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Job Description
Description
The City of Palo Alto is seeking a reliable, motivated, and customer-focused professional to join our Utilities team as a Field Service Representative.
The Department
Palo Alto is the only city in California that offers a full array of utility services to its citizens and businesses. Because of this, the City has a unique opportunity to partner with the Palo Alto community to enjoy the benefits and achievements of reliable, home-grown, and environmentally-focused utilities. Palo Alto has a tradition of over 100 years of successful public utility operations. It is a tradition that continues to provide the Palo Alto community with safe and reliable utility service, local decision-making over policies, utility rate-making, environmental programs, and customized services. Learn more about our Utilities Department.
Career Opportunity
As the city’s first responders for water, natural gas, and electric services, our Field Service Representatives play a critical role in maintaining essential utility services. This position offers a great work-life balance with attractive schedules, allowing our staff to thrive both professionally and personally. Our team culture is positive, motivating, innovative, and adaptive. The Field Service group, consisting of six dedicated employees, embraces camaraderie and teamwork, and takes pride in their contribution to public safety and community outreach. No two days are the same, as our Field Service Representatives provide services that are not only essential but, in many cases, life-saving for our residents. This is a unique opportunity to make a direct, positive impact while working in a dynamic and supportive environment.
The Position
Under the direction of the Electric Utilities Supervisor, the Utility Field Service Representative, responds to customer requests for emergency and non-emergency services involving water, gas, or electric utilities, and takes appropriate corrective action; provides appliance operating information to customers, handles field service orders for the Utilities Customer Service Center, and reads meters as required.
Ideal Candidate- Ability to work in all types of weather
- Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
- Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Reside within 60 minutes of the City of Palo Alto
- PG&E GSR Certified (preferred)
- Emergency Response experience
- Face to face customer service experience
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click Here.
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click Here.
This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Utilizes gas detection equipment and leak investigation techniques to investigate and isolate natural gas leaks within residential or commercial buildings. Takes corrective action to mitigate hazards resulting from gas leaks, or improper gas appliance operation.
- Utilizes gas detection equipment and leak investigation techniques to investigate and if necessary isolate leaks from the CPAU gas distribution system.
- Repair leaks at gas meters.
- Responds with PAFD for emergency utility support, as needed under the direction of the PAFD Incident Commander.
- Turns on and off electric, water, and gas service in accordance with issued work orders, and makes adjustments as necessary to insure safe and efficient operation of customer owned gas appliances.
- Investigates complaints and provides emergency service regarding operational problems with utility service and/or equipment, and refers problems to the appropriate City division.
- Analyzes customer appliance problems and makes necessary adjustments within the area of established responsibility and/or recommends outside service assistance.
- Lights pilots for customer owned gas appliances, and confirms the safe operation of the appliance.
- Performs field investigation of high bill complaints, and provides routine field services for the Utilities Customer Service Center.
- Responsible for the completion and input of daily field service orders, data entry, i.e. gas leak investigation reports and creation of referrals to other departments.
- Ability to build diaphragm style gas meter sets up to 1000cfh.
For full job description, click Here.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- High school graduation, GED or equivalent; and,
- One (1) year experience in customer service work, or two (2) years as a meter installer, with a gas utility, or one year experience servicing gas and electric appliances and heating equipment.
Desired Qualifications:- One (1) year experience in customer service work or Two (2) years’ experience as a meter installer, with a gas utility, or one year experience servicing gas and electric appliances and heating equipment.
- One (1) year experience in utility field service-related work.
Special Requirements:- Persons hired for this position will be required to attend and successfully complete, within twelve months of employment, a gas service training course administered by PG&E. All expenses associated with this training course will be paid by the City of Palo Alto.
- FSR’s must pass and maintain qualifying status of D.O.T mandated O.Q certifications, related to essential job functions.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
- The screening process for this position typically includes a panel interview and skills assessment preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Recruitment Timeline:- Minimum Qualifications Review: Ongoing
- Panel Interviews and skills assessment: Week of June 30, 2025
- Department Level Interviews: To be determined
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 6/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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