the next step increase at 18 months within position. The final step increase occurs after 48 months within position.
Benefits
Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at: City of Ames Benefits
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please visit:
PSLF Program
Examples of Essential Job Functions
Reads electric and water meters on a daily or special basis; maintains records and generates standardized reports via an automated data base; disconnects utility service when appropriate; receives and attempts to resolve customer complaints or refers to appropriate authority; provides general information to customers; initiates and completes customer service orders as required; collects monies from overdue accounts; checks meters for damage and reports damage or malfunction. May perform routine office tasks.
Each employee is expected to continually strive to bring shared values to life through our Excellence Through People organizational culture. ETP values include: committing to continuous improvement; inspiring creativity and innovation; being customer driven; making data-driven decisions; committing to diversity, equity and inclusion; championing employee involvement; striving for excellence; having fiscal stewardship; acting with honesty and integrity; exhibiting leadership; choosing a positive attitude; respecting one another; promoting safety and wellness; and cultivating teamwork. For leaders, this includes creating a work culture that brings these values to life. For all employees, this includes maintaining a Total City Perspective. The purpose of ETP is to deliver exceptional services to the public at the best price, and for employees to experience an enjoyable and stimulating work environment.
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Successful completion of high school, HiSet, or G.E.D. Some work experience involving public contact is required. Preference may be given to those candidates with prior experience reading electric, gas, or water meters.
Licenses and Certificate: Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Some knowledge of the geography and street locations of the community.
Skill and accuracy in recording data and completing records and reports. Basic skill in the operation of a computer.
Ability to walk for long periods of time under adverse conditions; ability to establish and to maintain an effective working relationship with supervisors and with utility customers; ability to deal effectively with negative public contact; ability to lift and to move manhole covers in order to access meter pits; ability to work effectively and safely near high voltage meter connections; ability to work unsupervised for long periods of time.
Supplemental Information
Required Physical Activities: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
Physical Characteristics of Work: Medium work requiring the exertion of up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Requires extensive walking and standing.
Vision Requirements: The minimum standard for those whose work deals largely with preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, use of a computer terminal, visual inspection involving small parts, and use of measurement devices.
Environmental Conditions: The worker is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions, extreme heat and cold, noise, darkness and poor lighting conditions, and isolation. May be periodically exposed to mechanical, electrical and/or chemical hazards.
Equipment Essential to the Job: Meters. Computer keyboard, monitor, printer and related software. Handheld data capture device. Insulated safety gloves. Communication equipment such as telephone and smart phone. Printed materials such as service orders, maps and computer printouts. Automobile. Hand tools such as screwdriver, pliers, flashlight and wire cutters. Methods to gain access to specific buildings using tools such as access codes, physical keys, and garage door openers.
Selection Process:
The selection process consists of an evaluation of education and experience, written exam, a phone interview, hiring assessment, an in-person interview, hiring manager one on one interview, and completion of references, and a criminal background check which includes a sex offender registry check. All candidates will be notified by email of their application status.
**Preference may be given to applicants possessing qualifications above the minimum.**
Written Exam
A written exam is scheduled for February 28, 2023, starting at 5:30pm sharp. The location will be communicated to each qualifying candidate either by phone or email and arrangements will be made accordingly. Due to the anticipated number of candidates, no alternative testing dates or times will be made available for the written exam. Candidates are responsible for their own transportation and lodging costs to attend the exam.
Depending on the number of qualified candidates, the City may forego phone interviews.
E-Verify Process:
The City of Ames participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with the City of Ames must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity on their first day of employment. Please be prepared to provide required documents on your first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 515-239-5199 or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at: http://www.uscis.gov.
NOTE: Applicants with disabilities may submit requests for ADA testing or interview accommodations to the Human Resources Department prior to the test or interview.
The City of Ames is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Human Resources Department at 515-239-5199.
