Heavy Equipment Operator

GENERAL PURPOSE: Operates heavy equipment and performs special duties as assigned. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Receives direct supervision from the Supervisor Solid Waste - Operations. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Operates heavy equipment by operating the front end loader, yard mule, backhoe, skid steer and crane. Performs special duties as assigned by cleaning the facility, cleaning trash cans, delivering dumpsters, training new employees and maintaining facility grounds. Performs routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment. Performs labor duties when not operating collection equipment. The employee must have the ability to work well with others and have a good/pleasant attitude. Performs other essential duties as required to achieve successful operations of the department. Ability to effectively communicate and work with citizens who may have complaints on services provided. Must be able to follow directions. Regular and timely attendance is an essential job function. PERIPHERAL DUTIES: May serve as a member of various employee committees. Other Duties as assigned. REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or GED equivalent required. Three (3) to six (6) months related experience or training in heavy equipment operations; or equivalent combination of education and experience. CDL Class B or higher certification preferred by the date of hire. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Operate front end loader, yard mule, backhoe, skid steer and crane; experience on 2 or more of the equipment named. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of applicable policies, laws, and regulations affecting solid waste activities; Knowledge of city geography and street layout; Skilled in driving/operation of heavy motorized and light equipment in accordance with safety procedures and laws; Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions; Ability to operate light equipment, power and hand tools; Ability to read and understand written/oral instructions; Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations; Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; Ability to write simple correspondence and complete reports as required; Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization; Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED: Personal computer including Microsoft Office software; heavy and light equipment; telephone; calculator; radio; fax and copy machine. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; taste and smell. Hand-eye-foot coordination in the manipulation of lever/pedals is necessary to operate light and heavy equipment. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions, works near moving mechanical parts and vibrations. The employee regularly works in precarious places and can be exposed to wet and/or humid, extreme cold, extreme heat conditions, fumes or airborne particles. SELECTION GUIDELINES: Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview, reference check, job related tests may be required, DOT pre-employment physical, pre-employment and random drug tests. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. No one will perform the duties of a higher position without prior authorization from an individual authorized to approve. The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.