That was the first time in more than thirty years as a job holder that Coleman had heard such words

That was the first time in more than thirty years as后是从句 a job holder 之后是定语从句that Coleman had heard such words.
我乐意 为你解答

that was the first time Coleman had heard such words是主干
in more than thirty years as a job holder是修饰

工作30多年了Coleman还是头一次听说这些话

Coleman 已经做了超过30年的公务员，这还是他第一次听到这样的话
这是一个定语从句 后一句是主句 Coleman听到了这样的话 前面的从句是修饰Coleman的 从后往前分别是 作为一个公务员 而且已经超过三十年 这是第一次
完整的翻译就如上面所译

科尔曼[Coleman ]已经做了超过30年的公务员，这还是他第一次听到这样的话
这是一个定语从句 后一句是主句 Coleman听到了这样的话,前面的从句是修饰Coleman的.