Electrician

Salary: $58,717.51 - $75,591.58 Annually
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01330
Department: Public Utilities
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under general supervision, this position performs complex skilled and technical work in the repair, maintenance and installation of electrical systems, lines, fixtures and equipment in city buildings and facilities. Reports to the Public Utilities Operations Manager.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Performs skilled electrical work for the purpose of maintaining, repairing and ensuring the working condition of electrical systems in city buildings and facilities; uses a variety of tools and equipment to include varied electrical meters, conduit benders, genie boom, drills, saws and hand tools.
Troubleshoots and repairs electrical lighting and distribution and safety components; installs electrical wiring systems in new and renovated structures; performs preventative maintenance and repairs to main switchboards and panel boards; troubleshoots complex electrical problems; estimates electrical needs for new construction, remodeling and repair work; reads and interprets blueprints; determines lay out of electrical systems and prepares diagrams and drawings of electrical system.
Diagnoses and troubleshoots live electrical circuits with or without a blue print or schematic; diagnoses problems and repairs and replaces failed lighting systems as well as the controls and ballast on lighting equipment; runs new circuits for receptacles, wiring and splicing in strings of lighting, testing and retesting lighting for on/off of all facilities.
Receives and completes work orders; determines work to be performed; obtains materials, equipment and supplies and plans sequence of work; prepares work site and sets up needed protective devices; evaluates equipment performance and parts durability and reports findings for consideration in procurement of new equipment; prepares temporary electrical systems for special events; maintains work orders, inventory of spare parts; initiates procurement of replacement supplies and equipment, and makes cost and material estimates.
Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: Considerable knowledge of the principles, methods, codes, materials and equipment employed in electrical work. Has considerable knowledge of maintenance and repair procedures for electrical fixtures and systems. Ability to plan, diagnose, install, maintain and repair electrical fixtures, components and system parts. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to perform medium physical work. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions of time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
High school diploma or the equivalent and 3 - 5 years of experience in the servicing, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A State Journeyman Electrician's License is required. Master Electrician is preferred.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history.
Requires satisfactory results from a pre-employment medical evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing. This position is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and tools to include electrical meters, saws, and hand tools. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read work orders, blue prints, system manuals, electrical code, and simple forms. Requires the ability to prepare electrical diagrams and drawings, work orders, time sheets and leave slips using prescribed format. Requires the ability to communicate effectively in Standard English.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagrammatic or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using Standard English, and electrical terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using electrical equipment and hand tools.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as electrical equipment and hand tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit
01


Please select the highest level of education completed.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates/Vocational/Technical
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher

02


Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

03


Please describe your experience in electrical system repair.
04


Do you have 3-5 years of experience in servicing, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you possess a State Journeyman Electrician's License which is required for this position?

• Yes
• No

06


Are you a Master Electrician (preferred)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question