Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) of Chase City, VA is looking to hire an Underground & Special Equipment Technician in the Chase City District District. This Underground & Special Equipment Technician position earns a competitive wage commensurate with experience and skills. We also offer fantastic benefits including 100% medical, 100% defined benefit, a 401(k) with match, short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), vacation days, sick leave, an employee assistance program (EAP), and a variety of training programs. ABOUT MECKLENBURG ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (MEC) Our electric cooperative was formed in 1938 by the members, for the members. For over 80 years, we have been building a legacy of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service for our members. Today, we serve over 31,000 accounts in portions of nine Southside Virginia counties and five northern North Carolina counties. We are a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Chase City, VA, with three district offices located in Chase City, Gretna, and Emporia. We support and care about the communities that we serve. We are deliberately different in every aspect of the word. Focusing on meeting our members' needs while ensuring quality, reliable service with safety at the forefront sets us apart from other organizations. As a not-for-profit, member-owned utility cooperative, our main objective is to provide our members with excellent customer service. And, in order to do that, we must ensure our employees are the best of the best! Here, you are not just an employee, you are part of a family; and, as such, you will receive the resources, education, and training to be the best in your field! ________________________________________Position Summary and Objectives:Provides efficient, safe operation of trenchers, vehicles and other equipment for installation and maintenance of underground facilities. Provides support to the construction crew and maintains adequate supply of materials, tools and safety equipment on trucks. Provides maintenance and repair of oil-filled reclosers, transformers and regulators. Provides technical assistance in operation of underground test equipment to troubleshoot faulty cables.Position Responsibilities:The scope and duties of this position may change or be temporarily altered based on the business needs of the Cooperative. The basic requirement of every position is to perform all tasks as assigned by your supervisor.Essential Responsibilities:1. Operates vehicles, trenchers, backhoes, derrick, and other related equipment used to install, maintain, and repair underground electrical systems in energized and de-energized situations. Assures proper depth when digging trenches. 2. Installs, maintains, and repairs underground equipment to include cable, terminations, splices, elbows, and pad-mounted equipment in de-energized situations.3. Performs all ground functions in construction, retirement, maintenance, and operation of lines and services.4. Operates specialized test and repair equipment and performs maintenance and repairs of line equipment to include oil circuit reclosers, regulators, transformers, and other equipment.5. Performs equipment tests and maintains repair records, chemical storage and disposal records for hazard recognition program as necessary. 6. Transports necessary personnel and equipment to work sites each day.7. Assists in installation and removal of portable substations as required. Drives truck-tractor to transport portable substations and other such oversized loads as required. Secondary Responsibilities:1. Locates underground cable faults on the primary and secondary underground electrical system under the supervision of a lineman/serviceman.2. Responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of materials, tools, and safety equipment on the trucks for use in normal work and emergencies.3. Assists in installation, maintenance, and repair of substation equipment.4. Cuts right-of-way necessary for line installations and repairs.5. Conducts inspections of pad mount transformers, lines, poles, insulators, right-of-ways, etc. in conjunction with routine activities for damages or unsafe conditions, provides documentation and necessary work orders to supervisor.6. Completes necessary documentation for installation of electrical plant to include staking sheets, new service connections, and special equipment installations in an accurate and timely manner.7. Recommends suggestions for the improvement of operation and efficiency. Position Requirements:All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. Education, Certificates, Licenses, and/or Training:• A High School Diploma or GED is required. • Must possess a current, valid Class A Virginia commercial driver's license (CDL), or be able to obtain one within 90 days of employment and maintains acceptable insurability by the Cooperative's insurance carrier. • Must have or obtain within six months of hire a valid First Aid and CPR certification. • Must have or obtain within six months of hire a valid forklift certification• Must acquire and maintain a valid Virginia Department of Transportation Flagger Card and Basic Work Zone Traffic Control Certifications. Experience:Must have experience in construction and maintenance of electrical distribution in some work related capacity. Minimum of eighteen months experience as an underground location technician trainee or equivalent experience in power line construction and/or cable locating required. