DPU Hiring Event - Utilities Heavy Equipment Operator - Storm and Wastewater Collections

Join us at the DPU Hiring Event! This position is a part of our hiring event on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Midtown Green. If you're selected to move forward, our department will reach out directly to schedule your interview. Please note this position is subject to a pre-employment background check and/or drug screening.

The anticipated hiring range is $54,789 - $68,754.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified Utilities Heavy Equipment Operator to operate Heavy Equipment utilized in performing routine maintenance and repairs to assure safe and proper operation of the City of Richmond Storm Water, Sanitary and Combined Sewer infrastructure. Incumbents routinely operate specialized equipment such as tractor-trailers, tankers, dump and tandem dump trucks, bucket trucks, vactors, snow removal equipment, street sweepers, complex hydraulics, , concrete trucks, street sweepers, bulldozers, small and large excavators ; pay loaders, backhoes, or small and large cranes. Incumbents perform required service maintenance and repairs; provide leadership to and training of assigned crew members; conduct tests for the detection of faults, breaks, or leaks, such as chlorine, gas, sewage or water; follow assigned routes; load, transport, and deliver refuse, debris, vegetation, sludge, earth, or broken pavement; determine amount and type of materials and equipment needed for assignment; install structures, equipment, or parts; and participate in snow and ice removal.

• Lead lower class Equipment Operators and Utility Pipeline Technicians, And Maintenance Workers that maintain and repair Wastewater and Stormwater infrastructure
• Performs advanced-level pipe repair, replacement, and installation involving a variety of materials includingPVC, vitrified clay, concrete, ductile iron, and HDPE pipe. 
• Ensures accurate alignment, grading, and connectionintegrity for gravity-flow and pressurized systems.
• Conducts sub-surface work at depths up to 10 feet (or greater as required), including excavation, trenching,and backfilling activities in accordance with OSHA trench safety and confined space standards.
• Prepares work zones and excavations for open-cut repairs, ensuring proper installation and use of shoringsystems, trench boxes, and sloping or benching methods to maintain safe and compliant working conditions.
  

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Six (6) years of relevant work experience, including at least two (2) years of experience at the Equipment Operator, Principal level
• Training in the equipment used at this level of assignment
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record.
• Requires a valid Virginia driver’s license within 30 days of hire for out-of-state candidates who are required to transfer their license to Virginia. 
• Commercial Driver's License with proper endorsements in accordance with the Division of Motor Vehicles regulations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.
Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Complex heavy equipment and vehicles
• Hydraulics
• Safety rules regarding the operation of various equipment and tools
• Basic math
• Usage of various tools and equipment
• Traffic safety

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Generating, completing, and distributing reports and other forms
• Oral and written communication
• Customer Service
• Map reading
• Preparing and restoring a work site
• Operating equipment in the Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator, Senior, and Equipment Operator, Principal classifications, as well as operating equipment and vehicles mentioned above

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Organize
• Problem solve
• Manage time effectively
• Pay attention to detail when working in an environment with electrical, power, water, and gas lines

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS:Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to both hazardous waste and household hazardous waste, hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach extending hands and arms in any direction, stand, push, pull, lift, finger (picking, pinching or otherwise working primarily with fingers), grasp applying pressure to an object with fingers or palms, talk, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to climb, balance, stoop, crouch, crawl, walk, feel and use substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers. In terms of physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be medium work exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or 20 lbs. of force frequently. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

Salary : $54,808 - $82,701