Gas Operator

About the role

As a Gas Operator, you are a valued member of a 2–4-person construction crew with full knowledge of operations and expertise in heavy equipment. This position involves operating a mini excavator to dig around live utilities and other heavy equipment for placing utilities in new and existing residential, multifamily, and commercial sites.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maneuver, navigate, or drive vehicles or mechanized equipment, including trucks, front-end loaders, dozers, graders, compactors, trenchers, backhoes, and loaders.
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials to identify errors or defects.
• Use relevant information and judgment to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and standards; communicate abnormal working conditions to appropriate parties.
• Perform mid-level laborer functions such as hand digging, setting up traffic control, equipment operations, and loading materials on safety-sensitive utility construction sites.
• Read and interpret utility prints and maps.
• Meet company and customer specifications for trench or backhoe jobs.
• Manually expose underground utilities.
• Practice defensive driving and ensure compliance with company, state, and federal safety regulations.
• Follow required company and DOT reporting procedures, including maintaining DVIR and driver’s log book.
• Ensure equipment has current licenses, tags, permits, and proof of insurance.
• Clean, grease, check fluid levels, and conduct visual inspections of equipment to ensure optimal safety and performance.
• Work alongside team members using hand signals to safely excavate sites.
• Follow 811 digging laws and company’s safe digging practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods, often under adverse climatic conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 80 lbs multiple times during a work shift.
• Ability to climb, dig, work in tight spaces, on uneven surfaces, and perform tasks requiring walking, stooping, and kneeling.
• Ability to understand and follow specific oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to pass motor vehicle and criminal background checks and comply with a drug-free workplace policy.
• Sufficient English usage to keep records, place orders, and prepare simple narrative reports.
• Willingness and ability to learn additional skills.

Qualifications

• One (1+) plus years of experience in backhoe/mini excavator operation.
• One (1+) plus years of experience digging and working around underground utilities.
• Two (2+) plus years of demonstrated experience in dry utilities preferred.
• Three (3+) plus years’ experience in a construction role.
• Experience reading basic prints and Underground Facility Location Sketch is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-to-year basis.
• Maintain a valid Driver’s License.