Solid Waste Maintenance Technician/Bear Mess

About the Role

Under close supervision, this position performs a wide variety of laborious tasks and light mechanical work for the Solid Waste Department of the Village of Ruidoso. Regular attendance is essential to ensure continuity of services. The role involves cleaning around dumpsters and roadways, picking up and hauling away large or heavy trash items, grounds maintenance, vehicle cleaning, and light mechanical work.

Responsibilities

• Cleans and maintains vehicles, trucks, equipment, transfer station, solid waste buildings, grounds, dumpster areas, and other assigned areas.
• Uses hand tools such as shovels, picks, pressure washers, weed eaters, lawn mowers, brooms, mops, and rakes.
• Performs labor duties including trash pickup, dumpster relief, special pickups, illegal dump cleanup, weed eating, and painting.
• Cleans around dumpsters and right-of-way areas.
• Notifies supervisors of violations of Village of Ruidoso ordinances related to solid waste.
• Attends safety training and other required training classes.
• Reports dumpsters in need of replacement and completes necessary paperwork.
• Performs light mechanical work, such as changing tires, replacing lights, wiper blades, or heavy cleaning of solid waste equipment.
• Ensures accurate and timely submission of employee timesheets based on actual hours worked.
• Maintains an active and working phone, answering calls from supervisors or coworkers.
• Reports any on-the-job injuries immediately and follows up with appropriate forms.
• Ensures compliance with Village of Ruidoso policies and procedures, including the Personnel Manual and Procurement Policy.
• Reports suspected fraud, abuse, or harassment to the appropriate authorities.

Requirements

• High school education or equivalent required.
• One year of manual labor, construction helper, or related experience required; six months of solid waste experience preferred.
• Must pass criminal history checks and comply with drug/alcohol testing and the Village’s "Drug Free" Policy.
• Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico motor vehicle operator’s permit of appropriate classification and endorsement.
• Must maintain a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) and meet minimum insurability requirements as required by law.

Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Solid waste equipment operation methods, techniques, and safety practices.
• Preventive vehicle maintenance and safety policies for working in public right-of-way areas.

Ability to:

• Operate a pickup truck, tommy lift, and hand tools such as rakes, shovels, steam cleaners, and weed eaters.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions, regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
• Learn to operate a backhoe, front-end loader, and other equipment as necessary on department property only.
• Establish and maintain routine working relationships and interact respectfully with citizens, contractors, community service workers, and employees.
• Work with minimal supervision and maintain motivation.
• Perform basic reading and writing functions.
• Perform physical labor, including sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods, and adapt to inclement weather conditions.
• Drive, occasionally long distances, and work in a stressful environment.
• Work irregular schedules, long hours, weekends, and holidays.

Skill in:

• Verbal and written communication, including two-way radio use.
• Safely using high-pressure washers, hand tools, impact wrenches, and other job-related equipment.