Public Works Operator I (Internal & External)

The Town of Taos is seeking qualified applicants for the following (2) full-time positions which includes an excellent benefit package; 100% major medical premium paid for employee with a choice of State of New Mexico Blue Cross Blue Shield, Gold HMO & PPO, Presbyterian, Gold HMO & PPO, United Health Care, Gold HMO & PPO. State of New Mexico Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) Retirement, personal leave and holiday pay, employee development and training programs and much more!

VA#26-67-06

Job Title: Public Works Operator I

Public Works Department

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Hourly: $20.09

Opening Date: August 24, 2026

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

GENERAL PURPOSE

Performs a variety of full performance, skilled duties in the operation of heavy and light equipment in construction, repair, maintenance, and replacement of various components of the town public works systems, including streets, water distribution, wastewater collection, landfill, recycling or related public works operations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Public Works Director & Superintendents.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

STREETS: Operates specialized heavy equipment such as single & tandem axle dump trucks, road graders, cats/bull dozers, front-end loaders, backhoe, bucket trucks, snow plow and other similar equipment in the construction, maintenance and repair of various street department projects and sites.

Transports and deposits various construction materials such as sand, salt, gravel, dirt, etc.; performs hot mix patching, storm drain cleaning, repair and construction, snow and ice control, gravel street maintenance, street sweeping, cold mix patching, debris collection, etc.

Performs general maintenance functions such as painting crosswalks and curbs, raking asphalt, pouring and finishing cement; hovels materials at excavations and filling pot holes, sweeps gutters and sidewalks, tamps down dirt, etc.

Performs installation and maintenance of town signalization devices and street signs; prepares proper barricading for streets, water and related public works projects; performs traffic control at road construction sites and at road emergencies; picks up trash from along roadways, alley ways and public areas within Town limits; trims trees of limbs and branches obstructing signs and causing hazards; cuts trees with chain saws and feeds into chipper shredder and loads truck.

RECYCLING: Operates the Town of Taos Recycling Facility; accepts various recyclables and segregates into standardized categories for processing; operates various pieces of equipment i.e., skid steer, forklift, baler, glass pulverizer, can crusher, rake, shovels etc. Recycling Plant Operators are responsible for the safe economical and efficient operation of light to heavy recycling equipment and for the safety of co-workers.

Bales recyclables and tracks inventory processed for market, markets product to potential buyers to obtain the best price.

Operates a variety of standard office equipment (i.e., copy machine, facsimile machine, telephone system, etc.). Enters data or information into personal computer (PC) in order to retrieve information related to scheduling, production, electronic mail and customer service. Assists the coordinator with the development and administration of the operating budget.

Provides customer service to the citizens utilizing the Town of Taos Recycling Facility; conducts tours of facility for school classes; provides basic field learning experience related to ecology and natural resource issues.

SOLIDWASTE/LANDFILL: Operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, and maintenance of city solid waste landfill; operates grader, scraper, back hoe, dozer, compactor, grinder (mulcher) or related heavy equipment utilized in the moving, covering and compacting of waste deposited into city landfill. Assists the general public and commercial haulers by identifying proper unloading sites; assure orderly entry and exit of vehicles and equipment; monitors customer activities to assure compliance with established rules and regulations; operates radio and two-way communications as needed to alert equipment operators of suspicious activity or waste loads. Observes waste to identify hazardous waste or other materials excluded from deposit in public landfill; directs public to remove prohibited items such as paint, oil, batteries, tires, insecticide, etc.

Special Qualifications:

One (1) year experience may be required in cashiering.

Must be bondable.

PUBLIC UTILITIES:

Water Systems: Operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of Town water facilities and systems.

Performs installation or repair of water service connections, repairs, maintains or replaces fire hydrants and plugged water meters; meter cans, meter valves, etc.; repairs water mains; thaws frozen lines and water meters; insulates water meters; cleans and maintains storage tanks; connects and disconnects service; searches out shut off valves; repairs water line leaks; assists in placement of pipe and water regulators; removes, disassembles, cleans or replaces defective parts of regulators, adjusts PRV’s (Pressure Reducing Valves) as needed to assure efficient water line service; collects water samples to assure compliance with all local, state, and federal standards and regulations. Maintenance of well and water storage tank sites.

Inspects and/or repairs chlorination units, booster pumping stations, water meters, storage tanks, wells, pump oil units, water softeners, etc., at frequent intervals to ensure that all aspects of the systems are functioning properly; maintains a variety of records relating to inspections, maintenance activity, water supply, consumption, etc.; monitors SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)/telemetry equipment to assure proper operations.

Wastewater System: Operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of town wastewater and storm drain systems; operates and maintains the wastewater collection system, and lift stations to control flow and processing of wastewater, sludge, and effluent in order to meet NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) or other local, state or Federal regulations.

Inspects drainage reservoir and drainage channels, performs maintenance of drainage reservoir and channels including repairing fence, planting grass, removing unwanted vegetation, oiling gates, etc.; Uses sewer TV/ camera equipment, gas meters, and other testing devices, monitors explosive and hazardous sewer gasses. Determines where replacement or repair of lines are necessary, determines necessity and quantity of chemicals needed to maintain safe conditions; performs manual and TV inspections of main and side sewer installation for compliance with regulations and requirements; conducts smoke and dye tests to locate problem areas and leaks. Responds to hazardous materials and flood emergencies; works as a member of Hazardous Materials and Flood Control Response crews; neutralizes spills, performs traffic control; evacuates areas as necessary. Performs grease trap inspections to assure proper flow of sewer line and to meet NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) or other local, state or Federal regulations; Maintains proper records of all grease trap inspections. Performs installation of sewer lines and manholes.

Meter Reader: Operates electronic, hand-held meter reading instruments; reads commercial and residential utility water meters on assigned routes and records meter readings; rereads "exception list" meters; loads meter readings from hand held meter reading units into computer and unloads route information from hand held meter reading units; processes meter data as needed to prepare billing notices for printing and mailing.

Performs general customer service in communicating account activity; Actions related to connections and disconnections of water service; deals with the public on meter reading questions.

Visually checks operation of meters and reports tampering or damage; may perform general and routine meter repairs; performs seasonal duties, insulates meters to prevent freezing; responds to service calls to thaw frozen lines or connections; utilizes torch or thawing equipment.

Notes readings which appear to be high or low and assists in meter repair as needed; maintains accurate records of readings, schedules, damaged meters, etc., and forwards information to the appropriate town workers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Graduation from high school or General Education Diploma (GED) And Two (2) years of experience in performance of the essential functions as listed above.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of drawings and specifications, grades, machinery, materials, and methods of constructing roads, bridges, drainage systems, culverts, etc.; safety standards related to road construction; hazards common to heavy equipment operation; equipment maintenance and repair; legal liabilities associated with street construction, maintenance and public right-of-way; civil engineering standards related to street construction and drainage; right-of-way laws and ordinances; basic computer operations and various software applications;. Knowledge of OSHA safety standards related to Public Works operations.

Skill in the operation of heavy mechanized equipment as required by the position; i.e., two and one-half ton dump truck with snow plow, water truck, chipping machine, dozer, bucket truck, stripping machine, street sweeper, street roller, tamper, backhoe, grader, scraper, compactor (mulcher), forklift, jack hammer, compressor, saws, tamper, plate compactor, saws, pumps, aerosol propane kettle, compressors, sanders, generators, common hand and power