Operations Assistant

Central Lincoln People's Utility District seeks one full time Operations Assistant in Florence or Reedsport. This posting will close on July 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

JOB SUMMARY

Your job in the department is to . . .

Perform a variety of administrative tasks, including data processing, permit processing, records management and professional communication between customers, contractors, and personnel, while managing radios, incoming calls, and emails.

Your job also involves . . .

Providing administrative support of Central Lincoln’s Joint Use Program. Assisting operations supervisors and technicians with the scheduling and follow-up as needed.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Tasks listed are intended to be descriptive and not restrictive. An employee in this classification may perform any of the tasks listed; however, these examples do not include all the tasks which an employee may be expected to perform and may change as determined by the needs of the company.

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. The amount of time performing each function may vary day-to-day. All duties shall be performed in an efficient and professional manner in accordance with applicable labor agreements and the Central Lincoln Safety Manual and under the direct supervision of a designated supervisor.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Administrative Duties and Office coordination:

• Assists supervisors in Operations and Engineering in operational duties and performs various clerical duties, including typing, filing, data entry, and computer-related tasks.
• Document and update processes and procedures.
• Creating purchase order requisitions when directed.
• Ordering and organizing office supplies.
• Provide oversight of time keyed by personnel in the Operations and Engineering department, as required.
• Set initial consultation appointments for Distribution Engineering Technicians.
• Prepares Service Orders for Operations as conditions dictate.
• Ordering and tracking of locates from 811
• Dispersing and scheduling work for Servicemen.
• Notarize easements and other utility documents

Outages:

• Maintains Operational Area outage reports.
• Assists the Operations Supervisors with dispatching serviceman and crews to outages.
• Update the Outage Management application.
• Maintains interdepartmental contact and provides updates during outages.
• Fields emergency calls and reports of hazardous situations.
• Fields Customer calls for a variety of information.

Complete timecards, reports, data tickets, logs, job-related forms, and other similar paperwork accurately, completely, timely, and in the format prescribed and explained by Human Resources or supervisors.

Maintain regular, consistent, and predictable attendance, including being available, accessible, and able to complete all required essential functions and assigned job tasks during the position’s assigned work schedule and/or normal business hours onsite as directed by Central Lincoln.

Communicate in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner with all employees, customers, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas designed to meet or exceed Central Lincoln’s strategic goals.

Provide exceptional and measurable customer service to internal and external customers with timely, clear, and accurate responses to inquiries and concerns. Exercise tact, courtesy, and diplomacy when interacting with others. Respond to all inquiries for information respectfully without regard to the inquirer’s position, status, or demographic and in a manner that conveys understanding, acceptance, and support for Central Lincoln programs and objectives.

Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department, and Central Lincoln goals while working cooperatively, efficiently, and productively in a team environment. Actively demonstrate high levels of employee engagement, accountability, coachability, and responsibility for personal performance and results.

Complete special projects and other duties as assigned to meet team, department and Central Lincoln goals while actively demonstrating accountability and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All Central Lincoln employees are expected to abide by Central Lincoln policies, procedures, performance expectations, and applicable state and federal guidelines. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Little or no supervisor responsibility for work of others

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The required knowledge, skills and/or abilities are listed below:

Knowledge of:

• District policies and procedures.
• Union contract.
• FMLA/OFLA.
• Basic knowledge of electric utility systems.
• Current Joint Use industry issues
• National Electric Safety Code (NESC)
• Oregon Joint Use Association (OJUA) best practices and standards.
• Applicable Oregon Administrative Rules
• General office practices and procedures, including filing, word processing and recordkeeping; basic bookkeeping principles.
• Office support work flow to employ the correct set and sequence, of tasks, steps, or operations.
• Working knowledge and understanding of Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes and/or statutes applicable to the essential functions of the position, including SDS procedures, protocols, and formats, as well regulations applicable to the provision of utility services.

