Careers at Consumers Energy Cooperative of Iowa

Consumers Energy, a member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, with an outpost in Nevada, Iowa, has a position open for a Lead Lineworker/Foreman. 

Duties include those related to electric distribution service, such as construction, maintenance, and repair of electric distribution lines and related facilities, service work, and other related and assigned duties. The Lead Lineworker will act as backup for the Operations Supervisor as needed and is the line crew supervisor in the Operation Supervisor's absence. The position reports to the Operations Supervisor. 

The successful candidate is highly safety-oriented, member-service driven, organized, and enjoys working in a team environment.  

Education required: Must have a high school diploma or GED, plus completion of technical training in electric maintenance, construction, and safety. An exceptional favorable work or employment experience may be considered for the education requirements. Must have a valid Iowa CDL license within 90 days after being employed.

Experience required: Must be a qualified journeyman lineworker. No apprentice lineworker applications will be accepted for this position. A minimum of 4 years is required as a lineworker. A combination of education, training, and experience may be substituted for a portion of the experience requirements when competency in the role is demonstrated.

Consumers Energy offers a generous benefit package.

See full job description below. Email kkrough@consumersenergy.coop or call 800-696-6552 for more information.

Apply by sending your resume/information to Consumers Energy below under Apply Here.

This position will remain open until filled.  

ABOUT CONSUMERS ENERGY

Consumers Energy is an electric cooperative owned by the members we serve. Headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, with an outpost in Nevada, Iowa, the cooperative provides reliable, safe, and affordable electric service to approximately 7,000 members throughout five counties in Central Iowa: Marshall, Story, Polk, Jasper, and Tama.

POSITION SUMMARY
Provides maintenance and construction of the electric distribution system to provide electric service to the cooperative’s members. Acts as a backup for the Operations Supervisor as needed and is the line crew supervisor in the Operations Supervisor’s absence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Observes and practices all safety policies and bulletins.
• Constructs and maintains all phases of electrical line construction, which includes residential, commercial, underground, and transmission.
• May be responsible for managing line construction contractors, underground contractors, and tree trimming contractors within their assigned outpost and following up in all phases of the projects to completion.
• Reads and interprets blueprints, work orders, and cooperative specification book; applies this knowledge in the field.
• Installs and disconnects meters, and reads and records data as required.
• Acts as backup for Operations Supervisor as needed and is the line crew supervisor in the Operations Supervisor’s absence.
• Performs hot line work as required.
• Locates trouble and makes repairs.
• Serves on-call rotation within the service area. Is subject to call at all other times.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Must be a high school graduate.
• Additional formal education in the electric utilities field is highly desirable. 

Experience:

• Must be a qualified journeyman lineman.
• A minimum experience of four years is required as a lineman in electric utility operations.
• A combination of education, training and experience may be substituted for a portion of the experience requirements when competency in the role is demonstrated.

Alcohol and Drug Testing:

This is a safety sensitive position, and as a condition of employment, this position is subject to DOT-mandated alcohol and drug testing.

Attitude:

• Must believe in, be sympathetic with, and be interested in furthering the cooperative’s objectives.
• Must desire to provide and maintain reliable electric service for the cooperative’s members.
• Must have the understanding and willingness to work erratic hours under pressure and in inclement conditions.
• Must furnish leadership and effective administration for the line crew personnel under supervision.
• Must be willing to provide service to all members in the service area assigned to the Lead Lineman’s position. 

Personal Characteristics:

•  Dependability, honesty, and integrity are essential characteristics.
• Good health is desired.

Knowledge:

• Must have a working knowledge of cooperative construction specifications, which includes all residential and commercial services – single phase, two phase, and three phase line overhead and underground construction.

Abilities and Skills:

• Must be able to command the respect of fellow employees.
• Must be able to meet the public well and to communicate effectively with members, customers, and employees.
• Must be able to answer routine questions regarding electric bills and consumption.
• Must have the ability to prioritize assignments and direct the work of other employees.
• Must be able to work eight to ten hours-a-day, five-days-a-week. Hours may change seasonally.
• Must be able to work outside of the regular working hours for on-call duty for storm damage to the cooperative’s system, vehicular problems, etc.
• Must possess a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License or be able to obtain one prior to employment.
• Must be able to perform all required duties of a qualified journeyman lineman that includes hot line work.
• Must be able to operate a winch truck for pole line service and maintenance purposes, as well as work from the pole in linemen hooks and/or from the bucket of the winch truck.
• Must be able to use line construction hand tools.
• Must be able to read and interpret blueprints, work orders, and the cooperative specification book and apply this knowledge in the field.
• Must be able to install and disconnect meters and read and record data from meters.
• Must be able to work independently as required.

Residency:

• Must reside within or be willing to relocate to the applicable Consumers Energy service area.

Environmental Conditions:

• Works inside and outside. Inside work is completed at a desk. Frequently works outside under inclement weather conditions.

Physical:

• Must possess manual dexterity; visual acuity; and have the ability to constantly listen and communicate orally. Job requires the ability to stand; walk; sit; bend; stoop; squat; lift
  and carry between 75-100 pounds; push and/or pull; reach above shoulder level and twist; to occasionally climb; balance; kneel; and crouch. Some of these physical requirements are further described below:
• Manual dexterity is required to maintain proper safety while performing: line construction work; work from the pole in hooks or in the bucket; driving the line truck to and from the job site; and the normal operation of a winch truck or line construction vehicle.
• Manual dexterity is required in electrical construction and/or maintenance to: move materials; manipulate work materials both bare handed and working in electrically tested rubber gloves; complete work orders; and to complete necessary paperwork to comply with cooperative specifications.
• The ability to constantly listen is required to communicate orally.
• Visual acuity is required to locate possible hazards while performing duties of the position.
• Must have the ability to constantly stand and walk while working on the ground, off the pole in hooks, and/or in the bucket to perform construction and/or line maintenance.
• Must have the ability to frequently sit in a line truck to drive and/or ride to various line construction sites. The average number of miles and the amount of time driving/riding each day would vary depending on the number of services to be connected or maintained.
• Frequent bending, stooping, and squatting are required to perform the maintenance of line services and/or line construction and to read or change meters.
• Must have the ability to frequently lift and carry between 75-100 pounds for items such as: coil wire, miscellaneous framing equipment to frame a pole, and other line construction or service items. Transformers will occasionally have to be lifted; however, they are usually lifted by line trucks and placed into position. Other items that require occasional lifting are boxes of meters and individual meters for installation and/or removal from meter bases.
• Must have the ability to frequently push and/or pull wires to the pole.
• Must have the ability to frequently reach above, at, and below shoulder level to perform the maintenance of line services and/or line construction.
• Must be able to frequently twist while performing maintenance of line services and/or line construction.
• Must have the ability to occasionally climb and balance on a ladder and poles.
• Must have the ability to occasionally kneel and crouch in certain underground installations and pole framing on the ground.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. A Lead Lineman will also perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other Management as required.

REPORTS TO:

• Operations Supervisor

SUPERVISES IN OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR’S ABSENCE:

• Lineworkers; Apprentice Lineworkers