HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE/EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

About the role

The County Highway Department seeks a Highway Maintenance Equipment Operator to join our team. This position operates heavy motorized equipment on the maintenance and repair of County roads and bridges, assisting and performing a variety of road repair and maintenance activities.

Responsibilities

• Operates single and tandem axle dump trucks; hauls materials to construction sites to maintain and repair County roads; hauls blacktop for overlays; hauls gravel for washouts, frost boils, and general gravel maintenance work.
• Plows snow using trucks and graders; applies ice control materials on streets and sidewalks.
• Operates graders for plowing snow, fine and rough grading roads, ditching, shouldering, leveling gravel, and scrapping ice off blacktop to clear roads.
• Operates backhoes for ditching along roads for water control; installs or replaces culverts.
• Operates a variety of other heavy equipment such as dozers, front-end loaders, tandems, shoulder machine, steamer, and strippers.
• Removes protruding rocks, picks up debris, and cuts brush and trees.
• Performs minor maintenance on equipment operated and assists mechanics on repairs.
• Helps install and repair road signs as needed.
• Uses pavers in applying bituminous materials and rollers in compacting blacktop.
• Operates front-end loaders to load trucks in storage pits with sand and salt and to remove accumulated snow from obstructing traffic flow.
• Performs daily inspections of equipment and completes log sheets.
• Attends safety and skill trainings as required.
• Assists Engineering Technicians as necessary.
• Assists in directing traffic, placing signs, and traffic control devices for highway maintenance activities.
• Assists on certain building maintenance and repair operations.
• Logs daily activities including, time spent on each job, fuel consumption, maintenance, and repairs.
• Subject to Emergency Call 24 hours a day, weekends, or holidays.
• Subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of experience in road maintenance and/or operating heavy equipment; or an equivalent combination thereof to successfully perform essential duties of the job.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with no L or Z air-brake restrictions; OR possess a valid Class B CDL and obtain the required Class A CDL and endorsements within six (6) months of employment.
• Negative pre-employment drug test (continue to be subject to drug testing per Federal CDL law).
• Regular and timely work attendance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of County Road systems and operations.
• Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions common to mechanized equipment operations.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of mechanized equipment operation common to road maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and safety regulations.
• Skill in the operation of motorized equipment under all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to set priorities of work within scope of responsibility.
• Ability to make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment.
• Ability to understand and apply the MN Traffic Control Manual in work zones.
• Ability to keep operating records and to prepare routine reports.
• Ability to perform strenuous labor for extended periods of time often during inclement weather.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain a regular and timely work attendance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the public.
• Ability to maintain a regular and timely work attendance.

Skills

• Knowledge of County Road systems and operations.
• Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions common to mechanized equipment operations.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of mechanized equipment operation common to road maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and safety regulations.
• Skill in the operation of motorized equipment under all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to set priorities of work within scope of responsibility.
• Ability to make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment.
• Ability to understand and apply the MN Traffic Control Manual in work zones.
• Ability to keep operating records and to prepare routine reports.
• Ability to perform strenuous labor for extended periods of time often during inclement weather.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain a regular and timely work attendance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the public.

Benefits

Isanti County offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care
• Life insurance (basic coverage for yourself plus optional voluntary coverage)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Paid Time Off, including vacation, sick, and personal leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plans
• Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) contributions from both employer and employee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Wellness Program

Pay

Compensation expected 2026: $25.50 - $27.19 per hour ($53,040.00 - $56,555.20 annually), depending on qualifications, relevant experience, and internal equity. Full Range: $25.50 – $32.93 per hour ($53,040.00 – $68,494.40 annually), with the potential for additional longevity-based pay. An additional Seasonal Disruptive Pay of $300.00 per month will be awarded for successfully completing the months of November, December, January, February, and March.

Schedule

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.