Apprentice/Journey Equipment Operator (DOQ)

Larimer County; Loveland (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

FSA or HSA

Disability insurance

EAP

Life/AD&D Insurance

401(a) with employer match

457(b) Deferred Compensation

Paid time off

Job summary

Larimer County Road & Bridge Department is hiring Apprentice/Journey Equipment Operators in Loveland, Colorado. The role involves operating heavy equipment and supporting road maintenance across paved and unpaved surfaces, with seasonal winter snow duties.

Applicants must have at least 1 year of relevant work experience and work toward CDL Class A or B, tank endorsement, hazmat, and flagger certifications within set timelines. This is a critical on-call position during winter emergencies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of work experience (any industry accepted).
• Must obtain CDL Class A or B and related endorsements within specified timelines.
• Ability to obtain N tank endorsement by hire date and X hazmat/tanker endorsement within 6 months.
• Colorado Flaggers Certification within 6 months and readiness to become Journey Operator within 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy construction equipment as assigned and ensure work meets department standards.
• Plow snow and support snow/ice control operations as a critical team member.
• Perform outdoor physical labor in all weather, day or night, handling objects up to 50 pounds.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

CDL eligibility

Snow removal

Outdoor endurance

Job description

Larimer County Road & Bridge Department is looking for Apprentice/Journey Equipment Operators to join our team!

At the Larimer County Road & Bridge Department, we are responsible for the operation and maintenance of 419 centerline miles of non-paved roads, 384 centerline miles of paved roads, and 101 miles of subdivision roads in Larimer County.

An Apprentice Operator must meet the minimum requirements of a Journey Operator within two years of employment. These positions are considered essential employees, filling a snow and ice removal position during inclement winter weather. When a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of Commissioners, all Larimer County employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker.

The typical schedule for this position is 7am-3:30pm Monday to Friday in the Winter and 7am-5:30pm Monday to Thursday in the Summer, with a 24 hour/365 day nonrestrictive call back.

To learn more about what we do, visit www.larimer.gov/roads.

What you’ll be doing:

• Ensuring all work meets departmental expectations.
• Operating heavy construction equipment as assigned.
• Plowing snow and participates in snow and ice control activities; is a critical member of our snow removal operations.
• Performing physical labor for extended periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions, day or night, including activities and physical demands requiring strength to lift, carry, push, pull, and otherwise move objects of up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.

To view the full job description, visit https://www.larimer.gov/hr/careers/job-descriptions#/app/detail/Equipment_Operator_Apprentice & https://www.larimer.gov/hr/careers/job-descriptions#/app/detail/Equipment_Operator_Journey.

What we’re looking for:

• Have knowledge of street/highway maintenance, repair, construction, and safe work zone practices.
• Perform maintenance and construction of paved roads.
• Operate heavy construction equipment.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills.
• Read and comprehend department and County rules, regulations, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Use Larimer County-approved computer programs, as needed.

All candidates will be screened for the following required minimum qualifications. Any candidate who does not meet all of the qualifications listed as required will be eliminated from the process.

Depending on qualifications, this position may hire as an Apprentice Equipment Operator or a Journey Equipment Operator.

Apprentice Equipment Operator

• One (1) year of work experience required. May be achieved with experience in any industry, not specific to construction or road maintenance.
• Possession of, and ability to maintain, a Class "B" or a Class 'A' commercial driver license (CDL) without the following restrictions: 'L'-air brake restriction, 'O' –no/trctr/trlr restriction(s), "E" -no manual transmission, "X"-no cargo in CMV tank vehicle or "Z" - no full air brake equipped CMV required.
• Ability to obtain 'N' - tank endorsement by date of hire required.
• Ability to obtain an 'X' haz-mat/tanker endorsement within 6 months of hire or within six (6) months of turning 21 years old required.
• Operation of a vehicle requiring a class 'A' or 'B' commercial driver license (CDL), required.
• Ability to obtain a Colorado Flaggers Certification within six (6) months of employment required.
• Ability to qualify as a Journey Operator within 2 years of hire required.

Journey Equipment Operator

• One (1) year of experience working, operating equipment, or driving a CDL vehicle in the following construction industries: Civil Construction, Road Maintenance/Construction,Earthwork, or Underground Utilities required.
• Possession of, and ability to maintain, a Class "A" commercial driver license (CDL) without the following restrictions: 'L' -air brakes restriction, 'O' –no/Trctr/Trlr restriction(s), "E" - no manual transmission, "X"- no cargo in CMV tank vehicle or "Z" - no full air brake equipped CMV required.
• Ability to obtain 'N' - tank endorsement by date of hire, required.
• Ability to obtain an 'X' haz-mat/tanker endorsement within six (6) months of employment or within six (6) months of turning 21 years old required.
• Operation of a vehicle requiring a Class 'A' or 'B' commercial driver license (CDL) required.
• Ability to obtain a Colorado Flagger's Certification within six (6) months of employment required.

Here’s what Larimer County offers for all Regular, Limited Term, and Appointed positions:

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• FSA or HSA (depending on the medical plan)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/AD&D Insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Want to dive into the details? Check out Larimer County's Benefits. https://www.larimer.gov/hr/benefits

Please Note

An Apprentice Operator must meet the minimum requirements of a Journey Operator within two years of employment. These positions are considered essential employees, filling a snow and ice removal position during inclement winter weather. When a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of Commissioners, all Larimer County employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker.

Other Information

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of required pre-employment checks or testing.

Larimer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment in all employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military status, or any other characteristic protected by law or regulation.