Airport Field Worker

Des Moines Airport Authority; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Des Moines Airport Authority seeks a skilled grounds/equipment operator to manage loaders, sweepers, graders, and snow removal on airfield surfaces. You will coordinate via radio with control towers and base stations, and assist with shop equipment maintenance and landscaping tasks.

The role emphasizes safety, teamwork, and the ability to respond quickly to emergencies, while performing routine turf and landscape maintenance across airport grounds.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and one year of motorized construction equipment operation experience.
• Associate degree in Horticulture preferred.
• Ability to perform heavy manual work in varying weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Operates loader, pavement sweeper, motor grader, and other equipment.
• Performs snow removal on runways, taxiways, and parking lots.
• Maintains radio contact with Airport Control Tower and base station.
• Assists in maintenance and repair of shop equipment and landscape tasks.
• Polices grounds and reports hazardous conditions; trims and maintains plantings.

Skills

Pavement equipment operation

Airport maintenance tools

Safety techniques

Equipment maintenance

Leadership

Follow directions

Radio operation (FCC)

Emergency response

Teamwork

Turf maintenance programs

Turf grass management

Mathematics for applications

Education

High school diploma

Associate's degree in Horticulture preferred

Tools

Irrigation inspection tools

Shop equipment repairs

Job description

Essential Job Functions:

Operates loader, pavement sweeper, motor grader, motorized grass mowers, and other equipment of similar difficulty. Operates complex snow removal equipment and removes snow and ice from runways, taxiways, ramps, airfield entrances, and parking lots. Maintains constant radio contact with the Airport Control Tower, as well as the garage base station concurrently, communicating physical location, and following directions, at all times when on airfield grounds. Assists in the maintenance and repair of shop equipment. Trims shrubbery, mows grass, patches asphalt and repairs concrete, maintains landscape, repairs fences, and hauls debris and/or trash. Polices airport grounds, spotting, reporting and/or removing foreign objects as necessary. Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the mechanical operation of, and skill necessary in operating pavement sweepers, high speed snow plows, snow blowers, dump trucks and similar equipment.
• Knowledge of the tools and materials commonly used in airport construction and maintenance work.
• Knowledge of the proper safety techniques required when operating motorized equipment.
• Ability to maintain and make minor repairs to light and medium equipment.
• Ability to become a "lead person" for a small crew in the absence of the supervisor.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Ability to operate two way radios according to FCC standards, and to communicate and effectively report physical location at all times, when inside restricted areas of airport grounds.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively to airport emergency and/or hazardous conditions, exercising vital and independent judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of and ability to develop and conduct effective preventative turf maintenance programs.
• Knowledge of turf grass management

• Knowledge of math to calculate square foot applications and product dilution.
• Performs horticultural and natural resource maintenance tasks; plans, plants, maintains, and removes landscape beds and other plantings; tills, fertilizes, waters, and mulches flower beds and other plantings; mulches trees, shrubs and other plantings; prunes trees and shrubs; assists Forestry in ensuring trees are maintained in a safe and healthy condition; performs weed control in turf, flower beds and other plantings, shrub areas, and general municipal areas.
• Inspect and Repairs irrigation

License or Other Requirements:

Possession of a valid Iowa Class B CDL with tank endorsement and allowing the operation of vehicles with airbrakes. 3 OT Horticulture license from the State of Iowa.

Acceptable Experience, Training and Other Qualifications:

Graduation from high school and one year of experience in the operation of motorized construction equipment; or an equivalent combination in which each additional two years of experience may be substituted for one year of education. Prefer an associate's degree in a Horticulture field.

Essential Physical Abilities

• This position is active for the entire shift (standing, walking, stooping, twisting, lifting, bending, pushing, reaching, climbing, crouching and crawling);
• Must be able to perform heavy manual work in severe weather conditions;
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 75 pounds unassisted and heavier loads with assistance;
• Ability to use hand/feet for repetitive single grasping, fine manipulations, pushing and pulling and operating controls and equipment.
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to read technical documentation and manipulate small objects in confined areas;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to adjust to confined areas and work around construction sites and on the airfield.

• Successful post-employment physical and drug test;
• Successful background investigation to obtain unescorted airport identification/access privileges;
• Possession of a valid state of Iowa vehicle operator's license.