Equipment Operator Senior - CDL Pathway

City of Charlotte; Nouvelle-Calédonie; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Charlotte is seeking an Equipment Operator Senior CDL Pathway. This role operates heavy equipment and supports street construction and maintenance. Selected applicants will start with an 8-week CDL training, with hours 7:30am–5:30pm, then move to 7:00am–3:30pm once licensed.

The position requires two years of experience with complex construction equipment and offers a CDL pathway, on-site work, and a comprehensive benefits package. December 7, 2026 start expected.

Qualifications

• Safety knowledge of OSHA and site rules.
• Transportation knowledge for moving people/goods by road.
• Customer service principles and satisfaction evaluation.
• Construction methods for street work and maintenance.
• Operation and control of heavy equipment.
• Maintenance checks and readiness of equipment.
• Ability to follow safety regulations and hazard rules.
• Capable of coordinating actions with crew signals.
• Basic paperwork and leadership in absence of crew chief.
• Ability to obtain/maintain CDL tanker endorsement later.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment (gradall, loader, backhoe, etc.).
• Haul materials to/from sites and assist loading/unloading.
• Perform manual labor such as trenching.
• Step in as lead in crew chief's absence; assist supervisor.
• Locate underground utilities before work begins.
• Assist with grading, batter boards, and concrete placement.
• Inspect equipment for safety and reliability.
• Follow OSHA and departmental safety rules.
• Avoid hazards around utilities and other workers.
• Participate in large-scale street construction and repair.
• Coordinate machine actions with crew signals.

Skills

Safety

Transportation

Customer Service

Construction

Operation

Monitoring

Coordination

Equipment Maintenance

Troubleshooting

Critical Thinking

Management

Speaking

Active Listening

Time Management

Depth Perception

Vision

Manual Dexterity

Reaction Time

Oral Comprehension

Written Comprehension

Physical Abilities

Job description

Department: Transportation Department

Salary: $25.00 - $34.64 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Street Maintenance Equipment Operator Senior operates heavy duty backhoe/front end loader and heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of items within the City of Charlotte.

The department’s Equipment Operator Senior position requires a valid CDL Class A license. This Equipment Operator Senior CDL Pathway position allows for experienced equipment operators to join team charlotte without already having a valid CDL Class A license upon hire. Selected applicants for this role will be given time to earn their Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) permit upon hire and will be sent to an offsite full-time CDL Class A 8-week licensure course. The work hours during this 8-week course will be 7:30am - 5:30pm Monday through Friday. Once the course is complete and the CDL Class A license has been obtained, selected applicants will then be placed within a crew to perform the Equipment Operating function full time. The work schedule will then be 7:00am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday from that point forward. Thestart datefor this position will beDecember 7th, 2026.

Salary Range: $26.27 - $27.00

Function: Skilled Trades

Job Title: Equipment Operator Senior CDL Pathway

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates heavy equipment that could include: gradall, front-end loader, backhoe, tandem dump truck, track-hoe, paving machine, etc.
• Hauls material to and from job sites; participating in loading and unloading of materials.
• Performs manual labor tasks; i.e. digging trenches, etc.
• Assumes leadership role and completes paperwork in the absence of the crew chief; assists crew supervisor in supervising the crews on the jobsite.
• Locates underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning construction work.
• Assists the crew chief in establishing grades, setting batter boards, forming and placing concrete, backfilling, etc.
• Performs routine inspections of equipment for mechanical readiness and safety.
• Complies with work and safety rules, OSHA regulations, and work hazard rules/regulations.
• Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• Participates in large-scale field operations for street grading, construction, and repair.
• Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Safety- Knowledge of OSHA, City, and Federal rules and regulations, work hazards, and applicable safety precautions of the assigned work.
• Transportation- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by road specifically, including laws and ordinances regulating the operation of vehicles.
• Customer and Personal Service- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Construction- Knowledge of materials, methods, tools, and procedures used in the construction and maintenance of streets.
• Operation and Control- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to ensure a machine works properly.
• Monitoring- Monitoring/Assessing the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements.
• Coordination- Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Equipment Maintenance- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what maintenance is needed.
• Troubleshooting- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Critical Thinking- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Management of Personnel Resources- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.
• Speaking- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management- Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Control Precision- The ability to adjust the controls of a machine or vehicle quickly and repeatedly.
• Depth Perception- The ability to judge which of several objects is close or further away from you, or judge the distance between you and an object.
• Near and Far Vision- The ability to see details at a close range or a distance.
• Manual Dexterity- The ability to quickly move your hand, arm, or two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Rate Control- The ability to time your movements or movements of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Reaction Time- The ability to quickly respond to a signal when it appears.
• Oral Comprehension- The ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Physical Abilities include but are not limited to sitting, standing, bending, twisting, reaching, kneeling/squatting, walking, driving, crawling, climbing, lifting and carrying (up to 75lbs), shoveling, pushing, and pulling.
• Ability to successfully complete a skills assessment as a part of the interview process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least two-years’ experience in the independent operation of complex construction equipment such as backhoes, track-hoes, front-end loaders, paving machines, excavators, and tandems.
• Qualified external candidates without a Valid Class A commercial driver’s license are currently eligible to apply but must meet the following criteria to attend a paid CDL Class A program upon hire. The program requirements are:
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Possess a valid North Carolina Driver’s License with no limiting restrictions
  • Obtain a Class A Learner’s Permit with no limiting restrictions
  • Pass a DOT Physical and hold a valid DOT medical card
  • Complete and pass a DOT Drug Screen
• Ability to obtain and maintain a CDL tanker endorsement within 6 months of hire, after initial CDL A license is obtained.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Roadway construction experience.
• OSHA 10-Hour Certification

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.