What are the responsibilities and job description for the Customer Service Specialist- Bilingual (Spanish) position at Emerald Coast Utilities Authority?
Salary : $35,755.20 - $59,009.60 Annually
Location : FL 32514, FL
Job Type : Full Time
Job Number : 1318
Department : Customer Service (1301)
Opening Date : 01 / 14 / 2025
Responsibilities / Pay Grade
- THIS POSITION PROVIDES SERVICES TO SPANISH SPEAKING CLIENTS; THEREFORE, FLUENT BILINGUAL SPANISH / ENGLISH SKILLS REQUIRED.
JOB SUMMARY : H104
Provides technical assistance and information to customers with specific utility problems, either in person or by telephone. Employees at this level engage in a wide range of public service contacts regarding account inquiries, utility service, various service rates, policies, and procedures. Employees assigned to this class may be assigned to the call center handling telephone inquiries, the lobby center assisting walk-in customers, the collections section or the research section. The work requires extreme tact and courtesy in handling customers and independent judgment is required to make moderately complex decisions. Work is generally performed independently and requires frequent decision-making within established policies and procedures.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :
Responds to incoming calls and visits from residential and commercial customers inquiring about status of accounts, account balances, past due amounts, delinquent accounts, balances from previous accounts, payment extensions, payment arrangements, high consumption, and other account inquiries.
Prepares delinquent / shut-off listing including deduction of depository, provides account status via radio contact with field technicians for customers with updated payments, and verifies shut-off listing to ensure payments have not been received.
Updates the account status into a computer terminal, entering any changes, arrangements, payments, etc.
Investigates accounts when charitable agencies make inquiries for payment purposes, makes required arrangements on these accounts for agencies guaranteed payments, makes account adjustments for customers for misread meters, leaks, etc, and processes payment transfers and payment corrections, when applicable.
Evaluates and researches account inquiries and transfers or terminates service at customers request after proper verification.
Quotes fees for water and sewer service, water taps, sewer taps, sewer and water impact fees, and commercial and residential sanitation collection fees.
Calculates fees for sewer and water rates; sets up new customers; closes out accounts; and issues work orders.
Establishes and processes new accounts and reinstates disconnected service to accounts.
Issues work orders for initial and final reads, re-reads, crossed meters, and meter flow tests.
Establishes customer service for sanitation collection and explains rules, regulations, and procedures.
Issues work orders for special trash pick up quoting additional charges for service.
Prepares a variety of correspondence, upon customers' inquiries, i.e., name change, deposit relinquish, final balances, re-reads, account printouts, sanitation variances, and senior citizens discounts; completes a variety of customer contracts.
Maintains a high level of organizational skills in order to work efficiently in a fast paced and constantly changing environment.
Uses multi-tasking skills throughout the day to take care of customers and maintain ECUA processes.
All other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent. (Educational documentation will be required upon offer of employment.)
Speak, understand, read, and write a second language fluently (as specified, other than English).
A minimum of two years of experience in a customer service role in a formal customer service call center
Experience must include high volume customer contact while obtaining pertinent information AND analyzing information to define the problem or situation AND independently decide on the correct action to resolve the problem AND implement problem resolution.
Must have moderate level of proficiency using a computer to perform daily job functions. Experience using the AS400 is preferred.
Experience with a utility provider is desired.
Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Testing will be administered to assess computer and customer service skills.
Testing scores will be a contributing factor for selection.
Employment offers to all new hires are contingent upon the job candidates successfully passing background, motor vehicle and reference checks, nicotine screening, drug screening, and post job offer physicals (that may include pulmonary testing). Offers of transfers or promotion to current ECUA employees are not subject to nicotine screening. All applicants are subject to physical assessments as required by job.
Physical Requirements / Working Environment
Work in a high volume / stressful environment.
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time, move about in a typical office setting, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to work in a typical office setting, use standard office equipment, read printed material and a computer screen, and communicate in person and over the telephone.
The incumbent's working conditions are typically moderately quiet.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities / Supplemental Information
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED :
Standard Office Equipment, Computer and Peripheral Equipment, Microfiche Machine
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of :
Standard office practices, procedures, and equipment
Basic principles and practices of clerical accounting, billing, collections, and adjustments
Assisting customers courteously and diplomatically
Record keeping practices and procedures
Posting payments to accounts and performing mathematical computations with speed and accuracy
Skill in :
Verbal and written communication
Problem Solving
Multi-tasking
Dealing courteously and diplomatically with the general public
Making mathematical calculations
Expressing oneself clearly and concisely with particular skill in telephone communication
Typing and operating a computer keyboard
Performing a variety of tasks daily - using various computer programs and functions
Maintaining a high level of organization throughout the day
Abilities :
Listen to customer problems, extract relevant information, research and gather pertinent information, determine proper course of action within established policy and procedure and implement problem resolution
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers. Accurately compute fractions and percentages
Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations
ECUA offers competitive benefit choices for full-time employees and their dependents.
Benefits include, but are not limited to :
What is the highest level of education you have completed? (Educational documentation and / or military records showing coursework or training will be requested upon offer of employment.)
How many years experience do you have in a customer service role of a formal, high volume customer service / call center?
Are you able to read, write and speak Spanish? Applicants will be required to pass both written and verbal skills assessments.
A "call center" is a central office staffed by agents dedicated to handling large volumes of customer contacts by telephone. Call centers generally focus on processing incoming calls, but may handle outgoing calls, as well. Working at a "call center" as defined, is a minimum requirement of this position. Your application will not be considered for processing if you do not have specific "call center" experience. Do you understand this requirement?
Please provide the name of the calls centers where you've worked and your job title(s); and dates of employment while working at each call center.
Do you have experience in a customer service role with a utility company? If so, how many years of experience do you have?
In your "call center" experience, did you receive customer calls, analyze information, define problems or situations AND independently decide on the correct action to resolve problems AND implement resolutions?
What is your level of experience using computers?
How many years experience using an AS400 work order system have you documented on your application?
Required Question
Salary : $35,755 - $59,010