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  • Utilities Field Service Representative

    Palo Alto, California United States City of Palo Alto Full Time $109,948.80 - $134,596.80 Annually May 21, 2025
    City of Palo Alto Employer:

    City of Palo Alto

    Palo 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.  

    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
    Please note: The following dates are tentative and may change based on the needs of the hiring department.

    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

    Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

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Top Utilities Jobs and Career Opportunities

Top Utilities Jobs and Career Opportunities
 

Utilities Industry Overview

The utility industry is crucial in providing essential services that power modern life, such as electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater. These services keep communities running smoothly and ensure the well-being of millions of people.

Public utilities are central to the daily lives of individuals and businesses alike, whether they power homes, ensure clean drinking water, or treat wastewater.

As a public utility, the industry’s commitment extends beyond profits to community service, offering reliability and efficiency in everything it does. This sense of purpose makes the utility industry attractive for job seekers looking for opportunities that combine stability with the opportunity to make a real impact.

From roles in natural gas to wastewater services and other areas, the industry offers various positions that span technical, managerial, and customer-focused jobs.

 

Job Opportunities in Utilities

If you’re looking for a career that offers long-term stability, the utility industry provides diverse job opportunities in various fields, such as engineering, operations, finance, human resources, and customer service.

Utilities are an essential service, so many organizations—whether public utility companies, private firms, or government agencies—are always looking for qualified individuals to fill key roles.

Here are some of the typical areas where job opportunities can be found:

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  • Engineering: Engineers in utilities design and maintain the complex systems that provide gas, electricity, and water services. These roles may include electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering positions.
  • Operations and Maintenance: Operations teams ensure systems function smoothly, dealing with issues in real-time and coordinating maintenance to prevent downtime.
  • Customer Service: Customer-facing roles include helping individuals and businesses with utility services, providing information, troubleshooting issues, and handling billing inquiries.

You can search for job opportunities by location, job title, or company, making it easier to find a role that suits your interests and expertise.

 

Career Paths and Advancement

The utility industry offers job opportunities and supports long-term career growth. Many companies in this sector invest heavily in their employees, providing training and development opportunities that allow individuals to build skills over time. Whether you’re interested in climbing the ladder to management or expanding your knowledge in a specialized area like engineering or finance, the utility industry encourages ongoing learning.

Common career paths include:

  • Engineering Careers: You can start in a junior engineering position and work your way up to a senior engineer or managerial role, where you would oversee a team of engineers.
  • Operations Management: Operations roles often lead to leadership opportunities, where employees manage teams and systems to ensure the reliability of services.
  • Human Resources and Management: For those with skills in managing people and resources, there are opportunities to move into human resources and upper management positions responsible for policy, hiring, and employee retention.
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With these opportunities, employees can expand their careers while gaining new skills, making the utility industry a dynamic and rewarding space for career advancement.

 

Human Resources and Company Culture

When evaluating a career in utilities, it’s essential to consider the company’s human resources policies and overall culture. Most utility companies strive to create a community-oriented atmosphere with a strong focus on teamwork, collaboration, and safety.

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Utility companies often provide comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement savings plans, and generous paid time-off policies. These packages make the industry competitive when compared to other sectors. Additionally, most companies offer employee training programs to ensure everyone has the skills necessary to thrive and progress within the company.

Understanding the application process can also help. When applying for utility roles, expect a structured process, including online applications, assessments, and multiple interviews. Given the importance of these companies’ services, the hiring process is often thorough, but it also ensures a good fit between the candidate and the company’s culture.

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Featured Utility Jobs

If you’re interested in taking the next step, here are a few featured job opportunities in the utilities industry:

  • Electrical Engineer: Focused on designing, developing, and maintaining electrical systems that power communities. The salary range can vary but is generally competitive, with benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
  • Operations Manager: Responsible for overseeing the daily operations of utility services like water treatment or natural gas distribution. This role typically includes a robust compensation package and leadership opportunities.
  • Customer Service Representative: Often the first point of contact for customers with utility-related queries, this role requires excellent communication skills and offers entry-level opportunities for growth within the company.

By visiting the human resources page of most utility companies or using job search platforms, you can apply for roles directly. Most companies provide a seamless online application process that allows candidates to submit resumes and track application progress.

 

Benefits and Compensation in Utilities

Utilities companies are known for offering competitive benefits and compensation packages. Here’s what you can typically expect:

  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive plans that cover medical, dental, and vision, along with preventative care services.
  • Retirement Plans: Many companies offer a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, ensuring long-term financial security.
  • Paid Time Off: Employees are often given generous vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave.

Salaries vary depending on the job role and location. Still, jobs in the utilities industry are often considered secure, with ample room for wage growth, particularly as employees advance into more senior roles. Many companies also invest in training and professional development programs, helping employees build the skills they need to move up within the organization.

 

Getting Hired in Utilities

The application process for utility jobs can be straightforward, though it varies from company to company. Many utilities employers provide clear guidelines on how to apply through their website or human resources portal. Typically, this involves filling out an online application, uploading a resume, and potentially undergoing an interview.

Depending on the position, the interview process may involve meeting with multiple team members or department heads. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their qualifications, experience, and how they can contribute to the team’s goals. Often, a skills assessment will be part of the process, ensuring that candidates possess the qualifications for their respective roles.

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Utilities Industry Outlook and Trends

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The utilities industry is evolving, particularly with the rise of renewable energy and technological advancements. This shift is opening new doors for job seekers, especially in areas like engineering and operations management, where knowledge of green energy solutions is increasingly in demand. Additionally, companies are emphasizing sustainability and digital transformation more, creating fresh opportunities for forward-thinking individuals.

These advancements also mean that the utility sector is more dynamic than ever, offering job stability and exciting growth opportunities. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance in your field, the utility industry provides a broad spectrum of roles catering to various interests and skills.

In summary, the utility industry offers many career opportunities in engineering, operations, customer service, and management, with competitive compensation and strong benefits packages. Whether you’re interested in training for career growth or exploring the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of utilities, this industry provides ample opportunities for professional development and job security.

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