Distribution Design Technician Trainee

The Distribution Design Technician Trainee program involves on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring, and is designed
to translate your knowledge into practical experience. The program includes orientation training in the Lower Mainland and
formal training courses.

This is a three (3) year on-the-job training program where the successful candidate will be trained to become a Distribution
Design Technician who:

• Provides design delivery and cost estimation services for BC Hydro and customer driven Distribution projects and

programs from project initiation to completion including project coordination and construction support, internal and external
customer and other stakeholder management, and conducting field work.

• Performs extension, improvement, alteration, removal, and end of life design work for BC Hydro and customer driven

Distribution projects and programs related to: single and three phase overhead, civil, and underground primary equipment
and asset work (including automated equipment); and all types of single and three phase overhead, civil, and underground
secondary and service work up to and including 1600A services (excluding primary services, feeder civil and feeder
underground electrical work).

Major Responsibilities and Duties
Upon completion of the training program successful applicants will be able to:

• Perform extension, improvement, alteration, removal, and end of life design work for BC Hydro and customer driven

Distribution projects and programs related to:
a. Single and three phase overhead, civil, and underground primary equipment and asset work (including automated
equipment).
b. All types of single and three phase overhead, civil, and underground secondary and service work up to and including
1600A services (excluding primary services, feeder civil and feeder underground electrical work).

• Conduct field studies for a variety of distribution projects.
• Liaise with internal and external customers and stakeholders requiring or impacted by design services.
• May support and act as a subject matter expert related to the Design Technician role and area of expertise.
• Be responsible for the portfolio management and coordination of assigned design projects.
• Ensure designs meet appropriate regulatory and stakeholder requirements and construction standards. Engage with

appropriate resources (such as Engineers or construction crews) to validate design constructability and the impact on future
operation and maintenance, as required. Address and document known safety risks prior to construction.

• Perform some or all the duties of lower-level Distribution Design jobs.

Through the three (3) year Distribution Design Technician Trainee program, the successful applicant will progress from
lower complexity and high volume projects to higher complexity and lower volume projects. The high volume, low
complexity projects will develop customer communication and project management skills. During this program the
successful applicant will develop intermediate working knowledge of:

• BC Hydro Distribution Standards (overhead, underground, civil and revenue metering).
• Distribution Instructions (DIs), BC Hydro ’s Electric Tariff, and electrical code.
• Regulatory considerations and permitting (pipelines, navigable waters, railways, etc.).
• Environmental and Indigenous (including First Nations engagement requirements) considerations, impacts and

regulations.

• The Joint Ownership and Use Agreement and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) Protocol

Agreement.

• When to engage with Engineering to meet professional practice regulations.
• Field safety requirements and specifications (Power Systems Safety Protection (PSSP), Safety Practice Regulations

(SPRs), etc.) including the usage of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc.

• Design and work issuing processes and systems, drafting, Geographic Information System (GIS) and design engineering

software.

• Drafting fundamentals and surveying, including associated tools, and the ability to read legal, construction and

architectural plans.

• Project management techniques.
• Transmission Engineering engagement requirements when working on or around existing or proposed transmission

assets.

• Property rights and the process for negotiating and establishing statutory rights-of-way for distribution assets.
• BC Hydro’s procurement processes.
• BC Hydro rate schedules and customer billing processes.

The successful candidate must have the following qualifications and attributes:

• High school Diploma with Math 12, English 12 and Physics 11(or equivalents); plus, completion of Electrical Utility

Fundamentals (or equivalent); a BC Electrical Code course (or equivalent); and accredited course(s) in DC and AC
electrical theory; OR

• Degree, Diploma, or Certificate in Electrical Engineering Technology (or an equivalent electrical discipline) from a

recognized Canadian Educational Institute; OR

• International Electrical or Canadian Non-Electrical Degree, Diploma or Certificate with an electrical Technician

accreditation through a provincial regulatory or governing body such as Certified Technician (CTech) through ASTTBC.

• Must hold a valid class five (5) driver's license.

• Must be eligible and able to work in Canada.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good ability to use Microsoft Office applications (such as Outlook, Word, SharePoint and Excel).
• Good organizational skills.
• Good customer service skills with the ability to support customers’ needs and requests.

Future
You will be exposed to challenging assignments and be trained to the highest standards. These experiences will lead you
into a Distribution Design Technician position at the end of your training period.

Location
Please note the hiring locations of these positions will be in one of these Distribution Design headquarters: Victoria,
Kamloops, Cranbrook, or Prince George.

Working Conditions

• Approximately 40% of the work is performed outside of the office with occasional overnight travel.
• Frequently works at construction sites.
• Regularly works at remote work locations including walking over rough terrain.
• Occasional exposure to wild animals, dogs, and other job site hazards during field work.
• Occasional exposure to irate customers.
• Occasional requirement to carry tools (such as stakes and hammers) and survey equipment of light weight.
• Regular exposure to all types of weather conditions when driving to job sites and during field work.
• May be required to travel in light aircraft and helicopters, boats or all -terrain vehicles.
• May be required to remotely support design work throughout the province.
  

Benefits
Besides having an exciting, varied and challenging career, you are paid while you learn and receive an excellent pay and
benefit package. You are also eligible for three weeks of vacation, the equivalent of 17 additional days off, medical and
dental plans, pension plan, Group RRSP and others.

Orientation Training
There will be a firm start date for this position in early June 2024 with an approximately 1-2 weeks Orientation at the Trades
Training Centre (TTC) in Surrey.

• Please note that this position will be posted concurrently, internally and externally.

• As part of the selection process, applicants may be required to take a written test during the interview.

• A condition of employment for this job is that you maintain the following requirements in good standing: Driver's License

Type = Class 5.

ONLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS CAN BE CONSIDERED. THIS INCLUDES: RESUME, COVER LETTER, ACADEMIC
TRANSCRIPTS, DRIVER'S ABSTRACT. INCOMPLETE AND LATE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED.

There will be up to 5 positions available.

Please be advised that this role has been assessed as safety sensitive and pre-qualification alcohol and drug testing will be
required as a pre-condition to employment.

Location: British Columbia, Canada