What are the responsibilities and job description for the Electrician III position at City of Norfolk, VA?
Description
The Department of General Services, Facilities Maintenance Division, is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and supporting the operational integrity of City of Norfolk facilities citywide. This includes administrative buildings, public safety facilities, recreation centers, libraries, the Central Energy Plant, City Hall, pools, the Virginia Zoo, Nauticus, and the City’s major cultural and entertainment venues operated under SevenVenues.
Facilities Maintenance provides skilled trade services including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, and general maintenance while supporting preventive maintenance programs, emergency response operations, regulatory compliance, energy reliability, and coordination with contractors and vendors. The division supports a diverse portfolio of facilities that include high-occupancy public assembly venues, secure facilities, critical infrastructure, and historically significant buildings.
The Electrician III is a highly skilled, senior-level electrical position responsible for installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing complex electrical systems across City of Norfolk facilities. This position performs advanced electrical work involving feeders, circuits, lighting systems, control devices, and temporary power installations, and serves as a technical lead on projects requiring independent judgment and code-compliant execution.
The Electrician III functions as a subject-matter expert in electrical systems, provides guidance to other electricians, assists with planning and estimating work, and coordinates with supervisors, contractors, and facility stakeholders. Work is performed in occupied public buildings, critical infrastructure environments, and outdoor venues, often requiring strict safety practices, coordination with other trades, and adherence to electrical codes and City standards.
This position supports both routine maintenance and emergency response operations and may be designated essential for inclement weather and emergency events.
Essential Functions
Work requires knowledge of a specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature which may be obtained with six months/one year of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency. Junior college, vocational, business, technical or correspondence schools are likely sources. Appropriate certification may be awarded upon satisfactory completion of advanced study or training.
Required
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
03
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
How many years of experience do you have as an electrician?
When troubleshooting a three-phase, 480-volt motor that repeatedly trips overload heaters, which is the MOST appropriate first step?
What condition would MOST likely cause a three-phase motor to draw uneven current across phases?
What is the PRIMARY purpose of equipment grounding in electrical systems?
When installing temporary power for an outdoor public event, which factor is MOST critical for safety?
What tool is BEST suited for verifying the integrity of a grounding electrode system?
When reading electrical blueprints, what does the symbol “H-O-A” typically indicate?
A breaker trips immediately upon energizing a circuit. Which condition is MOST likely?
What is the PRIMARY consideration when coordinating electrical work in occupied public facilities?
Do you have a valid driver's license?
Do you have a state-issued Master Electrician’s License?
Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
17
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
The Department of General Services, Facilities Maintenance Division, is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and supporting the operational integrity of City of Norfolk facilities citywide. This includes administrative buildings, public safety facilities, recreation centers, libraries, the Central Energy Plant, City Hall, pools, the Virginia Zoo, Nauticus, and the City’s major cultural and entertainment venues operated under SevenVenues.
Facilities Maintenance provides skilled trade services including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, and general maintenance while supporting preventive maintenance programs, emergency response operations, regulatory compliance, energy reliability, and coordination with contractors and vendors. The division supports a diverse portfolio of facilities that include high-occupancy public assembly venues, secure facilities, critical infrastructure, and historically significant buildings.
The Electrician III is a highly skilled, senior-level electrical position responsible for installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing complex electrical systems across City of Norfolk facilities. This position performs advanced electrical work involving feeders, circuits, lighting systems, control devices, and temporary power installations, and serves as a technical lead on projects requiring independent judgment and code-compliant execution.
The Electrician III functions as a subject-matter expert in electrical systems, provides guidance to other electricians, assists with planning and estimating work, and coordinates with supervisors, contractors, and facility stakeholders. Work is performed in occupied public buildings, critical infrastructure environments, and outdoor venues, often requiring strict safety practices, coordination with other trades, and adherence to electrical codes and City standards.
This position supports both routine maintenance and emergency response operations and may be designated essential for inclement weather and emergency events.
Essential Functions
- Installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems, equipment, and components including feeders, branch circuits, panels, lighting systems, control devices, and associated wiring.
- Troubleshoots electrical malfunctions using testing instruments, schematics, and blueprints to identify root causes and implement corrective action.
