Operations Assistant (Birmingham, AL)

The Operations Assistant (OA) provides support to Power Delivery Distribution Operations, Customer Service Centers, and Business Offices across Alabama Power Company’s service territory on a 365/24/7 basis. This position is based in Birmingham, AL.

The position is responsible for the efficient dispatching of customer service and trouble orders. OAs are a vital member of the Distribution Control Center (DCC) and support the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) in the effective monitoring and operation of the electric distribution system. The successful candidate will be responsible for: managing workload for our Local Operations Linemen (LOLs), timely dispatch and follow-up of service and trouble orders, and assisting with power restoration efforts. Various applications used include customer service/accounting systems, outage management for dispatching, workforce management for resource service and outage tickets, automated on-call response, handling telephone calls into the Distribution Control Center and the Microsoft Office suite. 

Education Job Experience 

• High School diploma or GED required, College degree a plus.
• Customer Service experience required.
• Experience as a dispatcher in a State, County, City or local EMA type center or closely related experience (i.e., logistics, banking, etc.) strongly preferred.
•  Utility Experience in Power Delivery, Marketing, Customer Operations, Customer Service, and/or Business Office Operations a plus.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities 

• Demonstrated ability to learn, navigate, and effectively utilize complex computer systems and applications to execute job duties.
• Ability to effectively coordinate and direct the work of others.
• Ability to effectively establish work priorities and to plan work to meet established timeframes.
• Exceptional attention to detail while following established policies and procedures.
• Excellent ability to work effectively under pressure and stress.
• Positive influence on others and display a positive attitude.
• Effectively interacting with others as part of a team effort and gaining cooperation.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively navigate through change.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.

Other Requirements

• Must pass SHL and SkillCheck tests (More information below) 
• Willing and able to work 8-hour shifts, 10-hour shifts, 12-hour shifts or a rotating shift including a combination of day, evening, and weekend shifts. Shift assignments are awarded based on seniority and business need. Current Operations Assistant shifts are as follows:
  • Day Shift: 6 am – 2 pm (M-F); 7 am – 5 pm (M-Th or Tu-F); 8 am – 4 pm (M-F) or 9 am – 5 pm (M-F)
  • Evening Shift: 2 pm – 10 pm (M-F)
  • Weekend Shift: 8 am – 4 pm (M-Tu) and 6 am – 6 pm (Sat & Sun)
• Will be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays and be available to work callout, filling shifts, and holdover extra time.
• This position requires participation and progression in an OA Training Program (approximately 4-6 months) consisting of On-the-Job training (OJT) and classroom training. OAs are required to pass a shift readiness assessment and successfully pass a Board Review prior to being moved into a permanent shift.
• This position is in Birmingham, AL. Operations Assistants are subject to call out and must live within 50 miles of the Birmingham, AL work location.

Notes on Testing:

There are two mandatory assessments that must be successfully completed before your application can be reviewed by the hiring management team.

• The first assessment (SHL) will be automatically sent to you via email once you submit your application.
• If you successfully pass the first, the second assessment (SkillCheck) will be sent to you shortly afterward.

Important: Both assessments must be completed within their designated time frames to remain eligible for consideration.