Equipment Operator I - Highways

Full-time, permanent, safety-sensitive positions in the Department of Public Works, Highways Division. Primary duties involve operating medium-sized construction vehicles and equipment and performing laborer work in highway maintenance. Employees must be available for hours outside the normal workweek and for emergency call-outs.

About the role

Employees operate a variety of construction equipment — including dump trucks, tractor mowers, boom mowers, front-end loaders, rollers, street sweepers, belt loaders, chain saws, wood chippers, stump grinders, skid steer loaders, rubber-tire backhoes, air compressors, jackhammers, and forklifts — and perform laborer tasks in support of a maintenance crew. Work involves considerable physical effort: lifting and moving heavy materials, standing or walking for long periods, repeated bending, crawling, or stretching. Conditions are dirty, noisy, dusty, and may involve disagreeable odors; hazards require hard hats, safety shoes, and glasses. Work is frequently performed in adverse weather for extended periods. Some positions require considerable public contact, demanding courtesy and patience when explaining County practices and policies. The employee may serve as a working leader, coordinating crew workflow and ensuring projects are completed properly and on schedule. Work is reviewed and evaluated by a supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Operate dump trucks, utility trailers, tractor mowers, boom mowers, front-end loaders, rollers, street sweepers, belt loaders, chain saws, wood chippers, stump grinders, skid steer loaders, rubber-tire backhoes, air compressors, jackhammers, and other construction equipment for road maintenance tasks.
• Drive and operate construction vehicles and equipment at work locations; perform laborer tasks as required.
• Serve as a working leader coordinating workflow and performance of a maintenance crew at a job site.
• Drive dump trucks during snow removal operations and provide other support as needed.
• Construct forms, mix and finish concrete.
• Plant, prune, and trim shrubs and trees.
• Work in confined spaces to clean storm drains and ditches.
• Load and unload materials, equipment, and tools by hand or using forklift or front-end loader.
• Perform preventive maintenance on vehicles, tools, and equipment.
• Control traffic flow as a flag person or using traffic control devices.
• Shovel, rake, tamp, and even hot-mix asphalt.
• Clean and repair clogged storm drains and drainage ditches using shovels and rakes.
• Fill road depressions with slag, gravel, stone, or cold-mix asphalt.
• Dig and backfill holes and trenches with manual and automatic digging tools.
• Clean debris and repair inlets and pipe culverts.
• Remove roadside litter and debris.
• Respond to work emergencies and call-outs after normal work hours.
• Monitor small crews of community service workers, inmates, or temporary laborers performing general cleaning and maintenance tasks.
• Inspect, service, and maintain equipment; assist mechanics with equipment repairs.
• File and maintain reports and inspection sheets such as daily driver operation logs and material manifests.
• Operate backhoes and rubber-tire loaders to load and unload materials.
• Operate forklifts to load and unload materials from vehicles and in a warehouse.
• Clean facilities, equipment, buildings, and grounds.
• Shovel snow, mow grass, and plant flowers and shrubbery.
• Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Knowledge of operating characteristics and servicing requirements of heavy to light automotive equipment and power tools.
• Knowledge of construction practices for maintaining roads, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, storm drains, and setting grade stakes.
• Knowledge of work hazards and applicable safety precautions for operating automotive equipment and power tools.
• Knowledge of applicable traffic laws, ordinances, and regulations for equipment operation.
• Knowledge of the primary and secondary road system in Anne Arundel County.
• Skill in operating and maintaining automotive equipment and power tools.
• Ability to operate a rubber-tire front-end loader, dump truck, backhoe, paver, tractor mower, and boom mower.
• Ability to read and follow street map directions.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to stand or walk over rough terrain for long periods.
• Ability to work in close areas requiring considerable bending, crouching, stretching, or crawling.
• Ability to climb ladders or scaffolding.
• Ability to lift heavy objects and bulky items.
• Ability to work in dirty, noisy, dusty conditions with disagreeable odors.
• Ability to safely operate dangerous hand and power tools.
• Ability to work hours beyond the standard workweek and schedule as required.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with other employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and employees.

Minimum qualifications

• Education: Sufficient education to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Experience: One (1) or more years of experience in the operation of light-to-medium-duty automotive and related equipment.
• Additional requirements: A valid commercial Class B motor vehicle operator's license.

Supplemental qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants with the following experience:

• Experience operating a rubber-tire loader.
• Experience operating a dump truck with a trailer.

Additional information

• This position is safety-sensitive; employees are subject to Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) and alcohol testing.
• Longevity pay is available based on years of service.
• The most highly qualified candidates will be invited to an equipment operation skills test, which includes operating a rubber-tire loader and a dump truck with a trailer, and identifying dump truck slack adjusters that are out of specification.