What are the responsibilities and job description for the Equipment Operator III position at City of Dayton?
Examination Date
Week of June 29, 2026
Civil Service Board Office
371 West Second Street, Lower Level
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Incumbent may be assigned to any of the City Departments listed below based on operational need and availability:
Public Works
Responsible for the safe and efficient operation, cleaning, maintenance and routine running repair of heavy construction equipment including bulldozers, small crane/trucks, large trenchers, earth loaders and street cleaning equipment. Operates road grader, self-propelled asphalt paver, cold road grinder, hydraulic backhoes, heavy loader (tracked and rubber tired), heavy roller and related equipment in scarifying or digging up blacktop, laying up windrows and roughly finish grading streets, planning ridges, rolling for compaction in preparation for oiling and blacktopping. Operates heavy equipment as necessitated to: fill trenches, grade river banks, grade and pile topsoil, demolish structures, pile clay for ball diamonds, conduct stump removal, rough and finish grading roads and parking lots, push in landfills, and develop playground areas.
Water Department
Responsible for operating a wide variety of heavy equipment to support departmental operations. This includes tractors, skid steers, backhoes, dump trucks, crane trucks, combination vehicles with trailers, bulk tankers, and hydro excavators, as well as specialized machinery such as boom trucks, pump rigs, air compressors, and sewer maintenance equipment. Duties involve tasks related to the construction and maintenance of sewers, sewage pumping stations, and related structures and facilities.
Aviation
The incumbent is responsible for operating and maintaining a variety of heavy equipment in support of airport maintenance operations, including tractors, brush hogs, skid steers, backhoes, dump trucks, front-end loaders, street sweepers, and snow removal equipment such as plows, brooms, blowers, and spreaders. The role requires strict compliance with all FAA and TSA regulations, as well as airport-specific rules. Employees assigned to the airport must obtain and annually maintain proficiency certification for airfield movement area driving and communication. Clear and effective communication using City and Air Traffic Control radios is essential. The employee may also be assigned duties related to maintaining the safety and security of the airfield in accordance with federal regulations.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Graduation from high school (or G.E.D.).
Experience
Must meet one of the following requirements:
At time of appointment, must possess and maintain a valid Ohio Class A Commercial Driver’s License (C.D.L.), including the qualification to operate a vehicle with air brakes and any other endorsements required by the State of Ohio, as a term and condition of continued employment. Out of state residents must have equivalent licenses from their state of residence.
Must have been permanently employed full-time by the City of Dayton for 6 consecutive months in the classification of Equipment Operator II, Tree Servicer I, or Water and Sewer Worker II, and be in a current pay below 118 (Wage), 25 (Clerical), or equivalent. Identical scores will be broken by (1) seniority and (2) random selection method.
Open Competitive Applicants
Final appointment is contingent upon the applicant passing a job-related medical examination and providing documentary evidence of Employment Authorization and Identity. Identical scores will be broken by a random selection method.
Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Examination dates and times are subject to change. Calculators will be provided for the Civil Service examination. Applicants appearing on the Promotional eligible list shall be considered for appointment prior to those on the Open Competitive list. Applicants are responsible for providing all necessary employment dates, experience, training, or any other requirements as stated in the Exam Announcement, in order for their application to be considered for certification and admittance to the examination process.
Background Check
A background investigation is required prior to employment. All candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position, including current city employees seeking transfer, promotion, demotion, etc. into a classified position.
Drug and Nicotine Testing
Final appointment is contingent upon the applicant passing a drug screen. Applicants offered employment with the City will be required to pass a nicotine screening. Newly hired employees must remain tobacco and nicotine free as a condition of continued employment. The Tobacco and Nicotine Free Hiring Policy does not apply to current City employees.
Week of June 29, 2026
Civil Service Board Office
371 West Second Street, Lower Level
Dayton, Ohio 45402
- Certified candidates will be sent an email containing specific exam details at a later date.
Incumbent may be assigned to any of the City Departments listed below based on operational need and availability:
Public Works
Responsible for the safe and efficient operation, cleaning, maintenance and routine running repair of heavy construction equipment including bulldozers, small crane/trucks, large trenchers, earth loaders and street cleaning equipment. Operates road grader, self-propelled asphalt paver, cold road grinder, hydraulic backhoes, heavy loader (tracked and rubber tired), heavy roller and related equipment in scarifying or digging up blacktop, laying up windrows and roughly finish grading streets, planning ridges, rolling for compaction in preparation for oiling and blacktopping. Operates heavy equipment as necessitated to: fill trenches, grade river banks, grade and pile topsoil, demolish structures, pile clay for ball diamonds, conduct stump removal, rough and finish grading roads and parking lots, push in landfills, and develop playground areas.
