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Victory Electric Career Opportunity
Victory Electric Cooperative is proud to be member owned and even prouder to be member operated. Victory Electric has more than 70 employees working in the Dodge City office. Our office has a culture based upon integrity, honesty, loyalty, accountability, with kindness and gratitude to each other and our members. Our employees bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Co-op, and we encourage them to be proactive in developing paths to satisfy their individual career goals.
Careers in the electric cooperative industry are not limited to being a lineworker. In addition to lineworkers, we have a wide array of opportunities within the cooperative, including accounting, communications, engineering, IT, member services and much more.
Victory Electric is an equal employment opportunity employer, and an E-verify participant.
We have a competitive benefit package including:
- Health, dental, vision and prescription insurance.
- A defined benefit pension plan with an age 62 retirement that has a lump-sum pay out.
- A defined contribution 401k plan.
- Life insurance, short and long-term disability, and business travel insurance.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Other benefits available are Aflac, Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, and MetLife.
Current Job Postings
Staking Engineer
The Victory Electric Cooperative Assn., Inc. in Dodge City, Kan., is seeking a full-time Staking Engineer.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
This position is to oversee and provide customer service and communicate and coordinate with the public about electrical requirements and needs. Working alone and respond to customer request in a timely manner. Provide prompt and efficient service in the design and staking of overhead and underground distribution line construction according to published guidelines and specifications. Perform high level staking and line design functions associated with three phase lines and system improvements.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
- Performs all types of distribution line design and staking; including layouts in real estate developments, rebuilds and relocations for highway changes.
- Responsible for checking field sites and prepares field layouts by using Coops mapping software for detailing project design, materials requirements and cost estimates, direct customer contact point, and interface with field engineering for planning and coordination.
- Company representative to customers for the construction and maintenance of distribution facilities.
- Obtain customer load requirements and may advise customers regarding service installations.
- Demonstrates internal and external communication skills.
- Able to design typical distribution projects and apply rates and procedures to avoid downstream customer service problems, meeting company standards and company needs.
- Effective project management, planning and scheduling skills.
- Able to work with and/or manage external audiences including city, township, county and state officials, as well as contractors and developers.
- Able to adapt in a changing environment.
- Able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and use common sense and good judgment in decision-making.
- In-depth knowledge of network design, standards, drafting, construction drawing and general system operations.
- Keeps informed, on a continuing basis, of all construction specifications, tariff, applicable National and State Codes, Rules and Regulations.
- Submit locate requests and coordinate with other utilities, as required.
- Obtain local, state, and federal permits, as required.
- Able to work afterhours when needed and in inclement conditions.
- Work with construction crew to as-build staking sheets once construction is completed.
SAFETY PRACTICES AND TRAINING:
The Staking Engineer will participate and attend job training and safety programs as necessary and shall continue to
observe and practice all safety rules, the safety manual, and first aid techniques. A Staking Engineer shall promote
safe working habits and encourage the use of protective equipment at all times. Will occasionally travel to attend
training, and conferences, and meetings in and out of state.
RELATIONSHIPS:
- Internal
- Management – Communicate and work with all levels of management, when necessary, to create and foster good working relationships. Keep supervisor informed of new projects, obtain information, guidance, and interpretation of Engineering and Cooperative policies.
- Other Employees – Cooperate with and maintain working relationships, while improving morale and exchanging ideas, information and job experiences that will benefit the organization and ensure the continued progress of the cooperative.
- External
- Member Owners- Explain the cooperative’s plans, procedures, service programs and objectives as necessary to provide efficient and courteous service, resulting in good member relationships.
- General Public – Maintain friendly, cooperative relationships with the public and seek every opportunity to help the cooperative develop understanding and acceptance of the cooperative’s plans, programs, and objectives.
AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Authority to apply for and obtain various construction permits on behalf of the Cooperative. Accountable for the design of the electric infrastructure and ensuring it meets all applicable codes and standards.
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:
PHYSICAL
Work for this position is performed indoors and outdoors. Job position requires frequent walking, standing, sitting, crouching, squatting, kneeling, bending, and twisting. Job position will frequently walk on uneven surfaces and work in various inclement weather situations. Will occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. This position will use hands frequently to use hand tools and other tools necessary to complete job duties. This position will frequently sit at a desk and use office machines such as a keyboard, mouse, computer, telephone, fax machine, and copy machine to complete tasks which requires repetitive motions of hands and fingers. Will frequently drive a company vehicle to job sites to complete necessary work.
