What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operator - Chaparral position at Otero County?
Operator - Chaparral
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Experience Required: One (1) year of responsible experience performing maintenance work involving the operation of heavy equipment.
Minimum Education Requirements: High School Diploma or equivalent.
Department: Road
Direct Supervisor: Project Foreman
Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (0); Indirect (0)
Primary Work Location: This employee primarily works at construction sites. Employee must reside within 15 miles of Chaparral, NM.
Certification: This position requires a valid CDL Class A NM driver’s license.
Salary: $18.50 per hour plus benefits package.
Job Summary: To operate heavy maintenance equipment for road maintenance and repair, and to perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled maintenance tasks.
Essential Job Functions
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:
- Operate heavy maintenance equipment related to road maintenance, including rollers, tractors, and related equipment in the maintenance of County roads.
- Use a variety of hand and power tools in performing maintenance functions, including rake, shovel, pick, tools, wrenches, air hose, gauges, wood chipper, and related equipment.
- Clean and install ditches, culverts and cattle guards; haul material for installation; collect and haul trash, garbage, debris, dirt, sand and gravel.
- Perform additional construction and maintenance tasks such as patching holes, building fences, trimming trees, snow removal, and a variety of minor repair activities.
- Build fences; drive fence posts.
- Cut brush off of roadways; use a variety of hand and power tools.
- Maintain and repair road signs; install sign posts.
- Identify equipment needs for each assigned project; maintain equipment.
- Perform preventive maintenance on heavy and light equipment as required; check and change lubricants; repair and/or change tires as required.
- Maintain production logs and records.
- Install street barricades and cones prior to the performance of street repair activities; direct and control traffic around work sites; water down streets and flush drains.
- Install rip rap and explosives; ensure compliance with proper safety precautions.
- Respond to and resolve citizen inquiries and complaints; direct complaints to Crew Leader as appropriate.
- Other duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s) for Position
An employee in this class must have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities upon application:
Knowledge
- Operation and maintenance requirements of heavy power-driven equipment.
- Practices, methods, and materials used in general construction and maintenance work.
- Traffic laws, ordinances, and rules involved in heavy equipment operations.
- Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
- Thorough understanding of the County’s functions, policies, and procedures.
Skills
- Strong written and oral communications and relational skills.
- Use of heavy equipment and power tools.
- Follow and relay complex oral and written instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Operate a variety of office equipment, including computer terminal, related software programs, printer, calculator, fax, and copier.
Abilities
- Operate a variety of heavy power-driven equipment.
- Perform a variety of semi-skilled construction and maintenance tasks.
- Perform a variety of manual tasks for extended periods of time in unfavorable weather conditions.
- Perform heavy manual labor.
- Work independently in the absence of supervision.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Physical Demands
The following physical abilities are required:
- Maintain physical condition necessary for moderate to heavy lifting.
- May encounter toxic materials.
- Will be bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, and standing for prolonged periods of time.
- While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
- The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
- Work in confined spaces and at heights.
- Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
Travel from site to site; construction site environment; exposure to dust, noise, toxic materials; work in inclement weather conditions.
Safety Requirements
The employee is expected to follow all safety procedures as required.
How to Apply:
Complete the application and return to:
Otero County Administration Office
1101 New York Ave
Alamogordo, NM 88310.
Job Details
Category
Personnel
Status
Open
Posted
October 29, 2025 8:00 AM
Closing
Open Until Filled
Salary : $19