EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

Under general supervision, operates heavy roadway maintenance and construction equipment and performs a variety of skilled highway maintenance tasks.

Illustrative Examples of Work

• Operates a variety of industrial or construction equipment, including skid loaders, end loaders, excavators, motor graders, dump trucks, and bulldozers for roadway maintenance activities and winter snow and ice control.
• May operate special equipment such asstreet sweepers, concrete saws, snow plows tractors, mowers, rollers, crack sealing equipment, chemical application, or hydro seeding equipment.
• May operate hand tools in support of road right-of-way maintenance activities to include asphalt lutes, concrete finishing tools, chain saws, shovels, rakes, and brooms.
• Performs routine service and maintenance on equipment, including minor mechanical repairs and adjustments.
• Removes, places, repairs, and resets traffic signs and markers.
• Places, repairs, removes, and replaces asphalt and concrete roadway surfaces.
• Places, removes, and replaces drainage culverts and structures. Maintains and repairs bridges.
• Performs semi-skilled and skilled construction and maintenance work as assigned; prepares various reports for equipment servicing and repair.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of a variety of light and heavy motorized equipment utilized in highway or street maintenance work.
• Knowledge of the methods and operations of industrial or construction equipment.
• Knowledge of the repair and servicing of construction and maintenance equipment.
• Proven skill in the safe operation of motorized construction equipment, including heavy equipment having crane or boom attachments
• Ability to follow verbal and written directions.
• Ability to work out of doors in all weather conditions, including exposure to rain, snow, cold, heat, road dust, asphalt, diesel fumes, road chemicals, vibrations, and traffic noise.
• Ability to walk on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to perform prolonged physical labor.
• Ability to climb, bend, stoop, twist, and reach repeatedly to load/unload materials.
• Ability to lift, load, pull and push materials and/or equipment weighing up to 100 pounds.
• Ability to safely operate trucks with snow and ice control attachments, front end loaders, road rollers, tractors, lawn mowers, chain saws, air hammers, drills, and other motorized equipment that require hand, foot, and eye coordination.
• Ability to read maps.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees, fostering a collaborative and professional work environment.

Training and Experience

• Graduation from high school, or equivalent, and
• One year of experience with heavy construction or equivalent equipment, or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License with airbrake endorsement issued by the State of Iowa is required.
• In conjunction with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (parts 382, 392, & 40), this job requires a pre-employment drug screen and on-going participation in the Polk County random drug testing program.
• Employee must respond to emergency conditions which require them to be able to report to their assigned facility within a 45-minute time period under normal driving conditions.
• Employees must be available to work up to 16 consecutive hours.
• A criminal background check is required.
• Candidate must pass a post-employment offer physical examination and physical capacity examination to ensure candidate meets the essential physical requirements of the position.