Purpose of Position

The Joint Use Pole Specialist is a hybrid role responsible for managing pole attachment requests, conducting field inspections, performing staking for joint use and make-ready projects, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards. This position plays a critical role in improving mapping data quality, coordinating with contractors and communications providers, and supporting broadband expansion in Spokane’s urban and rural service areas. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise, field experience, and strong communication skills to streamline joint use processes and enhance operational efficiency.

Core Competencies

1. Quality Work: Produce thorough, high-quality work with minimal errors. Seek feedback, make corrections as needed. Identify problems and solve them. Strive to improve processes. Work collaboratively with co-workers to implement systematic changes.
2. Productivity: Complete assigned work in a timely fashion. Utilize slow periods productively. Produce amount and volume at expected speed.
3. Technical Skills/Job Knowledge: Demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of technical skills in area of expertise, technology, products, and/or processes involved. Duly perform assigned duties. Keep current on federal, state and local regulatory changes and be competent with all technology necessary to perform job.
4. Communication: Clearly convey oral and written communication. Keep others informed of activities and problems in timely manner. Listen well; respond appropriately and respectfully.
5. Teamwork/Ability to Work with Others: Demonstrate the ability to work in a positive manner with co-workers and/or members with differing backgrounds, opinions, capabilities, etc. Willingly share skills, competencies, and knowledge with others. Establish and maintain strong, effective working relationships. Contribute effectively to group efforts. Promote harmony; agree to disagree without damaging relationships.
6. Accountability: Maintain excellent attendance and provide additional assistance after normal working hours when needed. Be reliable, prepared and accept responsibility for work and actions.
7. Integrity: Demonstrate honesty, high ethical standards, and respect for all co-workers and membership.
8. Professionalism: Address internal and external members with courtesy and respect. Dress in work attire appropriate to the position. Communicate business information in a timely fashion, using means of communication appropriate to the situation.
9. Support of Cooperative Goals: Support cooperative goals and adhere to all policies and procedures. Contribute effectively in support of the cooperative.
10. Problem-Solving: Use sound logic and methodology to solve problems. Explore multiple sources for answers, as required. Be able to identify hidden problems and propose solutions.

Job Responsibilities

1. Joint Use Management & Stake Coordination

• Act as the primary point of contact for all new joint use (communications) attachment requests, ensuring compliance with NESC, WSDOT, and cooperative safety protocols.
• Collect necessary information to initiate service orders and coordinate with staking engineers or independently design and stake joint use projects as needed.
• Evaluate pole loading capacity (e.g., via Calc Pro), identify structural or clearance issues, and coordinate make-ready work, including pole replacements or height adjustments.
• Conduct post-construction inspections to verify compliance, issue correction notices for violations, and track resolution or enforcement actions, including fines.
• Perform annual reviews of low-use or abandoned communications lines, follow up for removal, and maintain accurate field records.

2. Contract & Account Oversight

• Manage joint use contracts, communicating price changes, processing renewals, and ensuring vendor compliance.
• Set up and maintain service accounts for attachers, including billing for applications, make-ready work, inspections, and ongoing pole rents.
• Maintain detailed records of agreements, project statuses, communications, and billing within internal systems and GIS platforms.
• Ensure notifications required by county code are sent to attachers when poles are moved or abandoned

3. GIS & Data Management

• Collaborate with the GIS Administrator to maintain accurate joint use mapping and pole inventories.
• Integrate data from audits, applications, and field inspections into the GIS system to ensure real-time accuracy.
• Embed vendor and emergency contact information into GIS layers to support planning and emergency response.

4. Contractor, Vendor & Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate directly with one-touch contractors, communication providers, and government agencies (e.g., municipalities, WSDOT) to streamline permitting and construction.
• Support the development of regional contractor models and partnerships to enhance scalability and reduce project delays.
• Provide timely follow-up and maintain strong relationships with attachers and stakeholders to ensure customer service excellence.

5. Compliance & Process Optimization

• Ensure all joint use activities follow applicable safety and regulatory standards, including OSHA, NESC, and cooperative policies.
• Participate in ongoing safety and compliance training.
• Assist with the development and implementation of standardized processes, checklists, templates, and tools to improve efficiency and reduce administrative overhead.

6. Continuous Improvement & Special Projects

• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, enhance service quality, and support scalable growth of joint use operations.
• Assist in long-term planning efforts by providing insight into pole usage trends, data quality gaps, and emerging needs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of engineering, operations, and strategic initiatives.

7. Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualifications & Job Requirements

1. Education & Experience:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Surveying, or related field OR equivalent experience in utility field operations.
• Minimum of 3 years in staking, electric utility operations, or joint use program coordination.
• Familiarity with pole loading analysis tools and REA/RUS standards preferred.

2. Skills & Tools:

• Proficient in GIS systems, AutoCAD, pole loading software, and field surveying equipment (GPS, total stations).
• Skilled in contract tracking, customer service, and data management.
• Ability to interpret and apply NESC codes, perform pole loading assessments, and design make-ready construction plans.
• Strong written/verbal communication and project follow-up skills.

3. Certifications (preferred or willing to obtain):

• OSHA 10/30
• NESC safety training
• Washington State flagger or other utility field safety certifications

4. Other Requirements:

• Valid WA driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather and terrain.
• Availability for after-hours fieldwork or emergency coordination.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Regular fieldwork, including walking, climbing, kneeling, and navigating uneven terrain.
• Office tasks related to data entry, billing, and GIS collaboration.
• Combination of indoor and outdoor work environments, with exposure to weather and rural infrastructure.

APPLICATION PROCESS

If your credentials and interest match this job, please send your completed application, cover letter and resume to: hr@inlandpower.com or mail them to, Inland Power & Light Company, 10110 W. Hallett Rd., Spokane WA 99224-7435, Attn: Human Resources.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ADA
Inland Power & Light is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.

EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers (www.inlandpower.com/careers) page in English and Spanish.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Inland Power will provide reasonable accommodation to assist a qualified person with a disability in the job application, interview process and to perform the essential functions of the job whenever possible. Please contact the HR department at Inland Power if you would like assistance.

DISCLAIMER
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

Inland Power & Light will not be offering any work visa sponsorship for this role.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-I.35(c)

BENEFITS

Medical, vision, dental, 401(k), HSA/HRA, retirement plan, PTO, EAP, paid holidays, and disability insurance programs.

About Inland Power & Light

About Inland Power & Light Inland Power and Light is a nonprofit electric cooperative providing affordable, safe and reliable electricity to over 40,000 member-owners in 13 counties throughout eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Founded in 1937, Inland Power is the largest electric cooperative in Washington. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT Inland Power and Light is committed to equal employment opportunity for all. Just as our commitment to quality motivates us to go the extra mile, we cooperate with the civil rights agencies in government in an effort to ensure equal opportunity in employment through an Affirmative Action Plan. To assure full implementation of this equal employment policy, we will take steps to assure that persons are recruited, hired, assigned and promoted without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age, disability or any other classification protected by nondiscrimination law.

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