Apprentice Candidate

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reside within a reasonable response time distance (approximately 15 minutes) to service area.

• Maintain eligibility for Bluebonnet Apprenticeship Program.

• Must enroll (enrollment required in first available class) and actively participate in the Bluebonnet Apprenticeship Program for its duration.

• Perform all related work as defined by apprentice qualifications task by year and supervisor.

• Perform rotational 24/7 on-call duties.

• Attend various schools and in-house training classes.

• Will be required to read manuals on new types of equipment.

• Must wear, and care for all PPE and equipment.

• Attend regularly scheduled safety meetings.

• Follow Cooperative, NESC, NEC, OSHA, and state and other regulatory agency procedures and rules.

• Ensure that all safety precautions and procedures and rules are followed; use safe work practices at all times and in all situations.

• Maintain ability to administer first aid, pole top and bucket truck rescue, and artificial resuscitation.

• Understand and follow staking sheets and gets material off truck to perform jobs.

• Thorough knowledge of Bluebonnet policies and guidelines.

• General awareness of current developments in areas of interest to the department.

• Required to be on-call, available to work weekends, holidays and non-standard hours as needed.

• Maintain professional working relationships with all employees, members, and vendors at all times.

• Maintain regular attendance; arrives to work on time and is ready to work.

• Must be able to appropriately handle confidential information and act within the practices established by the Bluebonnet Red Flag policy.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

Licensing and Certification:

• Obtain and maintain certification in pole climbing school.

• Obtain and maintain certification in pole top rescue and bucket rescue.

• Must be certified in CPR, First Aid, AED and Blood-borne pathogens.

• Valid Texas Commercial Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to understand and follow Cooperative maps, safety manual, work orders, staking sheets, and any forms related to the work being performed.

• Ability to learn the Cooperative service area, transmission, and distribution system.

• Ability to learn and understand the installation of transformers, wiring of transformer banks, regulators, capacitors, and other electrical equipment.

• Ability to learn Cooperative tariff policies as they apply to Lineman duties.

• Basic computer skills in the following applications: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, ISO applications, NISC time entry, and work order processing.

• Interpersonal skills that result in effective working relationships with peers, members, and vendors.

• Ability to communicate effectively and positively; focused on improvement or problem resolution in a constructive, positive, and professional manner.

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Office Equipment including computer, iPad, printer, copier, fax, etc.

• May be required to drive a cooperative vehicle.

• May operate heavy equipment.

• According to established business needs, you must maintain a mobile phone and an appropriate communication plan.

Physical Demands:

• Requires repetitive motion of hands and fingers, such as dialing and keyboarding.

• Will climb and work on pole or in bucket, reach and bend to perform work on the pole, usually using hand tools and equipment weighing 40 -50 lbs.

• Pushes and pulls transformers for proper placement for installation.

• Loads cable and other materials onto truck at warehouse.

• Operates a hydraulic or manual tamp when backfilling dirt around poles.

• Clears brush in utility easement.

• Performs some digging when installing underground lines.

Work Environment:

• Extended time spent outdoors in extreme weather conditions.

• May work at heights up to 100 + feet above ground.

• Works in no or low light conditions – using hand-held lantern or spot lights.

• Works in areas with possible exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, and insect stings.

• Works in potentially hazardous conditions caused by pets and wildlife in or near the work site.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

By submitting your application, you will be added to our candidate pool for future apprentice opportunities. As positions become available, Bluebonnet will review applications from this pool to identify potential candidates for selection.