Skill or ability to:

• Use of Microsoft Office software programs (advanced).
• Basic math.
• Operation of office equipment such as copiers, computers, iPhones, 811, and NISC software.
• Ability to proficiently use a 2-way radio.
• Requires demonstrated ability to work effectively with associates, customers, contractors, and various supervisors and management personnel, and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Learn and support technology.
• Able to collect and organize data from a variety of sources.
• Able to research alternative courses of action beyond prescribed guidelines.
• Effectively complete multiple tasks and responsibilities in an environment fraught with interruptions.
• Adapt to changing priorities or unexpected situations.
• Prioritize work and manage time effectively.
• Work independently and with others.
• Keep an organized work area.
• Demonstrate strong technical, troubleshooting, problem solving, researching, and analytical skills necessary to review, analyze and assess job-related data and information to perform duties, work through unexpected performance challenges, and to offer input for process improvement. Utilize strong organizational skills necessary for creating and maintaining accurate documentation and/or Central Lincoln records.
• Complete a high volume of detail-oriented work methodically, accurately, and timely in a fast-paced, stressful work environment while working independently and/or with limited direction. Prioritize and complete all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for distractions, interruptions, and changing priorities, deadlines, and availability of resources. Demonstrate initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits to assist other team members.
• Seek out and approach training opportunities with active engagement and curiosity, while learning and exhibiting understanding of Central Lincoln’s policies, protocols, and performance expectations. Demonstrate initiative to incorporate and implement learning principles from informal and formal training, as well as feedback from leaders and co-workers. Actively pursue professional development opportunities to add value to Central Lincoln including learning, adopting, and quickly adapting to new techniques and technologies used in the changing utility industry.
• Perform duties well while actively demonstrating an appropriate level of accountability and responsibility for both work product results and the impact behaviors and decisions may have on the ability of others to do their jobs well. Work cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits.
• Receive, interpret, and implement job-related instruction, guidance, coaching, and training (both formal and informal) while progressively improving skills and overall success in performing assigned duties. When issues of poor performance of negative behaviors are raised, incorporate feedback in a constructive manner that demonstrates understanding of the concern and an ability and willingness to demonstrate the required consistent and sustained improvement.
• Exhibit strong conflict resolution skills and demonstrated competency to work with a diverse population of customers, contractors, vendors, and co-workers of all ages. Treat others equally with respect and dignity, even if you disagree with their point of view and/or if you are frustrated, angry or disappointed with their work output or comments.
• Work independently and/or with limited direction at a self-directed pace sufficient to ensure work is completed timely and efficiently. Exercise initiative and resourcefulness to accomplish assignments efficiently and ask questions on complex issues or when in doubt. Problems are easily defined and solved according to policies and procedures, and order or priority of tasks can be modified within parameters set by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma / GED1

Minimum Experience Level

Specifics: Experience in the electric utility or telecommunications industry is preferred.

Substitution Note: Any combination of education, experience and training which demonstrates the ability to perform the required job function may be qualifying.

Certifications

Specifics: Notary Public is required within 6 months of hire if working in Engineering.

Driver’s License

Oregon Driver's License required.

Specifics: This position requires the ability to drive either a personal or company owned vehicle to conduct business for Central Lincoln.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Job Conditions: Typical Office Environment: The work in this position is primarily conducted in a temperature-controlled office environment. Office spaces include traditional office lighting (including fluorescent lighting), as well as shared office spaces and facilities that result in consistent and frequent noise (often louder than ambient noise), conversations among employees and clients, interruptions and other similar distractions.

Work Location: Central Lincoln - Florence or Reedsport. May require travel to Central Lincoln facilities in Newport on occasion.

Travel: Travel occasionally via traditional modes of transportation (including airline travel) over long distances, some of which may involve one or more night stays out of town, both within and outside the state of Oregon.

AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions, the importance of personal interactions with coworkers and members of the public, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires regular, consistent availability, accessibility, and/or presence on-site.

Approximately 40 hours / week may be required to efficiently perform the job duties of this position, including presence at designated internal and external meetings. This position also requires availability and accessibility to respond to and address emergencies and critical situations outside of normal business operating hours in the evenings and/or during weekends.

All Central Lincoln non-exempt employees are expected to work varying amounts of scheduled and unscheduled overtime, especially during inclement weather, storm events, power restoration activities, periods of high-volume work, and to accomplish special projects. Overtime may range from working a normal eight- or nine-hour workday to 24 – 36 hours of continuous work during power restoration periods. Exempt employees are expected to work as many hours as are necessary to ensure that the goals and needs established by Central Lincoln are met.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands are typical of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical capability to handle high mobility demands and complex personal interactions.

• Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (0-25 pounds).
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Most tasks require oral communications ability. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.
• Mental Requirements: Exhibit sufficient mental acuity and sound reasoning abilities necessary to review, analyze, understand, evaluate, and interpret Central Lincoln policies and protocols, as well as federal and state regulations applicable to Central Lincoln operations. Provide intellectually sound and well-reasoned answers, recommendations, and solutions to identified business problems, issues and/or questions.
• Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Central Lincoln is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and essential functions expected of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.