Scalehouse Technician - Variable Hour

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

Metro South Transfer Station has 3 Variable Hour Scalehouse Technician positions available. In this role, you will work in a team setting at a drive-up window to greet customers, weigh vehicles, and collect payment from commercial drivers and residents who are dropping off garbage, yard debris, and recycling materials at Metro. You will also provide garbage and recycling information to customers and help to enforce Metro’s regulations on garbage and recycling disposal. This job is ideal for someone who has a flexible schedule, enjoys interacting with a wide range of customers and serving the public, and wants to help make sure that Metro’s customers have a positive and safe experience at our facility. 

This job is ideal for someone who is a people-person and enjoys providing great customer service, likes a flexible schedule and a busy workday, is committed to equitable service delivery, and who would enjoy informing and educating customers about waste disposal services, requirements, and options. People selected for this job will work at Metro South Transfer Station at 2001 Washington Street in Oregon City. 

The Scalehouse Technician role is an essential part of Metro’s work to manage the region’s solid waste – also known as garbage and recycling. Metro’s Waste Prevention and Environmental Services department (WPES) meets this responsibility in part by processing some of the region’s garbage and recycling.

To learn about Metro’s Transfer Stations, click to view this virtual video tour of Metro Central  where you’ll see vehicles drive up to the scalehouse and be weighed. If you’d like to see what happens to customers’ garbage and recycling after they leave the scalehouse, you can watch this live video feed of another team processing trash and this video that shows how another team processes hazardous waste.

WPES is committed to leading with equity in everything we do. We are guided by the 2030 Regional Waste Plan, which focuses on advancing racial equity, reducing the environmental and health impacts of products, maintaining and improving our garbage and recycling system, and rectifying the historic and ongoing inequities of that system on communities of color and others in our region.

As the Variable Hour Scalehouse Technician you will

• Receive training in Scalehouse systems and procedures.
• Welcome customers and solicit information concerning material type for fee assessment and acceptability per permit regulations and operational limits; calculate fees based on Metro policy, material characteristics and delivery methods; oversee a high volume of transactions and perform cash handling duties; collect fees via cash, card, and check while maintaining current payment security practices and issues change and receipt; weigh vehicles that are delivering solid waste to the site using a computerized scaling system.
• Prepare and submit report summarizing daily shift activity and fee collection; prepare daily deposit.
• Provide information to the public regarding Metro policy and regulation on recycling, uncovered loads, special waste and fee assessment; enforce Metro policy as necessary.
• Respond to customer complaints, anticipate, prevent and resolve traffic flow problems, address safety and security issues and address minor contract performance issues.
• Respond to requests and inquiries regarding procedures, facility operations, fees and program policies which include hazardous materials such as asbestos and medical waste.
• Assist with the monitoring of contractors for performance and service; communicate with facility operator via handheld radio and logs, record and distribute necessary reporting per DEQ and Metro policy around suspect materials.
• Collect, verify and record data on new commercial vehicles; label and tag upon request; compile and distribute reports as necessary for system updates.
• Manage communications regarding facility emergencies and evacuations to ensure customer and employee safety; complete incident reports to document facility accidents and incidents.

Attributes for success

• Knowledge of basic computer skills and the ability to learn software specific to Scalehouse operations.
• Skill in basic mathematical calculations and the ability to calculate/estimate quickly.
• Ability to make change and balance cash.
• Ability to operate a point-of-sale/cash register, adding machine and calculator, as well as other general office equipment necessary to perform the duties of the job.
• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.
• Ability to provide high-quality customer service to a wide variety of customers including those who may be frustrated or upset.
• Ability to remain calm and productive in busy or stressful situations.
• Ability to operate two Scalehouse windows during busy times.
• Ability to maintain records, both electronic and physical, in accordance with established procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.   

Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant. 

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma or G.E.D., and
• One year experience in a position requiring extensive interaction with the public, or 
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Working Conditions 

This position requires the ability to perform those activities necessary to complete the essential functions of the job, either with or without reasonable accommodation. Position requires frequent or continuous standing, fingering, reaching, sitting, bending, grasping, repetitive motions of the hands/wrists, handling and good general hearing. May also require occasional walking, feeling, and repetitive motions of the feet, kneeling, and lifting up to 35 pounds or carrying up to 15 pounds. Duties are performed in a kiosk-type building. Incumbent will be exposed to weather (sometimes inclement) via open windows.

Shift and schedule - Variable hour employees are hired and scheduled to work as needed by Metro based on business needs. The duration of these assignments are not to exceed 1040 hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), and there is no guarantee of hours or duration of employment. Variable hour employees are not eligible for vacation or paid holidays but do accrue sick leave at a rate of 0.05 per hour paid, up to 104 hours per year. 1 of these positions is expected to end on September 30th, 2026.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• One year of customer service experience in a retail, restaurant, or business/industrial setting.
• One year of experience taking and processing customer payments, including cash and credit cards in a retail, restaurant, or business/industrial setting.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Russian, or other language commonly spoken in the region.
• Experience with the region’s garbage and recycling system.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application
• Responses to supplemental questions  

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments
• Reference check 
• Background records check for finalist candidate 

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is $23.28 per hour. 

This position is eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as a Scale House Technician position. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Questions?

Recruiter: Carrie Gundermann

Email: carrie.gundermann@oregonmetro.gov

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

Positions designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.
 

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance. 

How to Apply

For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page. 

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Metro 

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.