Equipment Operator III- Streets/Stormwater

The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Are you a skilled equipment operator who takes pride in precision, teamwork, and making a visible impact in your community?

This position is part of the Equipment Operator career series. You’ll handle more complex equipment and tasks than entry and mid-level operators, requiring strong technical ability, attention to detail, and confidence in operating machinery with accuracy. Your work will include operating equipment such as motor graders, dump trucks with snow plows and brine tanks, crack sealers, sweepers, vac-cons, and road patchers. While your primary focus will be on heavy equipment, you may occasionally operate lighter machinery as needed.

Beyond equipment operation, you’ll support your team by assisting crew members in the field, helping train less experienced staff, maintaining equipment, and completing daily logs and documentation. You’ll work under regular supervision while contributing to essential infrastructure that impacts the entire community.

Typical Tasks

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

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  Heavy Equipment Operation: Operates complex heavy equipment to perform digging, grading, trenching, loading, and material movement for City infrastructure and maintenance projects.

• Project Execution & Precision Work: Plans and executes work to ensure accurate grading, slopes, and placement while minimizing impact to property and avoiding underground utilities.

• Equipment Transport & Care: Identifies equipment needs; transports, inspects, and secures equipment before and after use.

• Specialized Equipment Use: Operates backhoes, motor graders, excavators, and boom mowers for construction, maintenance, and right-of-way work, including hard-to-reach areas.

• Maintenance & Documentation: Performs basic preventive maintenance and maintains daily logs and records of completed work.

• Manual Labor Support: Assists crews with general labor tasks, including digging, grading, and handling materials and equipment.

• Safety & Traffic Control: Ensures safe work zones by following safety procedures, monitoring surroundings, directing traffic, and placing appropriate signage and barriers.

• Operational Support: Assists with storm response, special events, and other assigned duties.

• Lead Worker Responsibilities: Provides guidance and training to lower-level staff.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED, with vocational or technical training in the operation of CDL-operated vehicles; supplemented by a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in construction, maintenance, groundskeeping or a related field, as well as a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience operating the types of equipment identified in this class; or any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Valid Driver's license, ability to obtain Class B within 90 days of hire
• Knowledge of the basic operation and maintenance requirements of the equipment operated by this classification.
• Ability to communicate and work cooperatively with colleagues, City leadership, and the general public.
• Ability to obtain Flagger & WorkZone Safety certifications within 90 days of hire.
• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks and handle practical situations and requests made by supervisor and/or lead workers; to comprehend and respond to a variety of situations in an efficient manner; to understand and follow simple oral and written directives and perform the relative tasks using sound judgment.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• This position will require outdoor work in all types of weather conditions.
• Emergency work in storm events is required, this positions is considered essential and may be required to work before, during and after inclement weather events.
• All positions will be required to participate in On-Call program on a rotating basis with other employees/ operating sections.

Our Core Values:

INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY

Our Mission Statement: Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.

What we offer:

The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance many other insurance options
• Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
• Free on-site city gym access
• Paid sick and vacation leave 13 paid holidays per year
• 6-weeks paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
• Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
• Tuition assistance benefits

Applicant Status Updates: After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department. All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.

Health Benefits are offered to employees working at least 30 hours per week.

Health Insurance - The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage.

• Deferred Compensation – The city contributes an amount equal to 4.5% of the annual salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the 401(k) or 457 deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.

**This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.**