- Makes electrical connections; installs conduit, boxes, wiring, fixtures, switches, receptacles, breakers, heaters, and related devices.
- Performs work on complex commercial and institutional electrical systems, including three-phase power, motor controls, lighting controls, and emergency power systems.
- Replaces bulbs, ballasts, electronic controls, and resets breakers, heater controls, and electronic timers.
- Provides temporary power for events, construction, and special projects by running wiring and establishing safe electrical connections.
- Supports electrical needs for City events and facility operations, including temporary lighting, power distribution, and system tie-ins.
- Assists with planning and estimating electrical projects, including material takeoffs and labor needs.
- Coordinates work with contractors and guides them through City facilities to ensure work aligns with scope, safety standards, and operational
- constraints.
- Maintains electrical tools, equipment, and materials; tracks supplies and assists with requisitions and purchasing in accordance with City procedures.
- Functions as a lead electrician by providing technical guidance, training support, and work direction to other electricians as assigned.
- Oversees work quality, ensures adherence to electrical codes and safety standards, and assists supervisors with inspection and follow-up.
- Communicates effectively with supervisors, facility staff, vendors, and contractors to support safe and efficient operations.
- Performs general maintenance tasks as assigned, including supporting other trades during facility emergencies.
- Assists with hanging banners, flags, and other electrical or facility-related support activities.
Work requires knowledge of a specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature which may be obtained with six months/one year of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency. Junior college, vocational, business, technical or correspondence schools are likely sources. Appropriate certification may be awarded upon satisfactory completion of advanced study or training.
Required
- Four (4) years of experience as an Electrician.
- Experience reading blueprints, technical manuals, and electrical schematics.
- Experience installing, troubleshooting, and repairing commercial or institutional electrical systems.
- Valid Driver's License required.
- State Masters Electrician's License.
- Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM; Occasional overtime and weekend work may be required. Position is designated as essential and will be required to report to work during City closures due to inclement weather and other emergencies
- This position is eligible for a $5,000 signing bonus.
- Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
- Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
- Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
- Retirement
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
- I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
03
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
- High School Diploma/GED
- Some College (6 months or more)
- Vocational/Technical Degree
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
How many years of experience do you have as an electrician?
- Less than 4 years
- 4-5 years
- 5-6 years
- 6 years or more
When troubleshooting a three-phase, 480-volt motor that repeatedly trips overload heaters, which is the MOST appropriate first step?
- Replace the overload heaters with higher-rated units
- Measure line and load current on all three phases and compare readings
- Replace the motor starter
- Reset the overload and return the motor to service
What condition would MOST likely cause a three-phase motor to draw uneven current across phases?
- Incorrect lamp ballast
- Phase loss or high resistance in one phase
- Excessive ambient temperature
- Grounded neutral conductor
What is the PRIMARY purpose of equipment grounding in electrical systems?
- To reduce voltage drop
- To provide a reference for phase balancing
- To create a low-impedance path for fault current to clear overcurrent devices
- To stabilize motor speed
When installing temporary power for an outdoor public event, which factor is MOST critical for safety?
- Using extension cords longer than 100 feet
- Matching receptacle color coding
- Ground-fault protection and proper bonding of equipment
- Operating at higher voltage to reduce amperage
What tool is BEST suited for verifying the integrity of a grounding electrode system?
- Clamp-on ammeter
- Megohmmeter
- Earth ground resistance tester
- Non-contact voltage tester
When reading electrical blueprints, what does the symbol “H-O-A” typically indicate?
- Hand-operated alarm
- High-output actuator
- Hand-Off-Auto control selector
- Hazardous operation area
A breaker trips immediately upon energizing a circuit. Which condition is MOST likely?
- Overloaded lighting circuit
- Short circuit or ground fault
- Voltage imbalance
- Thermal expansion
What is the PRIMARY consideration when coordinating electrical work in occupied public facilities?
- Completing work as quickly as possible
- Minimizing material costs
- Maintaining safety, code compliance, and uninterrupted operations
- Avoiding coordination with other trade
Do you have a valid driver's license?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a state-issued Master Electrician’s License?
- Yes
- No
Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?
- Yes
- No
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
17
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
- Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
- Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
- No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
- I am not a Veteran
- I am a Veteran
- I am a Disabled Veteran
- Required Question