Title: Service Dispatcher
Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
Minimum Pay Rate: $36.65 per hour
Maximum Pay Rate: $44.68 per hour
Civil Service Status: Non-Civil Service
Apply by Date: 07/30/2025
Posting Type: Open
This posting is intended to fill an 18-month limited term position and establish an eligibility list that may be used to fill permanent and limited-term positions for the next 24 months.
SMUD has a 900 square mile service territory with ~700,000 meters serving 1.5 million customers throughout the Sacramento area. As a community-owned, not-for-profit electric service, we have been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for over 75 years.
We are a recognized industry leader and award winner for our innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for our sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Through the efforts of the 2,400 people that power us, we work 24/7 to keep the lights on and provide our customers with innovative energy solutions. We also strive for best-in-class customer service and offer some of the lowest electricity rates in California.
We’re one of the region’s largest employers, with a reputation for attracting, developing and retaining some of the most talented employees around. In addition, SMUD's advancement opportunities are all merit based, fostering a high-performing culture that rewards excellence and productivity.
Position Benefits:
- Strong safety culture
- Service territory doesn't require out of town travel
- 9/80 work schedule
- Opportunities for advancement
Employee Benefits:
- Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- Retirement through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
- 457 and 401 (k) plans available
- Flexible Savings Account
- Employee and Spouse Life Insurance
Purpose
Nature and Scope
Duties and Responsibilities
- Receives a variety of calls from both external and internal customers including commercial and residential customers, developers and contractors, contact center, inspection desk, dispatch, and field personnel.
- Interprets and evaluates calls and contacts appropriate personnel using two-way radios and/or phone lines to address the needs of the caller.
- Dispatch meter and service crews for both emergency and non-emergency work utilizing maps, two-way radios, telephone, pagers, or other workforce planning applications.
- Creates notifications for a variety of SMUD teams, including but not limited to: New Services, Field Metering, Field Services, and Substations; completes all service notifications and subdivision connects when service crews complete work.
- Updates and assigns SAP notifications released by Line Design for meter and service work for overhead and underground commercial and residential services; processes SAP notifications for streetlight and night light installation, removal, and repair.
- Schedules same day disconnect/reconnects and cutovers for rewires and tree trimming requests; schedules after hours billable shutdowns and calculates costs associated with the job; collects monies and follows through to job completion.
- Updates and maintains the subdivision program spreadsheet to include verification of city and county inspections and meter set dates as requested.
- Utilizes communication and customer service skills and sound judgment to determine appropriate actions to be taken to resolve customer requests.
- General knowledge of SMUD rules, rates, regulations, and standards related to providing electric services, programs, and other services.
- Completes and maintains records, including files, forms, call logs and reports, using a personal computer and a variety of software applications.
Required Education
Equivalent to completion of sufficient formal and/or informal education and relevant work experience to provide the necessary knowledge and skills.
Required Experience Qualifications
Knowledge Of
Skills To
Answer phone calls from customers and simultaneously listen to calls on a two-way radio from service crews; make decisions under pressure during emergencies while maintaining tact and diplomacy with customers in distress; exercise independent judgment on actions to be taken and SMUD personnel to be involved; communicate effectively orally and in writing; accurately perform basic mathematical calculations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; use a personal computer and systems relevant to this position; establish and maintain effective work relationships; and maintain statistical reports and files. Ability to assign/reallocate work independently without supervisor direction, such as responding to rest periods or crew availability. Assist customers through SMUD processes by directing them to appropriate contacts. Ability to generate efficient routes using semi automatic or manual routing tools.
Desirable Qualifications
- Dispatch experience
- Resource scheduling experience
- Experience with SAP
- Experience interfacing and supporting both internal and external customers
- Adaptability in communicating and engaging with personnel at all levels of the oganization
- Ability to effectively navigate potentially high stress customer interactions, while providing quality customer service
Physical Requirements
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
On-site
This role will be an on-site role that will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses daily to complete work tasks.