Central Office Technician

Job Locations

US-WI-Verona

Overview

As a Central Office Technican, you may assist with on-site installations, troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance of telecommunications products and equipment that TDS sells and leases. You will also be responsible for other duties associated to the Central Office (CO).

You will have direct, face-to-face contact with our customers and will be expected to be proactive with the sales of TDS services and products. Services include, but are not limited to, Telephony, Video/CATV/DBS, Internet, and/or high speed networks. You will exceed customer expectations by performing extraordinary customer service, identifying customer needs, and providing them with communications solutions. You will also understand how to use and demonstrate TDS products and seeks sales opportunities while educating the customer. Products & services include (but are not limited to): Local Service, Central Office Services, Structured Cabling, MAC (Moves, Adds and Changes), Voice Mail, Audio and/or Video Conferencing and Non-regulated CPE.

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS Telecom/TDS) delivers high-speed internet, TV entertainment, and phone services to nearly 1,000 rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities across the U.S. With 1.2 million connections, TDS is a rapidly growing technology company. Powered by fiber-optics and new industry-leading technologies, TDS delivers up to 1 Gigabit internet speeds and offers internet-protocol based TV entertainment solutions along with traditional phone services. TDS also offers businesses VoIP advanced communications solutions, dedicated internet service, data networking, and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com.

TDS Telecom, headquartered in Madison, Wis., employs 2,900 people and is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000 company. Founded in 1969, TDS Inc. employs 9,100 people and has approximately six million connections nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service. TDS Inc. has been named to several Forbes lists, including America's Best Employers for Diversity, Best Large Employers, and Best Employers for Women. Visit tdsinc.com.

Responsibilities

Assists with and performs on-site installing, troubleshooting, testing, splicing, repairing, and maintaining telephone equipment and general network equipment, customer premise equipment, Video/CATV/DBS, fiber optic/copper facilities and/or other TDS products & services for new and existing customers. Identifies location of defective cable using various test equipment and repairs buried, aerial, underground and/or customer cable. Locates cable and fiber in response to customer requests and/or construction needs. Pole climbing and operating construction equipment is required. Locates, identifies and marks company underground and buried facilities to prevent facilities from being damaged. Keeps orderly log of all locate requests in our exchange area. Performs cable fault acceptance tests on newly constructed facilities.
• Assists with and provides troubleshooting support techniques and corrections. Responds to "trouble" dispatches.


• Assists with and provides support for enhancing and maintaining record systems (cross connects, line groups, network elements, etc.).


• Provides excellent customer service. Proactively educates and sells TDS products and services to customers.


• Gain working knowledge of RUS Standards and Grounding practices associated with splicing and maintenance of outside plant facilities and equipment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Technical Certification (or higher) -OR- 6+ months experience working with Low Voltage, Electrical or Utility Construction -OR- current or prior military service with honorable discharge.


• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) may be required.


• Must follow the TDS attendance guidelines in order to meet TDS's business needs including but not limited to our obligations to our customers and to our customers' needs.

Other Qualifications

• Upon hire, must successfully complete customer-specific requirements, which may include a background check administered by the customer.


• Requires on-call/standby responsibilities. On-call requires carrying a pager and/or cell phone, being available to report to work (24 hours a day) and remain in a limited geographic area.


• Requires an understanding of telecommunication products and services: Inside Wiring/Cable, Internet/Intranet, Bonding & Grounding, Data & Computers/Transmission Concepts, Fiber Optic Transmission, Static Sensitive Equipment, Color Codes, Structured Wiring, Video/CATV/DBS Installation, Inventory Systems, Cable Locating, Battery Maintenance, Key Systems/PBX, Centrex, Switch Maintenance, Voicemail, Special Circuits, Fiber Terminals, Subscriber CXR Terminals, T-1s, ISPs, DSL, ISDN Voice & Data, Testing & Certifying Loops To Support Data, Voice, and/or Video.


• Practical knowledge/experience with computer applications including (but not limited to): Databases, Trouble/Repair/Dispatch Systems, Plant Record Systems, MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Explorer, and CD-ROMs.


• Ability to work and make decisions independently with little or no supervision.


• Demonstrated customer service and sales skills, as well as effective communications skills (verbal and written) for interaction with internal and external customers.


• Proven organizational skills and ability to multi-task.


• Physical requirements may vary based on company needs: Operation of heavy construction machinery, such as bucket truck, drop plow, and backhoe. Ability to dig, lift and climb.


• Requires being available for on-call/standby responsibilities and may require occasional travel.


• Must be willing to work overtime as needed. May be required to work various/swing shifts as business needs dictate.


• Must be able to operate vehicles with manual transmissions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write and operate a computer keyboard, standard office equipment and telephone. The employee regularly communicates with customers. The employee is frequently required to move about and reach for items.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must also be able to climb poles and ladders. The employee is occasionally required to sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and may have to work in attics and crawl spaces, or high risk areas such as high voltage electrical, trenches, and manholes. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and heavy equipment; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is at times loud.

Benefits

As a part of your total compensation, #TDS provides a comprehensive, competitive benefit package. The benefit plans address both the immediate and long term needs that you and your family may have. For an overview of what we have to offer for full-time employees including vacation, health benefits and retirement options please click here.

At TDS, we embrace Equal Employment Opportunity by valuing our differences and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by law. To learn about our diversity & inclusion philosophy and culture, click here!