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Must be able to satisfactorily pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screens.Must have a thorough working knowledge of the safe and proper use of heavy equipment trenchers, derricks, backhoes, and other equipment used in the construction and maintenance of underground electric service. Able to learn and adhere to safety procedures and OSHA regulations pertaining to work duties. Able to become knowledgeable of the Cooperative's system geography and work anywhere in service territory. Able to understand and apply electric terminology, specifications, and regulations necessary to perform work. Able to learn and eventually demonstrate expertise in performing all types of related work in construction, rearrangement, maintenance and removal of the distribution underground system. Must have aptitude for mechanically-oriented work and able to gain a thorough understanding of all circuits used on the system and safety requirements. Must have the ability to produce quality work, be efficient and meet the specifications provided. Must be able to fill out necessary reports paying close attention to detail and use software applicable to the field. Must be able to handle a variety of diverse tasks and organize work to meet deadlines. Must be accurate, confidential, dependable, organized and able to work with little or no direct supervision.English is the business language of the Cooperative. Must be able to speak, read and understand documents such as system maps, staking sheets, safety procedures, instructions and manuals. Must have legible handwriting and good communication skills. Must have the ability to meet and deal tactfully and courteously with members, other employees and the general public. Second languages are regarded as excellent and desirable skills. Able to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Able to apply mathematical concepts to practical situations. Able and willing to participate in training courses for the improvement of job knowledge and technical skills. Able to put forth the effort to complete work in a timely manner and show motivation to qualify for advancement. Must have the ability to efficiently operate a personal computer and work with applicable computer and software programs. Must be able to work a minimum of eight hours a day, five days a week, and be able to work overtime and extended work days due to "on call" scheduled basis or emergencies. Must report to work at designated time and maintain regular acceptable attendance. Must be able to work with all cooperative employees in the best interest of the Cooperative. Must be able to work well with diversified groups as well as individuals. Attitude:Must support, be empathetic with, and interested in furthering organizational objectives. Must stay abreast of current issues facing the industry and their impact on the cooperative, its members and the communities it serves. The understanding and willingness to work unpredictable hours, often under pressure, is necessary. Must be receptive to and accept changes deemed necessary and give appropriate consideration to suggestions from peers. Must always treat the members respectfully and in a professional manner that supports our focus on outstanding customer service. Personal Characteristics:The highest degree of integrity, a pleasant disposition, possessing tact and being a member of the team are absolutely essential. Must be able to handle a range of projects simultaneously and without distress that modifies behavior or leads to poor decisions. Must be able to think clearly before speaking and remain courteous in high stress or conflict situations. Must be able to make decisions in the best interest of the Cooperative regardless of the circumstances. Must work safely and independently without supervision, handle work flow in an organized manner, exercise sound judgment, act in accordance with MEC policies, work to provide excellent member service, and secure approval from supervisor in making decisions when policies or procedures require interpretation. Environmental Conditions:Outside work under varying and sometimes extreme weather conditions and in environmental conditions such as rough terrain or heavy underbrush. May be required to work for extended periods during outages or to work varying schedules according to construction work load. Occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. Shall reside within twenty-five (25) miles travel distance from the service area office. Will be required to work in all of the Cooperative's service territory. Required to work "on call" on a scheduled rotation. Must be available to assist in any appropriate manner, and at any time, with restoration activities. Occasional overnight travel to out-of-town technical seminars and conferences or for outage restoration activities must be anticipated. Must adhere to and promote safety regulations as set forth by the Cooperative. Must regularly attend safety meetings and actively participate in safety programs. Position will promote safe working habits, use all protective equipment as prescribed by the Cooperative's policies and procedures, and is familiar with REA construction specifications and the National Electrical Safety Code. Will report all eminent danger situations immediately to supervisor and/or other appropriate senior management.  Physical: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. Individual should be able to handle occasional high-pressure situations.• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, sit, stoop, climb, bend, crouch, crawl talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. • Ability to operate heavy equipment over the road, off-road and vehicles to travel to service sites over 50% of the time alone as part of normal duties.• Ability to perform heavy work: exerting up to 200 pounds of force with assistance or in combination, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds frequently unassisted, and/or constantly move up to 20 pounds of force. • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, ability to adjust focus, and visual acuity to operate equipment. • The employee must be able to work in various and extreme weather conditions. Working Relationships:A. InternalBuilds and maintains positive and productive working relationships with fellow employees to promote the Cooperative's plans, procedures and services as well as promoting a positive public image for the organization, and its goals and objectives. Advises, informs, and consults with supervisor on Cooperative programs, plans and procedures to obtain approvals, information and direction. Acts as a member of the Cooperative team, and willingly shares information with all employees in all departments.B. ExternalBuilds and maintains positive relationships with all service providers to seek advice, information, assistance and equipment necessary to provide for the Cooperative needs. Works directly with cooperative employees, outside contractors, general public, and other utilities to ensure compliance with contract and work specifications. Works to establish and maintain exemplary relationships with members.________________________________________This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.MEC reserves the right to revise or change the job responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment, other than an "at will" employment relationship.