EQUIPMENT OPERATOR IV UTILITIES

About the role

The Equipment Operator IV Utilities position is responsible for operating various types of heavy equipment to complete complex and difficult construction and maintenance activities on City roads, properties, rights-of-way (ROW), and City utilities. The position also includes assisting with equipment maintenance and performing manual labor tasks.

Responsibilities

• Operates equipment at or below the Class A CDL level to accomplish a full range of assignments and tasks, including the most complex projects.
• Receives daily tasks and assignments from supervisor.
• Drives and operates equipment for assigned department or division.
• Operates heavy equipment on job sites, such as backhoe, track hoe, front-end loader, skid steer, bulldozer, excavator, arm mower, heavy dump truck, asphalt spreader, motor grader, semi-tractor trailer, and rollers.
• Maintains a log of daily activities.
• Completes assignments within specified time frames.
• Trains others on more complex equipment when time and conditions are appropriate.
• Performs pre-work safety inspections of equipment.
• Performs daily and monthly safety and maintenance vehicle inspections on assigned equipment.
• Performs preventative maintenance on assigned equipment.
• Ensures assigned equipment is properly fueled.
• Reports equipment maintenance status to the supervisor.
• Performs work or may assist other repairmen with minor mechanical repairs.
• Cleans and washes vehicles.
• Maintains a daily log of activities.
• Performs road and ROW repair and maintenance activities.
• Uses a chainsaw to cut trees and bushes from ROW.
• Collects debris and trash.
• Clears roads of fallen trees, limbs, and other items following storms or emergencies.
• Operates equipment to clean out drains, traps, and ditches.
• Constructs molds and forms to work with concrete.
• Operates small engine power tools including lawn mowers and weed eaters.
• Uses concrete saws and other drills and skill saws.
• Ensures proper signage is visible during assigned operations.
• Uses hand tools such as saws, hammers, and shovels.
• Shovels asphalt, rocks, dirt, and other materials during road repairs and landscape work.
• Picks up and piles brush, refuse and other materials.
• Receives project assignments from supervisor.
• Instructs and directs laborers and other construction/maintenance helpers.
• Creates a program/schedule for the use of materials and associated equipment for work projects.
• Ensures work crews observe safety standards and maintain a safe work environment.
• Maintains activity log accounting for time and materials of a project.
• Operates heavy equipment to repair and maintain City streets, and ROW.
• Maintains and repairs City streets.
• Repairs potholes in City streets.
• Installs and repairs curbs.
• Constructs and repairs sidewalks.
• Performs standard repairs on roads and drains.
• Installs and repairs drains and culverts; measures and installs pipes.
• Uses special equipment to measure grades and slope.
• Marks off the work site and parameters.
• Blades and levels surfaces.
• Ensures equipment is stored and put away after project is complete.
• Installs, repairs, and maintains gas service lines throughout the City’s service area.
• Installs underground electric service lines within the department’s service area.
• Uses standard gas line installation tools to accomplish line installation, repair, and maintenance tasks.
• Plans for new line installation projects and repair or maintenance of existing lines.

Requirements

• Possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of work experience operating heavy equipment in road construction and maintenance with at least three (3) years as an Equipment Operator III or equivalent; experience operating heavy equipment around or very close to public services (i.e., gas or electric).
• Possess a current and valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); must be insurable.
• Ability to work on-call rotation, overtime, weekends, or emergencies as needed.
• Ability to travel throughout City to perform job functions.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and an initial drug screen.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• *Knowledge of City and department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• *Knowledge of City streets, locations, and road and bridge systems.
• *Knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to public roads, road work, and operation of equipment on roads and right of ways.
• *Knowledge of a variety of road building materials and methods.
• *Knowledge of basic civil engineering techniques and methods.
• *Knowledge of grades and slopes; ability to use special equipment to measure.
• *Knowledge of concrete work.
• *Knowledge of heavy equipment and power tool maintenance.
• *Extensive knowledge of practices applied in the use of a wide variety of heavy equipment for various maintenance and construction operations and utility installation and maintenance.
• *Knowledge of underground electrical installation procedures.
• *Knowledge of underground gas line installation procedures and practices.
• *Knowledge of safety rules including accident causation and prevention.
• *Highly skilled in the operation of equipment assigned to permit maximum utilization of equipment capability; skill in operation of a wide variety of heavy equipment, particularly around public services like gas and power.
• *Communication skills to effectively communicate internally and externally, both orally and in writing.
• *Verbal skills to effectively communicate with co-workers, supervisors, the general public, over the telephone and two-way radio.
• *Leadership skills to serve as crew leader.
• *Reading skills to understand and interpret daily schedule, traffic signs, and other road signs.
• *Writing skills to clearly and neatly complete routine forms records, and notes using correct English, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• *Math skills to perform basic calculations (add, subtract, multiply, divide).
• *Listening skills to understand and follow verbal instructions.
• *Physical skills, strength, and coordination to perform required tasks.
• *Hand/eye coordination skills to operate various machinery, power, and hand tools (i.e., chainsaw) and make fine adjustments.
• *Ability to direct the activities of crew members as a crew leader.
• *Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions.
• *Ability to acquire and maintain appropriate operator qualifications to perform all job requirements.
• *Ability to work well with co-workers.
• *Ability to work under little or no supervision.
• *Ability to interact with the public in a calm and courteous manner.
• *Ability to operate heavy equipment.
• *Ability to perform manual labor.
• *Ability to work in all weather conditions.
• *Ability to climb on top of and crawl under various vehicles as required.
• *Ability to lift and move objects greater than 50 lbs.
• *Ability to use computers and office productivity software.
• *Ability to operate a two-way radio/communication device.
• *Ability to use various power and hand tools.
• *Ability to remain alert when operating vehicles and equipment.
• *Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
• *Ability to read maps, blueprints, and technical drawings.
• *Ability to drive.

Physical Demands

The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of tall ladders, lifting heavy objects over 50 lbs., crouching, or crawling in restricted areas.

Work Environment

The work environment involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress which require a range of safety and other precautions, e.g., working at great heights, under extreme weather conditions, or similar situations where conditions cannot be controlled.

Benefits

The City of Fairhope offers a wide variety of benefits to regular full-time employees, including:

• Affordable Health Insurance
• Affordable Vision Insurance
• Affordable Dental Insurance
• Employer paid Life Insurance