Equipment Operator ($80,310.24/year - $97,617.72/year)

Do you enjoy operating power equipment like mowers and tractors? Are you seeking an opportunity to work in the Hayward Area and support the local community? Hayward Area Recreation and Park District is currently looking for an Equipment Operator to join our team. We value our employees and strive to ensure our parks and facilities are maintained to the highest standards. If you are looking for continuous, stable work with good benefits, this is the job for you!

In the Equipment Operator role, you will have the opportunity to work with a great team on tasks that truly make an impact. The ideal candidate will have experience operating heavy equipment such as power mowers, large area turf mowers, excavation, loading, and skid steer equipment. Towing and hauling experience are also strongly desired.

You will be subject to post offer/pre-placement/pre-duty, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, random, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing as a requirement for this role.

Come join us and make an impact on your local community!

Here are the details about the positions: 

• Full time, benefits eligible position
• Annual Salary:  $80,310.24/year - $97,617.72/year
• 40-hour per week with additional overtime opportunities
• Work hours are between 6:00am – 2:30pm, Monday – Friday (some weekends may be required).
• Overtime and standby opportunities with additional pay exist which would require night and weekend work.
• This recruitment will establish a pool of candidates to fill current and future vacancies.  

The filing deadline is April 17, 2026. This posting may close at any time.

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, operates power mowers and other power equipment, hand mowers, and power and hand trimming machinery and tools in mowing lawns and trimming hedges; performs other groundskeeping duties; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURE

Equipment Operators usually work in District facilities with extensive lawn areas. In addition to operating power mowers, this class operates other types of power equipment—Fordson type wheel tractors with loader and attachments, tract laying tractor with dozer and ripper—and hand grounds maintenance equipment, such as weed sprayers, fertilizing machines, leaf mulchers and trimming machines. Incumbents spend a very small percentage of their time planting or caring for shrubs and flowers. In inclement weather, Equipment Operators may do some inside maintenance work, such as painting and repairing small equipment. Equipment Operators report to and are supervised by Senior Equipment Operators.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

Note: The following list of duties are those usually performed by most employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

1. Operates power mowers to cut lawns over an extensive area.
2. Operates wheel type tractor with attachments and loader, tract laying tractor under 50 HP with dozer and ripper.
3. Uses hand tools, such as pruning shears, spades and hoes.
4. Operates other power machinery, such as power trimmer, leaf mulchers, fertilizing, machines, and sprayers.
5. Rakes leaves and polices grounds by assignment.
6. Under supervision, plants flowers, shrubs and trees by assignment.
7. Performs custodial or maintenance work, such as setting up tables, repairing furniture and painting by assignment.
8. May maintain and repair mowers, sprayers and related hand and power equipment and light maintenance work on District vehicles.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:       

A combination of training and experience which demonstrates that a person has obtained the required knowledge and is able to perform the required work (with reasonable accommodation, if needed). A person with the following combined training and experience would typically qualify to compete in a selection process:

Six (6) months of experience in the class of Caretaker level of grounds care class in the Hayward Area Park and Recreation District service.

                OR

One (1) year of recent full time experience in grounds maintenance work which included operation of power mowers, loaders and tract laying tractors.

License:

Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license and a good driving record.

Knowledge of:

The operation of power mowers, wheel type tractors, tract laying tractors, and general aspects of gasoline and diesel motors.

Expert handling of power mowers, both on street and park areas.

Ability to:

• Read and write and clearly speak effectively.
• Follow written and oral instructions.
• Plan sequence of mowing operations within the framework of a general grounds maintenance schedule.
• Operate tractors and other equipment as needed.
• Make routine repairs to power mowers and other simple equipment.
• Exhibit a high customer service priority.
• Establish and maintain open and honest communications with co- workers at all levels of the organization.
• Use and operate hand and power tools, heavy vehicles and other equipment associated with the maintenance and repair of heavy machinery, buildings and grounds.
• Within CALOSHA guidelines, withstand periods of physical exposure to the presence of fumes, odors, dust and pollen without incapacitating adverse effect.
• Safely transport, lift and handle bulky objects weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.

Special Requirements:

Federal law requires that positions in the class of Equipment Operator are subject to post offer/pre-placement/pre-duty, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, random, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing.

Salary : $80,310 - $97,618