MENTAL
Position works primarily with information that must be processed with accuracy and may require communicating such information to others, oftentimes under stressful conditions. Task of position often requires intense concentration for long periods of time. Employee may experience stress or feel pressured to complete a job or task, when dealing with irate members, and/or working in emergency situations.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate degree or higher preferred.
Requires good computer skills.
Must hold a valid driver’s license.
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate with the public and co-workers.
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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 management as required.
VEC reserves the right to revise or change the job description as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
First Class Lineman - Journeyman
The Victory Electric Cooperative Assn., Inc. in Dodge City, Kan., is seeking a full-time Staking Engineer.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
This position is the culmination of an extended training period planned to develop a competent craftsman who can provide the needed service for the construction, operation and maintenance of the cooperative’s electrical system. The Journeyman Lineman is qualified to perform all aspects of line work without supervision. A Journeyman’s judgment and knowledge in the operation of the system and the handling of work and personnel (when assigned) shall be developed to the extent all work can be performed efficiently and safely. A journeyman shall have knowledge and experience in human relations with both the general public and the cooperative’s members.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
In addition to the work responsibilities of previous subordinate grades/classes now handled without supervision, a Journeyman shall have increasing responsibilities including the following:
- Construct all required specifications safely and in a professional manner without supervision.
- Assuming major duties when called upon, such as directing line crews during trouble calls and/or in the absence of the crew chief, exercising sound judgment, and calling for assistance if and when needed.
- Work on overhead or underground energized lines with hot-line tools, aerial bucket truck or underground equipment.
- Perform switching assignments on the distribution system or in substations.
- Investigate and correct equipment and/or control malfunctions, or make temporary bypass adjustments until proper repair/replacement can be scheduled.
- Monitor system feeds and alert other personnel of changes in line feed direction, location of open points, installed grounds, joint-use hazards, and other conditions necessary for safely working on lines.
- Complete material records, time sheets and other forms of paperwork related to work orders, transformers, oil circuit breakers/reclosers, meters, vehicle reports, and other equipment/facilities as required.
- Train and/or assist with the training of apprentice linemen, groundmen or others as assigned.
- Operate and assume responsibility for handling/caring for all construction equipment assigned, and report immediately maintenance needs/problems when detected, especially where a safety hazard may exist or could develop.
- Fill in for the crew chief, serviceman and when needed.
- Stake minor service extensions, replace missing pole/anchor-guy stakes, and make necessary field revisions to work orders when required and when deemed in the cooperative’s best interest; document any changes on the work order or provide a field sketch showing staking revisions, pole assembly/hardware changes, and other related information.
- Must demonstrate the ability to satisfactorily complete Hurtman (Pole Top) Rescue training annually.
- Perform other duties or work requested or assigned.
SAFETY PRACTICES AND TRAINING
The Journeyman Lineman shall participate and attend job training and safety programs and shall continue to observe, practice and instruct lower grades/classifications in all safety rules, the safety manual, and first aid techniques. A Journeyman Lineman shall promote safe working habits and encourage the use of protective equipment at all times. A Journeyman Lineman should know maximum/minimum voltage regulation limits from the substation source through to the member’s point of delivery. The journeyman should understand all types of voltage and current indicating/recording meters and equipment, and be able to properly judge service quality and report problems or potential problems for corrective action. The Journeyman Lineman must demonstrate the ability to satisfactorily perform Hurtman (Pole Top) Rescue training annually.
RELATIONSHIPS:
- Internal
- Assigned construction crew – Work with and learn from the crew members of assigned crew, regardless of classification. Take the initiative to speak up for all matters of safety regardless of the classification of employees affected.
- Other employees – Cooperate with and maintain pleasant working relationships, while improving morale and exchanging ideas, information and job experiences that will benefit the organization and ensure the continued progress of the cooperative.
- External
- Members- Explain the cooperative’s plans, procedures, service programs and objectives as necessary to provide efficient and courteous service; resulting in good member relations.
- General public – Maintain friendly, cooperative relationships with the general public and seek every opportunity to help the cooperative develop understanding and acceptance of the cooperative’s plans, programs and objectives.
AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The journeyman lineman shall have full authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this position in conformity with established policies and procedures and shall have full accountability for programs and activities within the scope of this position.
The apprentice lineman and journeyman lineman are accountable to the working crew chief for the efficient performance of these responsibilities and are encouraged to use initiative and judgment in making decisions, remembering the cooperative’s best interests can be affected by his/her actions. Suggestions for improvement of operations and efficiency are encouraged.
