Equipment Operator I, II, III - Temporary to Regular

About the role

This is a full-time, temporary position lasting no more than one year. The role is assigned to one of the Road & Bridge Districts (Delta, Cedaredge, or Hotchkiss) and involves skilled, semi-skilled, labor, maintenance, and construction work operating light, medium, and heavy equipment to service, build, and maintain Delta County roads and bridges. There are three levels of operation with increasing responsibility and independence.

Levels of operation

• Level I: Applies basic skills while developing specialized skills; performs routine/repetitive tasks with limited decision making; works under close supervision; limited or no experience required (0–5 years).
• Level II: Applies intermediate skills and job knowledge; works on non-routine tasks; resolves issues with minimal supervision; minimum 2 years of experience required.
• Level III: Works on varied/complex tasks; applies full specialized skills; may serve as lead; works under general supervision; minimum 5 years of experience required.

Essential functions

• Operate heavy equipment in servicing, maintaining, building, and cleaning county roads and bridges, including basic equipment maintenance.
• Subject to non-restrictive call-back 24 hours a day for snow plowing, wild-land fires, floods, and other emergency or maintenance occurrences.
• Maintain and comply with safety standards and required maintenance protocols at all times.
• Perform majority (at least 95%) of assigned duties from the designated Delta County office/location.
• Maintain reliable and predictable attendance and punctuality.

General duties

• Operate heavy equipment safely, adequately, and satisfactorily with attention to care, proper usage, and maintenance.
• Clean, repair, and replace culverts; inspect and correct obstructions in culverts and under bridges.
• Repair tire chains, build new crosslinks, and reassemble broken ones.
• Trim or remove trees and brush; perform chipping.
• Inspect and repair roads for gravel, potholes, rocks, fallen trees, limbs, dead animals, and other debris.
• Perform pothole and utility patching.
• Drive water truck for dust control or moisture for compacted fills.
• Drive dump trucks hauling materials to and from job sites.
• Perform preventive maintenance including oil/filter changes, greasing, belts, lights, tires, fluid levels, wiper blades, and other general tasks.
• Repair and replace road signs, markers, reflectors, and warning devices.
• Maintain and clean shop, office, bathroom, inventory, and general facilities.
• Remove snow and sand roads with snowplow/sander truck.
• Drive sweeper for road cleaning.
• Install road striping.
• Install and repair road signage.
• Build or repair fences.
• May train on asphalt equipment.
• Occasionally operate and work at crusher or move equipment.
• Complete time sheets, preventative maintenance forms, safety checklists, and various reports.
• Answer phones, take and relay messages, operate radio.
• Work cooperatively with others showing respect and support.
• Perform other similar and related duties as assigned.

Level III additional duties

• May act as lead operator when foreman and assistant foreman are not available.
• May perform additional administrative or computerized responsibilities.
• Leads others with respect and collaboration to meet project requirements.
• May train other operators on equipment operation, maintenance, and safety protocol.
• May lead safety initiatives, training, auditing, and compliance.

All levels

Should the Board of County Commissioners or other authorized representative issue a local disaster declaration, all employees may be called upon to serve as disaster service workers.

Requirements — Equipment Operator Non-CDL

• Three (3) years progressive experience in safe driving of heavy trucks and operating heavy equipment (graders, backhoes, dozers, loaders, snow plows, dump trucks) desired; OR five (5) years progressive experience in safe driving of heavy trucks and equipment operation of some district equipment routinely used required.
• Hold a Class B CDL with medical card and ability to obtain Class A within 6 months of hire considered with desired experience.

Level I requirements

• Three (3) years progressive experience in safe driving of commercial trucks and operating heavy equipment (graders, backhoes, dozers, loaders, snow plows, dump trucks) desired.

Level II requirements

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in county road and bridge district operations OR significant proven equipment operation.
• Hold and maintain a Class A Colorado CDL with current medical card.
• Satisfactorily, efficiently, and safely operate and maintain: pickup trucks, fork lift, broom tractor, mower tractor, trucks under 26,000 pounds, brush chipper, pot hole patching, crack sealer.
• Satisfactorily, efficiently, and safely operate and maintain at least 4 of the following: Road Grader, Scraper, Backhoe/Excavator, Bull Dozer, Loader, Roller/Compactor, Tractor Trailer, Truck over 36,000 pounds, 4000 Gallon Distributor Truck, demonstrated applied Mechanical Skills, Chip Spreader (assistive or primary), Lay Down Machine, Asphalt Plant (assistive or primary), Screed.
• Demonstrate consistent compliance with safety and maintenance protocols.
• Regularly and routinely meet performance expectations.
• Perform duties with regular accuracy at intermediate level requiring minimal supervision.

Level III requirements

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Delta County Road and Bridge District operations required.
• Hold and maintain a Class A Colorado CDL with current medical card.
• Expertly and safely operate and maintain at least 5 of the following: Road Grader, Scraper, Backhoe/Excavator, Bull Dozer, Loader, Roller/Compactor, Tractor Trailer, Truck over 36,000 pounds, 4000 Gallon Distributor Truck, demonstrated applied Mechanical Skills, Chip Spreader (assistive or primary), Lay Down Machine, Asphalt Plant (assistive or primary), Screed.
• Demonstrate consistent compliance with safety and maintenance protocols with no operator safety issues in previous 2 years.
• Regularly and routinely meet performance expectations.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of equipment, construction regulation, and processes.

Extra duty assignment

Expert operation (requiring two years of training) of the asphalt plant may qualify as an extra duty assignment. Combination of education and experience may waive specific requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance.
• Selective optional insurances available on cost-share basis.
• Life insurance and employee-only medical insurance at no cost.
• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA).
• Employees contribute 4% of salary to 401(a) retirement account fully matched with 4% by the County.
• Optional 457(b) tax-advantaged deferred-compensation retirement plan.
• Paid time off accrued at 14 hours per month to start.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including 6 counseling sessions and legal/financial support.
• Modified work schedules for qualifying positions and employees.
• Additional employee discounts and fringe benefits available.

Physical requirements

• Walk, stand, sit, crawl, kneel, squat, type, use hands to finger/handle/feel objects or tools, reach, talk, listen, hear, read, see, lift, bend, climb in/out of equipment.
• Lifting requirement: 100 pounds.
• Exposure to: sun, wind, dust, rain, mud, snow, ice, cold, heat, high-pressure hoses, solvent, grease, oil, paint, cleaning materials, loud noise, vibration.
• Handling of dangerous equipment: pickup, dump truck, water truck, backhoe, loader, road grader, roller, sweeper, bulldozer, compactor-sheep foot, steel-wheel and pneumatic roller, track hoe, tractor trailer, radio, meters, paint striper, chainsaw, shovel, rake, pick, broom, post driver, hammer, hand tools, hydraulic & pneumatic tools, grinding wheel. (Operator skill level not required for all equipment.)
• Risk of assault or injury from highway safety conditions and heavy equipment hazards — minimized through good operating practices.
• Other hazardous conditions: blizzards, floods, fires.