Equipment Operator I (Pit Operations)

About the role

Operates and maintains rollers, dump trucks, rough loaders, and rough dozer; assists in the construction and repair of county roads, culverts, and/or bridges; performs various work with hand tools; and occasionally operates other light and heavy equipment. Performs moderately complex (journey level) transportation operations or maintenance support work.

Responsibilities

• Drives and operates light and heavy equipment, including track and pneumatic tire excavation equipment, loaders, asphalt paving machines, backhoes and dozers, motor graders, steel drum, and pneumatic tire compaction machines, and other equipment.
• Performs traffic control at the job site to ensure a safe working environment.
• Places and gathers traffic control signs and barricades within construction work zones and directs traffic.
• Performs various additional general labor tasks associated with assigned construction and maintenance projects as required.
• Maintains an accurate daily record of team performance, including timekeeping, materials utilized, equipment deployed, and other job-related job site issues.
• Operates heavy equipment under immediate supervision for emergency relief or training purposes as assigned.
• Removes trash, erects barricades, installs culverts, repairs, erects signs and guard rails, places hot or cold asphalt mix, repairs driveway approaches.
• Replaces and repairs signs and signposts, including welding and cutting signs and metals as needed.
• Performs work with hand tools, including digging trenches, filling excavations, mixing concrete, cutting down trees, brush, and removing driftwood and debris from culverts.
• Responsible for pre- and post-vehicle/equipment inspections to ensure quality and safety.
• Drives tractor-trailer truck, water truck, oil truck, pickup truck, or other truck hauling materials to construction or repair sites.
• Occasionally operates other heavy and light equipment, including rotary broom, patch truck, patching machine, combination water truck, backhoe, rough carpenter, tractor shredder, pneumatic roller, tractor mower, vibratory and steel wheel rollers, and asphalt distributor truck.
• Assists in road base preparation and sub-grading tasks prior to paving.
• Assists with clearing of brush, traffic control, and cleaning of drainage ditches.
• Assists with patching, tamping, packing, and leveling dirt, asphalt, or other materials during pothole repair, reconstruction of road shoulders, and crack sealing.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED equivalent.
• One year of experience in construction, maintenance, or repairs of roadways, bridges, and operating heavy and light construction equipment or related experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license with a good driving history.
• Prefer CDL driver’s license with endorsements.

Skills

Knowledge of applicable safety practices and regulations, operation and maintenance characteristics of primary hand and power tools, and proper implementation and maintenance of Traffic Control plan. Skilled in operating a variety of road maintenance light and heavy equipment safely at an advanced level, verbal and written communication, diagnosing equipment problems and making field repairs and adjustments, and applying proper and applicable safety practices, procedures, and regulations.

Qualifications

Ability to safely and correctly operate road construction and maintenance equipment using proper techniques, understand and precisely follow both verbal and written instructions and communicate concisely and effectively, maintain accurate records, reason and make sound judgments, work independently and efficiently, manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to extreme temperatures, outside elements, noise, vibration, contact with dust, fumes and hazardous chemicals, foul odors, animal and human fecal matter, insects, and rodents. Requires the use of Personal Protective Equipment as required by job circumstances.