Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Junction Specialist Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Junction Specialist Assistant provides on-the-ground and office-based support to junction specialists, operations leads, and maintenance crews. This hybrid role combines scheduling and administrative coordination with hands-on field assistance: performing inspections, logging service activity, preparing and closing work orders, managing spare parts and inventory, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, and communicating with internal stakeholders and external vendors. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, safety-focused, technically curious, and strong at translating field observations into actionable maintenance actions and data entries.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Technician / Maintenance Technician
Administrative Coordinator in Operations or Facilities
Junior Traffic or Rail Operations Assistant

Advancement To:

Junction Specialist / Senior Junction Technician
Operations Coordinator / Shift Supervisor
Preventive Maintenance Planner / Field Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Logistics Coordinator
Safety Compliance Assistant
Asset Management Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate daily junction maintenance and inspection schedules by working closely with the Junction Specialist and operations supervisor, ensuring all field jobs are assigned, tracked, and completed on time while minimizing disruption to service.
Assist in performing visual and functional inspections of junction components (e.g., switches, signals, cable junctions, conduit connections) and document inspection outcomes in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) with clear, audit-ready notes and photos.
Execute preventive maintenance tasks under the direction of senior staff, including cleaning, lubrication, tightening, and basic component replacement to extend asset life and reduce unplanned outages.
Prepare, update, and close work orders in the CMMS; prioritize requests based on safety risk, operational impact, and SLA requirements, and escalate complex issues to the Junction Specialist.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date inventory records for junction spares and consumables (connectors, seals, fasteners, fuses), perform cycle counts, and initiate purchase requisitions when stock levels reach reorder thresholds.
Provide first-line troubleshooting support for common junction failures, performing diagnostic tests with handheld meters and test tools, isolating faults, and recommending corrective action or escalation.
Serve as the operational liaison between field crews, control center/dispatch, and vendor service teams to coordinate access permission, site safety briefings, and handovers for planned maintenance or emergency repairs.
Assist with on-site safety compliance by enforcing PPE requirements, conducting toolbox talks, and documenting job hazard analyses (JHAs); report hazards and near-misses immediately to the safety lead.
Capture and upload field data, photographs, and geo-located evidence to asset management systems or GIS platforms to support mapping, lifecycle analysis, and capital planning efforts.
Support commissioning activities by checking junction connections, verifying signal integrity, and confirming correct labeling and documentation of circuits and terminals before systems are returned to service.
Prepare daily and weekly operational reports that summarize completed inspections, outstanding defects, parts usage, and resource needs, delivering clear status updates to supervisors and stakeholders.
Assist with service outage planning and restoration efforts during incidents by coordinating crew assignments, sourcing replacement parts, and maintaining accurate outage logs for post-incident reviews.
Maintain and calibrate basic field test equipment (e.g., multimeters, insulation testers) and ensure toolkits and safety equipment are stocked, inspected, and compliant with company standards.
Support quality assurance by performing independent post-repair checks, verifying that work was completed to specifications and that corrective actions resolved the root cause of failures.
Implement and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for routine junction tasks based on observed best practices and feedback from technicians.
Coordinate vendor and contractor access for specialized junction repair or installation tasks, ensuring contracts, permits, and safety documentation are in place prior to work commencement.
Assist in small-scale installations and retrofits (e.g., connector upgrades, protective housings) by preparing materials lists, staging equipment, and ensuring installations meet engineering drawings and local codes.
Track and log maintenance expenditures and parts costs related to junction activities to support budgeting and cost control initiatives.
Participate in scheduled audits and regulatory inspections by preparing required documentation, demonstrating maintenance practices, and implementing corrective actions for audit findings.
Support training efforts by onboarding new technicians, demonstrating common junction tasks, and maintaining training records and competency checklists for the team.
Maintain effective records of all permits, isolation certificates, and safety approvals required for field work and ensure these documents are filed and retrievable for audits.
Assist engineering teams by collecting field measurements, taking photographs, and providing contextual notes that inform design changes or capital improvement projects.
Provide customer-facing support when required, responding to inquiries about maintenance windows, access requirements, and service restoration timelines with professionalism and timely updates.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting process improvements, participating in root-cause analyses, and implementing small pilot fixes under guidance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with procurement administration for tools and spare parts, tracking purchase orders and supplier lead times.
Help maintain a knowledge base of recurring faults, repair methods, and vendor contacts to speed up incident resolution.
Aid in developing emergency response playbooks and updating contact trees for rapid mobilization during critical junction failures.
Support asset tagging and RFID/barcode labeling projects to improve traceability and maintenance history lookups.
Help compile KPI dashboards for junction availability, MTTR (mean time to repair), and backlog to inform management decisions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) such as Maximo, Oracle, SAP PM, or equivalent for creating and closing work orders, logging parts usage, and generating reports.
Fundamental electrical and mechanical knowledge relevant to junctions: understanding of connectors, cable splicing, grounding, basic circuitry, and mechanical fastening techniques.
Hands-on experience with field diagnostic tools: digital multimeters, insulation resistance testers, continuity testers, torque wrenches, and battery-powered hand tools.
Basic familiarity with GIS and asset mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) or the ability to capture geo-referenced photos and upload them to mapping systems.
Competence in reading and following technical drawings, wiring diagrams, schematic layouts, and installation manuals.
Inventory management skills including parts reconciliation, cycle counting, reorder point calculation, and purchase requisition initiation.
Experience in documenting maintenance activities and producing clear, searchable notes and photographic evidence for audits and engineering review.
Knowledge of safety systems and regulations relevant to field operations: lockout/tagout (LOTO), permit-to-work processes, confined space awareness, and PPE standards.
Basic IT and mobile device proficiency: using tablets/phones to access and update work orders, take photos, and sync with cloud-based asset systems.
Ability to perform and document basic quality checks and functional tests post-repair to validate work before closure.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with field crews, engineers, vendors, and customers.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to produce audit-ready documentation.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to triage issues and recommend appropriate escalations.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks in a dynamic, interrupt-driven environment.
Team-player attitude and flexibility to support shift work, on-call rotations, and emergency response activities.
Customer-service orientation when interacting with internal stakeholders and affected customers.
Adaptability and willingness to learn new tools, procedures, and evolving technical standards.
Professionalism under pressure with the ability to remain calm and methodical during outages or safety incidents.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with graduate-level vocational training or relevant certifications (e.g., electrical safety, basic mechanical trade certificate).

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or related field.
Relevant industry certifications (e.g., NCCER, OSHA 10/30, CompEx, or equivalent).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Technology / Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Technology / Industrial Maintenance
Asset Management / Facilities Management
Logistics or Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–4 years of combined field maintenance, facilities, or operational support experience; or equivalent vocational training plus relevant internships.

Preferred:

3–5+ years supporting junctions, signal systems, utilities, or similar infrastructure; experience with CMMS and field diagnostics; demonstrated experience with safety programs and incident documentation.