Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Instrument Technician II, Zone 7

Recruitment #17-4994-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY

Zone 7 provides treated drinking water to four major water retailers serving around 220,000 residents and businesses. The retailers are: the City of Pleasanton; the City of Livermore; California Water Service Company - Livermore; and Dublin San Ramon Services District, which provides water service to Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon.

 

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, installs, inspects, troubleshoots, maintains and repairs metering and recording instruments, controlling apparatus, data logging and display equipment, communications, radio telemetering and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems used in the Zone 7's Water Treatment, Production and Distribution System; and to perform other related work as required.

 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

  • Possesses an electrical/mechanical skill set that will successfully transition into a public water agency;
  • Experience in electrical circuitry, electronics technology and knowledge of PLC and SCADA hardware and software;
  • Experience with preventive maintenance, modification, calibration, programming, repairs and installation of all field instrument loop and control systems to enhance equipment reliability to meet water treatment regulations;
  • Ability to provide technical support for repair and troubleshooting of network communications;
  • Ability to diagnose mechanical, electrical and electronic process control difficulties in instrument and telemetering systems;
  • Ability to work in a safe manner;
  • Maintain clear and accurate records;
  • Possession of an Instrumentation Systems and Automation Society of America (ISA) Control Systems Technician Level II Certificate (CCSTII) is desirable.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of three years full-time experience as an Instrument Technician I, Zone 7 or higher-level class in the Alameda County classified service, which included instrumentation resources duties and responsibilities. (Non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)


Or II

Education:

The equivalent of completion of the twelfth grade.

Experience:

The equivalent of four years of full-time experience performing skilled work in both mechanical and electromechanical repairs, or electronic circuitry and instrumentation repair, at least two years of this time having involved work in industrial instrumentation. (Possession of a valid 2-Year Program in Instrumentation & Industrial Automation Technology from Perry Technical Institute or equivalent may be substituted for two years of experience).

License:

Must possess a California Driver's License.

Certificates:

Possession of an Instrumentation Systems and Automation Society of America (ISA) Control Systems Technician Level II Certificate (CCSTII) is desirable.

Other Requirements:

Must possess physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the class, including sufficient physical agility to work in high or confined spaces. Positions in this class are required to be clean shaven on a scheduled basis as required to wear respiratory protection or other safety equipment to comply with OSHA, Cal/OSHA rules and regulations.

NOTE: The Civil Service commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Electrical and electronic circuits.
• Industrial Instrumentation methods, practices, and tools used in maintaining, repairing, testing and adjusting electromechanical recording and metering instruments.
• Mechanical linkage and radio telemetry systems.
• Safety practices.
• Laws, rules and regulations governing maintenance and operation of radio, telemetry and telephone equipment.
• Electronic schematic diagrams, blueprints and piping (or process) and instrument diagrams (P&ID).
• PLC and SCADA hardware and software


Ability to:

• Effectively communicate orally.
• Diagnose mechanical, electrical, and electronic process control difficulties in instrumentation and telemetering systems.
• Read and interpret ladder logic and wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings.
• Make extensive repairs and overhauls to metering and control instruments.
• Make estimates of labor and materials.
• Maintain clear and accurate records.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps:

  1. A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
  2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified.
  3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment. 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

 

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing:

5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 15, 2017*

 Tuesday, October 31, 2017 

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

By Wednesday, November 29, 2017* Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

By Wednesday, December 13, 2017* Thursday, November 16, 2017

Oral Interviews:

Tuesday, January 9, 2018*

Monday, December 11, 2017

*Updated October 27, 2017

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing.   Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Leticia Diaz, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-272-6469; Email: Leticia.Diaz@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs

 Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer