What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advanced Meter Field Investigator position at City of Tacoma?
Position Description
Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) is the largest department within the City of Tacoma and includes Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Rail. With a mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable utility services, TPU serves more than 200,000 customers across the region. We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and serving our community with integrity and transparency.
The Field Operations team plays a critical role in delivering essential services to our community, ensuring the reliable delivery of utility services. Our team supports customer service and day-to-day field activities that keep our systems running smoothly and safely.
Under general supervision, an Advanced Meter Field Investigator is responsible for first-level field triage of technical troubleshooting and customer service in support of the City of Tacoma’s Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) system to aid the meter to bill process. Duties include but are not limited to connecting/disconnecting meters, troubleshooting installed residential meters and performing a variety of customer and billing services in the field; daily review of meter reading validity, retrieving meter interval data and other possible meter-related problem service orders; and replacing residential power meters and provisioning or validating of residential water meter modules to ensure meter reads are completed in a timely fashion as required for billing purposes.
This work is performed predominantly outdoors while driving, walking, bending, and lifting.
Applicants who apply and meet minimum qualifications will be invited to take an online test. Details and the test link will be sent via email the week of July 13, 2026. Be sure to check your junk folder for this email so you don't miss the deadline.
Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply and may be eligible to receive additional compensation.
Qualifications
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workplace. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
Apply
All interested individuals must apply online and attach a resume and cover letter that includes major responsibilities and accomplishments related to the position.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to complete an online assessment. Candidates who pass the assessment will be placed on an eligibility list for interview and hiring consideration. The eligibility list will be used to fill vacancies as they occur for approximately one year.
Appointment is subject to passing a background check. This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local 483. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $38.11- $42.02
Select positions may be eligible for a language premium.
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.
For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.
Communication with the City of Tacoma
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
Are you a high school graduate or equivalent?
Do you have two (2) years of experience in a customer service environment, including applying, interpreting and explaining policies and procedures to customers?
Do you have a valid Washington State Driver's License?
One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe an experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
05
Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.
Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.
Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) is the largest department within the City of Tacoma and includes Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Rail. With a mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable utility services, TPU serves more than 200,000 customers across the region. We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and serving our community with integrity and transparency.
The Field Operations team plays a critical role in delivering essential services to our community, ensuring the reliable delivery of utility services. Our team supports customer service and day-to-day field activities that keep our systems running smoothly and safely.
Under general supervision, an Advanced Meter Field Investigator is responsible for first-level field triage of technical troubleshooting and customer service in support of the City of Tacoma’s Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) system to aid the meter to bill process. Duties include but are not limited to connecting/disconnecting meters, troubleshooting installed residential meters and performing a variety of customer and billing services in the field; daily review of meter reading validity, retrieving meter interval data and other possible meter-related problem service orders; and replacing residential power meters and provisioning or validating of residential water meter modules to ensure meter reads are completed in a timely fashion as required for billing purposes.
This work is performed predominantly outdoors while driving, walking, bending, and lifting.
Applicants who apply and meet minimum qualifications will be invited to take an online test. Details and the test link will be sent via email the week of July 13, 2026. Be sure to check your junk folder for this email so you don't miss the deadline.
Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply and may be eligible to receive additional compensation.
Qualifications
- Graduation from high school or equivalent
- Two (2) years of experience in a customer service environment, including applying, interpreting and explaining policies and procedures to customers
- Valid WA State Driver's License at time of appointment, with maintenance thereafter
- Position requires walking for long periods, lifting or pushing objects weighing up to 50 pounds, climbing and driving from site to site
- Work includes indoor and outdoor environment; subject to working in adverse weather conditions
- An employee in this position may encounter potentially abusive and hostile interactions with the public, animals, and environmental hazards such as chemicals and hazardous materials
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workplace. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
Apply
All interested individuals must apply online and attach a resume and cover letter that includes major responsibilities and accomplishments related to the position.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to complete an online assessment. Candidates who pass the assessment will be placed on an eligibility list for interview and hiring consideration. The eligibility list will be used to fill vacancies as they occur for approximately one year.
Appointment is subject to passing a background check. This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local 483. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $38.11- $42.02
Select positions may be eligible for a language premium.
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.
For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.
Communication with the City of Tacoma
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
Are you a high school graduate or equivalent?
- Yes
- No
Do you have two (2) years of experience in a customer service environment, including applying, interpreting and explaining policies and procedures to customers?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a valid Washington State Driver's License?
- Yes
- No
One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe an experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
05
Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.
- Job Interest Card notification
- Professional organization
- Military organization
- City of Tacoma employee
- Online job board posting
- Word of mouth
- Tacoma Training & Education Program (TTEP)
- Indeed
- Careers in Government
- Government Jobs
- Outreach Event
- National Diversity Network
- African American Job Network
- Disability Job Network
- Asian Job Network
- Latino Job Network
- Retirement Job Network
- LGBT Job Network
- Veteran Job Network
- Other
Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.
- Required Question
Salary : $38 - $42