Water Department
Responsible for operating a wide variety of heavy equipment to support departmental operations. This includes tractors, skid steers, backhoes, dump trucks, crane trucks, combination vehicles with trailers, bulk tankers, and hydro excavators, as well as specialized machinery such as boom trucks, pump rigs, air compressors, and sewer maintenance equipment. Duties involve tasks related to the construction and maintenance of sewers, sewage pumping stations, and related structures and facilities.
Aviation
The incumbent is responsible for operating and maintaining a variety of heavy equipment in support of airport maintenance operations, including tractors, brush hogs, skid steers, backhoes, dump trucks, front-end loaders, street sweepers, and snow removal equipment such as plows, brooms, blowers, and spreaders. The role requires strict compliance with all FAA and TSA regulations, as well as airport-specific rules. Employees assigned to the airport must obtain and annually maintain proficiency certification for airfield movement area driving and communication. Clear and effective communication using City and Air Traffic Control radios is essential. The employee may also be assigned duties related to maintaining the safety and security of the airfield in accordance with federal regulations.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Graduation from high school (or G.E.D.).
Experience
Must meet one of the following requirements:
- Two years of experience with the City of Dayton as an Equipment Operator II, Tree Servicer I, or Grounds Maintenance Worker, or a combination of 2 years in any one of these classifications; OR
- Three years of experience with the City of Dayton as an Equipment Operator I, Bridge Maintenance Worker I, or Water & Sewer Worker II, or a combination of 3 years in any one of these classifications; OR
- Four years of certifiable experience in the operation of heavy equipment. Examples of heavy equipment include graders, bulldozers, heavy loaders, asphalt pavers, road grinders, large trenchers, or earth loaders.
At time of appointment, must possess and maintain a valid Ohio Class A Commercial Driver’s License (C.D.L.), including the qualification to operate a vehicle with air brakes and any other endorsements required by the State of Ohio, as a term and condition of continued employment. Out of state residents must have equivalent licenses from their state of residence.
- Within 150 days of appointment, as a term of continued employment, employees within this classification must obtain certification approved by the city for the backhoe and rubber tire loader in Public Works or Water Departments only. Additional training, certifications, and proficiency on varying pieces of equipment as specified by their assigned department.
- Employees promoted or transferring to Public Works or Water must complete certification, within 150 days of appointment of the backhoe and rubber tire loader.
Must have been permanently employed full-time by the City of Dayton for 6 consecutive months in the classification of Equipment Operator II, Tree Servicer I, or Water and Sewer Worker II, and be in a current pay below 118 (Wage), 25 (Clerical), or equivalent. Identical scores will be broken by (1) seniority and (2) random selection method.
Open Competitive Applicants
Final appointment is contingent upon the applicant passing a job-related medical examination and providing documentary evidence of Employment Authorization and Identity. Identical scores will be broken by a random selection method.
Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and smell.
- Must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Employee is frequently exposed to diesel fumes or airborne particles such as pollen or ragweed etc.; toxic or caustic chemicals.
- Works in wet and/or humid conditions due to weather and/or necessity of operating equipment around and in bodies of water; high, precarious places when climbing onto/into equipment, working around lagoon edges and when piling up materials; outside weather conditions; works with moving mechanical parts; risk of electrical shock from underground or overhead utilities.
- Work of this nature requires the incumbent to work outside in all weather types, year round.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
Examination dates and times are subject to change. Calculators will be provided for the Civil Service examination. Applicants appearing on the Promotional eligible list shall be considered for appointment prior to those on the Open Competitive list. Applicants are responsible for providing all necessary employment dates, experience, training, or any other requirements as stated in the Exam Announcement, in order for their application to be considered for certification and admittance to the examination process.
Background Check
A background investigation is required prior to employment. All candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position, including current city employees seeking transfer, promotion, demotion, etc. into a classified position.
Drug and Nicotine Testing
Final appointment is contingent upon the applicant passing a drug screen. Applicants offered employment with the City will be required to pass a nicotine screening. Newly hired employees must remain tobacco and nicotine free as a condition of continued employment. The Tobacco and Nicotine Free Hiring Policy does not apply to current City employees.