Planning & Design Technologist 1

Position Overview

This position is responsible for planning the installation of gas supply projects for customers (builders, developers, FortisBC departments). Using established service,  product definitions and pricing to produce the customer contract. This role processes routine project requests professionally and in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates projects, including but not limited to:
  • defining customer requirements and project scope, creating, and maintaining customer data,
  • ensuring all service product requirements are collected,
  • explaining FortisBC processes, procedures, and requirements to customers,
  • selecting the appropriate service products and pricing,
  • conveying related permit requirements to customers,
  • informing the customer of the price for the service product(s),
  • scheduling the work with the customer following a check of crew (capacity planning) and materials availability and creating work orders.
  • coordinate and attend meetings with customers and their agents and conduct site visits as required.
• Processes jobs, including but not limited to:
  • maximum project pipe sizing of 219 mm (8”), 
  • metering requirements with load profiles, per meter, of less than 400 cubic metres per hour, 
  • all Distribution Pressure system work and Intermediate Pressure service work. 
  • projects may include low-rise vertical subdivisions,  
  • reviewing foreign utility data, legal land base considerations, and geography to determine appropriate gas layout and depth in accordance with FortisBC standards,
  • completing electronic layout or Engineering drawings,
  • confirming and updating pipe sizing on drawings as defined by System Planning,
  • identifying and obtaining required internal and external approvals and prerequisites,
  • identifying and requisitioning required inventoried materials and manufactured items,
  • completing detailed estimates,
  • process project requests such as billable and non-billable orders professionally and in accordance with established policies and procedures
  • utilizing economic test tools to determine pricing of installations
  • explaining FortisBC procedures, policies, rate processes and municipal, provincial, and federal regulations to customers,
  • working with customers and authorities to ensure all service products requirements are collected and met
•  Ensures completion of the job and maintains customer relations, including but not limited to:
  • building relationships with current, repeat, and potential customers and external contacts, 
  • responding to customer inquiries including but not limited to installation costs, bill calculations, and the scheduling of work,
  • acting as primary contact for premium rated builder/developers and internal/external customers.
• Responds to a variety of operational and maintenance issues which may include but not limited to: 
  • overbuilds of plant related to all customer classes and identified by both the customer and company programs,
  • metering consolidations/de-consolidations,
  • meter protection,
  • commercial/industrial metering assembly upgrades (company driven),
  • corrosion maintenance (houseline/riser replacement, anode bed install/removal),
  • IP service line additions/removals
  • complex main and valve lowerings, raisings, and/or abandonments,
  • activities related to hazard remediation and system maintenance requirements.
• Provides direction to Planning and Design Technicians and Operations Support Representatives within the department. 
• Performs duties of a minor nature related to the above duties, including driving a vehicle, which do not affect the rating of the job.

Requirements

• Education:  technology diploma from an accredited post-secondary institution in a directly related field.   Must be registered or eligible for registration with ASTTBC.
• Experience: two (2) years directly related, relevant work experience.
• Working knowledge of computer systems operations, environment and peripherals and various applications software in use in the department (SAP & suite of MS Office products).   
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to multi-task, prioritize and work under pressure during peak workload periods to meet tight deadlines.  Ability to work independently.
•  Excellent communication skills including telephone call handling skills and the ability to respond to difficult or demanding situations with tact and diplomacy. Courteous, professional manner in dealing with internal and external contacts and customers, including positive interpersonal skills and the ability to provide direction in a team environment.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems of a technical nature, and understand the implication of costs, risks, operability, and safety. 
• Sound analytical and decision-making skills.
• Valid Class 5 British Columbia Driver’s license.

Additional Information

• This position has restricted holiday availability based on operational requirements for certain months of the year, as per Article 14 of the MoveUp/FortisBC Collective Agreement.
• May involve working shift work or late coverage depending on customer and operational requirements (i.e. day, afternoon and night shifts, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day).