Date Opened: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 12:00 AM

Close Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 12:00 AM

Department: Charlotte Water Department

Salary: $23.00 - $27.13 Commensurate with Experience

SUMMARY

Charlotte’s local government, with more than 7,000 employees and a $2.39 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn, and play.

Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with 300,000 customer accounts and over 1000 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 23 budget is $535M and a five-year capital program of $2.5 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies as a result of sound financial planning and management and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.

Salary: $23.00 Hr.

Job Description:

Under general direction of Meter Services Supervisor, responsible for capturing accurate and timely reading and recording of water meters readings, for residential and commercial accounts, maintains mobile reading equipment, executes meter specific service orders, manages all work performed through a handheld service order management system, evaluates field conditions, and takes corrective action when required. Work is performed in a fast-paced, production-driven environment on assigned routes in accordance with established standards for the number and accuracy of reads. Meter Readers are expected to detect and report atypical conditions, such as identifying damaged, malfunctioning, and tampered meters; and detecting and reporting leaks, exposed wiring, and other safety hazards.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Accurately read and record meter readings for residential and commercial customers using a computerized meter reading system.
• Getting in and out of the vehicle continuously up to 200 times a day to record accurate meter readings.
• Completes assigned meter reading routes within established performance standards.
• Operates within high accuracy standards in meeting daily meter reading quotas.
• Learns meter reading and usage recording techniques and procedures involving the use of a hand-held computer.
• Reading maps, navigating routes, and performing comprehensive field inspections on meters, registers, wiring, and transmitters to ensure accurate readings.
• Validating correct readings from transmitters, performing field inspections to identify abnormalities affecting meter readings, and taking corrective actions in the field, including replacements of meters, registers, or transmitters.
• Report meter locations that are hazardous or difficult to read or maintain to the Supervisor so that the condition can be remedied.
• Educating customers on the Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) system and ensuring accurate record-keeping using a handheld service order management system.
• Inspects meters and connections for defects, damage, and unauthorized connections. Report irregularities to the Meter Services Supervisor.
• Installing, changing, and inspecting water meters, ensuring proper meter box maintenance, and reporting any deficiencies.
• Providing exceptional customer service through effective communication and de-escalation strategies when necessary.
• Communicating effectively with internal and external customers on the operation of meters and transmitters.
• Maintains skills and knowledge in the proper and safe techniques for performing job functions.
• Carrying out other required tasks and duties as necessary to ensure the efficient operation of the water distribution system.
• Performing preventative maintenance and inspections of vehicles and field equipment, promptly reporting any malfunctions or deficiencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a High School diploma or G.E.D with one year of work experience; preferably supplemented with the principles of customer service and water utility operations.
• Ability to effectively communicate both in writing and verbally; maintain effective working relationships; and the ability to understand and follow directives and instructions.
• Requires a valid North or South Carolina Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
• Must have a flexible work week schedule and be able to report to work in emergency situations or adverse weather conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Itron MC-3 Mobile Collector.
• Knowledge of City of Charlotte geography relating to city streets.
• Knowledge of water utility operations.
• Knowledge of water meters.
• Knowledge of principles of customer service.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Skilled in using basic hand tools.
• Ability to accurately read and record numbers from various types of meter dials, operate a special-purpose computer terminal, learn and memorize a number of codes, and perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to use effective verbal communication skills to interact courteously and effectively with the public.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to follow directives and instructions.
• Ability to interact courteously and professionally with the public.
• Ability to work independently in the absence of supervision.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Getting in and out of the vehicle continuously up to 200 times during a scheduled work shift.
• Walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to work in/near traffic.
• Ability to tolerate foliage, seasonal pollen, dirt, dust, mud, water, insects, pests, reptiles, and animals.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected].

The City of Charlotte is committed to making the job application process accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modification will be provided. To make a request, please email [email protected], call 704-962-6168, or visit us in person at 700 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202.

BENEEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.