The apprentice lineman and journeyman lineman shall secure approval of the crew chief or management to make decisions when policies are not clear, adequate or require interpretation.
The journeyman lineman may serve as the crew chief in his absence if directed to do so by the Vice President of Operations and/or the Manager of Operations.
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:
PHYSICAL
Must possess coordination, manual dexterity and visual acuity, as well as the ability to constantly listen and communicate orally; stand and walk; frequently sit, bend, twist, stoop, squat, balances, kneel and crouch; lift, carry, push, and pull up to 80 pounds; reach above shoulder level; and climb poles.
The physical requirements for this position include, but are not limited to the following:
- To maintain proper safety while performing line construction work, coordination is required while performing work from pole off hooks or in the aerial bucket. Coordination is also required when driving the line truck or bucket truck to and from the job, and in normal operations of winch truck or other line construction vehicle.
- Constantly use manual dexterity in electrical construction and/or maintenance to move materials; to manipulate materials both bare handed and working in electrically tested rubber gloves; to draw work orders; and to complete necessary paperwork to comply with RUS and VEC specifications.
- Constantly listen and communicate orally and use visual acuity to locate possible hazards while performing duties of the position.
- Constantly stand and walk, whether on the ground, working off the pole off hooks, and/or in the bucket to perform construction and/or line maintenance.
- Frequently sit in a truck to drive and/or ride to various line construction sites. The average number of miles and the amount of time driving/riding would vary depending on the services construction to be performed each day.
- Frequently bend, stoop, walk and squat to construct or perform maintenance on electric facilities and to read or change meters.
- Frequently lift, carry, push, and pull up to 80 pounds, which may consist of wire coil, miscellaneous pole framing equipment, and other line construction or service items. Occasionally transformers must be lifted; however, they are usually lifted by line trucks and placed into position. Occasionally boxes of meters and individual meters for installation and/or removal from meter bases need to be lifted.
- Frequently lift, carry and operate a chainsaw to clear a right-of-way.
- Frequently push and/or pull wires while working on the pole.
- Frequently climb poles, reach above, at and below shoulder level to perform maintenance of line services and/or line construction.
- Frequently twist while performing maintenance of line services and/or line construction.
- Frequently kneel and crouch in certain underground installations and during pole framing on the ground.
- Frequently climb and balance on a ladder.
- Frequently bend, stoop, lift and carry dirt when shoveling.
MENTAL
- Position works primarily with information that must be processed with accuracy and may require communicating such information to others, oftentimes under stressful conditions.
- Task of position often requires intense concentration for long periods of time.
- Employee may experience stress or feel pressured to complete a job or task during emergency situations and/or when dealing with irate members.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
- Possession of a valid commercial driver’s license (Class A) with the State of Kansas.
- Ability to respond to after-hours outages, emergencies or other situations within thirty (30) minutes.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Linemen school diploma (preferred)
- Apprenticeship Program Completed
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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 management as required.
VEC reserves the right to revise or change the job description as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Resume and cover letters may be uploaded with this online application. Upon completion of application, you may submit it in person, by fax 620-371-7780, by mail, or by email at hr@victoryelectric.net.
*After submitting your application, you'll receive an email stating that your application was received. All submitted applications will be reviewed.
*Candidates chosen for interviews will then be contacted via email or phone. We will also notify all applicants not chosen for the position.
*Pre-employment drug screening, physical, background check, and motor vehicle check is required. Victory Electric is an equal opportunity employer. Position opened until filled.
If you have questions, please email our Human Resources department at hr@victoryelectric.net. No phone calls please.
Compensation
While we take our responsibility to be good stewards of our member’s resources seriously, providing electric service is a complex business and we must offer competitive compensation packages in order to retain and attract personnel with specialized skills who could easily be recruited to higher paying jobs in more desirable geographical locations, or to other utilities with more economic resources. Victory Electric practices a consistent and unbiased approach when determining employee salaries and compensation. We evaluate factors such as tenure, experience, responsibilities, size and location of the cooperative, the local labor market, as well as annual compensation studies and other market data to compare compensation with similarly situated cooperatives. The board utilizes an independent, unbiased consultant to obtain state, regional and national wage and salary survey information and perform a wage study for similar positions within the utility industry as well as similar industries with comparable revenues and assets. The wage study uses data from the NRECA National Compensation Survey, the Economic Research Institute’s salary survey, Compdata Executive Compensation, and Tom Watson Data Services to evaluate the distribution of salaries across and within established pay ranges, for the purposes of determining internal pay equity and external competitiveness.