Stream to add 250 call center positions

Stream Global Services in Watertown has a new client and will add more than 250 jobs.

The client, a U.S.-based health care benefits company, will use Stream for Medicare enrollment support.

"We are extremely excited about our newest client being added in the Watertown site," Stream Chairman and Chief Executive Officer R. Scott Murray said in a news release. "Building on the world-class support team that currently exists in Watertown, Stream will be building an exceptional team of health care support individuals."

Stream's call center in Watertown will have more than 600 employees. Stream will provide the training for a state insurance license necessary to work for this client. All positions are temporary and are subject to completing the state certification process, the Stream release said.

Watertown's call center is one of 50 locations Stream has in 22 countries. Its clients are in technology, computing, telecommunications, retail, entertainment and media, and financial services sectors.

At Thursday morning's Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency meeting, the board approved spending up to $35,000 from the capital account to enclose a portion of Stream's offices.

"It will be secure, separate from the rest of the other contracts at Stream," said William J. Soluri, site manager for the properties the agency controls.

The agency owns the property for the call center at 146 Arsenal St. and leases it to Stream. The company sets aside money in a capital reserve fund for building improvements, which the agency approves.

"Is the capital reserve fund intended for that or for items like the roof?" board member John Doldo Jr. asked.

JCIDA Chief Executive Officer Donald C. Alexander said, "We're accommodating them. It's a long-term arrangement that shows a change in their business structure."

The client's needs require more skill and technology than typical at Stream up to now, he said.

"These accommodations become habitual if we're not careful," Mr. Doldo said.