AT&T to add 100 employees to DirectTV call center in Missoula

By Martin Kidston

The new owner of DirectTV is looking to add 100 new employees to its Missoula-based call center, and plans to complete the hiring process this year.

AT&T, which purchased DirectTV last year, announced its intentions this week.

“With our growing business needs and continued investment in the state, Missoula was the logical choice,” said Suzanne Trantow with AT&T corporate communications. “That's where our needs are.”

AT&T currently employs 780 people throughout Montana and has hired more than 80 individuals this year. Roughly 60 of those new positions are based in Missoula.

The company declined to state is total Missoula workforce.

“At AT&T, we’re investing in our Montana team to make sure we are providing our customers with the high-level of service they have come to expect,” said Tara Thue, director of external affairs with AT&T-Montana. “These are good jobs with wages and benefits that are among the best in the nation.”

Trantow said the company will work to fill the new positions over the next few months. She declined to provide the median wage, saying instead it was “very competitive.”

According the job listing, the positions include paid holiday and sick time, 70 percent of medical, dental and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, a retirement plan and career investment.

Employees also receive free DirectTV services.

Once hired, the new employees will go through a 7-week training program.

“Ongoing training is a core piece of AT&T’s culture that promotes not only industry knowledge, but also career development for AT&T employees,” said Trantow. “They're customer service representatives, and they'll support our DirectTV service.”

AT&T purchased DirectTV last summer for $48.5 billion, a move that reportedly boosted the telecom company's customer base. AT&T now claims to be the world's largest provider of pay TV with customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries.