Job Title: Electrical Technician / Electric System Owner
Location: Flint
Functional Area: Utility Operations – Electric
Employment Level: Professional (Non-Supervisor)
Requisition #: 50972493
Apply By: 06/19/2016
Department Summary
The Electric Distribution Customer & Service Infrastructure group for Low Voltage Distribution (LVD) is responsible for the
planning responsibilities for the electric distribution facilities. The team has both office and field responsibilities for the
performance of the electric distribution circuits and encompasses electric planning, project management, reliability
programs, customer concern resolution, and storm restoration responsibilities.
Job Description/Responsibilities
The type of work performed would be of a complex level of tasks of a technical/scientific nature, without direct supervision,
as well as responding to complex customer inquiries (in person or via phone). The Electrical Technician (also known as
Electric System Owner) responsibilities are comprised of three main areas: 1) Customer Advocacy 2) System Planning
and System Performance solutions, and 3) Distribution System Design. Tasks include identifying and developing system
planning and reliability improvement solutions, economic evaluation of planning and reliability solutions, preparing
engineering drawings, ordering material, and managing system improvement projects through the construction process,
maintaining system records and databases, estimating customer and system loads, updating customers on the status of
projects, investigating and resolving customer reliability and voltage concerns, and assisting in the Company's storm
restoration process.
The selected candidate will distill multiple sources of technical and policy information and make decisions to complex
design and system planning and system performance problems. The employee in this position anticipates the impact of
actions and/or decisions on multiple systems and customers at large. The selected candidate generally follows
standardized practices and procedures without guidance from higher-level employees. However, this position is expected
to adapt and resolve issues utilizing creative thinking, investigation and ingenuity beyond the normal practices and
procedures.
The selected candidate will interact with internal and external clients, customers and crews giving and receiving complex
information. Candidate need to be able to convey projects scopes, timeliness, and resolve potential issues that may arise
with others. This position is expected to manage customer expectations when resolving complex system performance
issues, as well as effectively sharing system planning and performance improvement plans to customers at large. The
selected candidate also manages, communicates and resolves customer complaints. Also, the selected candidate must
be capable of training lower level employees.
Requirements/Qualifications
• At a minimum, an Associate Degree in a technical field is required. This education must include forty-eight (48) technical
credits equally spread in three of the following technical areas: 1) Mathematics 2) Physical Sciences 3) Electricity, and 4)
Other Engineering or Technical areas of study.
• Must have a valid Driver's License.
• Participate in storm restoration activities across the state are a requirement. The candidate will need to remain flexible
due to short notice of request and potential overnight stays in other regions. Employee will have to furnish their own
vehicle for field work and storm work.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected
veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
The following skills and experience may set you apart from others:
• Strong analytical skills, good oral and written communication skills and customer relations skills
• Ability to work well with others both inside and outside their own work group
• Must be willing and able to follow instructions, assist in the training of co-workers and cooperate with other employees
• Ability and initiative to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Previous customer experience is a plus
Position will be filled at the appropriate salary grade based upon the skills, knowledge, and experience of the selected
candidate
Essential Functions
Reviews and monitors engineering, construction and contract documents, including design calculations and sketches,
construction drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for customer electric new service orders, relocations,
modification of existing service, modification of the low voltage electric distribution system; provides comments to the
Work Management Center regarding construction and operational aspects of customer/governmental requests for
new/expanded services or road relocations, streetscapes etc.. Attends meetings with customers to discuss principal
features and requirements of electric services or changes to our electric system and resolves all customer concerns in a
timely manner. Conducts preconstruction meetings, coordinates administrative responsibilities, reviews progress schedule
and construction problems, coordinates activities and requirements with field leaders and/or contractors, and serves as
liaison between the customers, contractors, consultants and field leadership to resolve problems and solve differences of
opinion. Coordinates resolution of issues regarding administration of special provisions, interprets technical specifications
and reviews customer claims, coordinating and recommending resolutions. Informs and coordinates activities with the
field leadership/contractors of requirements regarding schedule, status and progress. Provides technical support and
expertise for the construction activities, prepares procedures and specifications for inspection activities and construction
requirements. Monitors work in progress, including field investigations, to ensure compliance with approved plans,
specifications and standards, compiles and maintains records of approved projects. Coordinates project activities with
other departments to minimize impact on Distribution operations. Prepares, processes and maintains a wide variety of
special technical studies, correspondence, submittals, records, files and reports pertaining to the low voltage electric
distribution system. Individual must work well in a team environment and should exemplify safe work practices and follow
the company’s compliance standards.
Hours and Travel
This position requires the individual to work a minimum of 40 hours per week with a majority of the time spent in the office
or specific field locations. Individual needs to be willing to work additional hours as necessary to meet deadlines or assist
with storm restoration activities; and could be given very short notice to do so. Individual should be willing to participate in
the on call rotation in case of potential storms. Individual may have to work outside of assigned headquarters to help with
storm restoration which may require overnight stays. Could potentially work a flexible schedule to meet the demands of
the customer, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime. Individual must have a valid driver’s
license.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to
sit, stand, walk, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch, and
use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hand and arms. The employee could be
required to traverse a great distance across difficult terrain in adverse weather conditions to perform inspections. Specific
vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception
and ability to adjust focus. Duties involve moving materials and operating equipment weighing up to 10 pounds on a
regular basis such as a voltmeter, hammer, stakes, cones, measuring wheel, fiberglass height stick, laptop, or other
equipment, etc., and may infrequently require moving materials weighing up to 40 pounds. Individual must have the ability
to work up to 16 hour shifts during storm restoration efforts.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected
veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
Company Overview
Join a diverse and dynamic team that makes and delivers the most valuable services in the world: electricity and natural
gas. At Consumers Energy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our employees work around the clock to
provide service to our customers in honor of our history and to fulfill our promise to Michigan - Count on Us! Consumers
Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, provides natural gas and
electricity to nearly 6.8 million of the Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected
veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.