Austin Resource Recovery Operator (Underpass/Clean Creeks)

City of Austin; United States; On-site; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

The City of Austin’s Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Underpass and Clean Creek Operators perform litter removal from creeks and watersheds, daily cleaning of encampments and dumpsites, and operate Crew Cabs, Skid Steers, and Rear Loader vehicles. This outdoor role requires frequent bending, lifting, and safe vehicle operation in varying weather, with hours 6:30 a.m.

to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applicants must hold a CDL Class B, be able to obtain endorsements within 120 days, and show

Qualifications

• One year of driving experience with a current CDL
• Must obtain endorsements within 120 days of employment
• Experience operating refuse collection equipment preferred

Responsibilities

• Operate ARR refuse vehicles and equipment as needed.
• Perform pre-trip vehicle inspections and routine maintenance.
• Load and unload debris using hand tools and equipment.
• Clean up illegal dumpsites and high-trash areas.
• Provide information to customers and follow safety rules.
• Assist other ARR crews and training of staff as required.

Skills

Waste equipment knowledge

Teamwork

Power tools

Hand tools

Reading English

Driving safety

Maps reading

Education

CDL Class B

Tools

Skid Steers

Rear Loader

Crew Cabs

Job description

Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities

• Picks up, processes, or disposes of trash, brush, litter, recyclables, bulky items, re-use items, or compostable items and dumps collected materials at designated dump sites/landfill.
• Maintains dedicated bus lanes and bikeways on residential and major streets in City of Austin.
• Pre-trips all vehicles and heavy equipment, as required by management; maintains detailed vehicle and equipment records; and completes paperwork, forms, and reports related to collection activities.
• Learns and follows routes, reads street maps, and micro-routes to locate route destinations.
• Assists in training others in the proper use of equipment and vehicles, as required by management.
• Operates Water Truck, Rear-Loading Refuse Truck, Dump Truck, and other Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) vehicles and equipment as needed.
• Performs basic vehicle inspections and maintenance and maintains vehicle records.
• Uses hand tools such as backpack blower, rake, shovel, and sweep to stack, load, and unload smaller debris and litter.
• Decides whether to pick up trash that is set out improperly.
• Provides information to customers when appropriate.
• Places customer notices, door hangers, and public information literature.
• Cleans up illegal dump sites, parkland, targeted encampment sites and other sites with high volume of trash‑related complaints or concerns throughout the City of Austin.
• Follows safety rules.
• Observes and reports accidents, burglaries, and hazardous situations.
• Assists other ARR crews as directed and performs other duties as assigned and performs the tasks of ARR Associates and Operator Trainees as needed.

Responsibilities – Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised

None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of equipment and vehicles used in waste services.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with others.
• Skill in operating power tools.
• Skill in using small hand tools.
• Skill in learning simple tasks.
• Skill in lifting and carrying equipment or materials applicable to the work being performed.
• Skill in reading and writing English necessary to the level of tasks performed.
• Ability to understand oral and written instructions in English.
• Ability to operate required vehicles safely.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to train or assist in the training of employees as required by management.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow maps and mapping directions.

Minimum Qualifications

• One (1) year of driving experience with a current Commercial Driver License (CDL) in any field.

Licenses and Certifications Required

• Current Commercial Driver License, Minimum Class B License.
• Must obtain required endorsements within 120 days of employment, as required by position.

Notes to Candidate

Position Overview: Current City of Austin employees must apply through the internal Workday Jobs Hub. Applications submitted outside of the internal Workday Jobs Hub will not be considered for an interview.

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Overview

Austin Resource Recovery is a department of the City of Austin with over 530 employees. We provide essential services that protect people and our planet. We collect recycling, composting, trash, large brush, bulk items, household hazardous waste and dead animals. We also sweep the streets, offer Austin and Travis County residents a service to recycle and safely dispose of household hazardous waste and provide community outreach and education. ARR is driving the global transformation of traditional waste management to sustainable resource recovery. Learn more about ARR at AustinRecycles.com.

Underpass and Clean Creek Operators

The Austin Resource Recovery Underpass and Clean Creek Operators are responsible for general litter removal from creeks and other watersheds, as well as daily cleaning of illegal dumpsites, rights-of-way, underpasses, and homeless encampment sites. As part of the Underpass and Clean Creek teams, these positions operate Crew Cabs, Skid Steers, and Rear Loader vehicles, and perform required pre‑ and post‑trip equipment inspections. Operators collect hand‑picked litter and bulk items from active and inactive encampment locations. This role requires the ability to safely board and exit the cab of a refuse collection truck, step on and off the rear step using hand and foot holds while supporting one’s own body weight, and perform frequent stretching, bending, and stooping. Work is conducted outdoors in varying weather conditions. The scheduled work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including weekends, holidays, and special events.

Work Hours and Allocation

Days/Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Employee will be required to work holidays, after hours, weekends, seasonal shift changes and other areas due to business needs.

Salary

$24.19 – $27.94 per hour

Location

4108 Todd Lane, Austin, Texas 78744

Criminal Background Investigation

This position does not require a Criminal Background Investigation.

Additional Information

90-Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other similar positions within Austin Resource Recovery outside of the division listed above.

Benefits

Working with the City of Austin at Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Learn more about City of Austin benefits. Learn more about careers with the City of Austin.

Essential Position Consideration

This position is considered an essential position, which means it is expected that an employee comes to work during any City Closure or emergency to include bad weather and any other unexpected events or shutdowns.

Physical Requirements for Operational Positions

The employee is required to perform the following tasks during the normal course of an approximately eight (8) to ten (10) hour day, four (4) to six (6) days a week. This position involves sitting while driving a commercial refuse vehicle as well as entering or exiting the cab and the rear step of the truck using hand and foot holds pulling body weight about 18-36 inches around 1250 times per day. The employee will apply up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and less force frequently to move objects. The position requires constant standing and grasping of hand holds roughly 32-54 inches from step to handle while riding on the back of the truck with frequent stops. This will involve continuous use of arms, shoulders, legs and feet to operate drive/steering inputs. Additionally, the employee will frequently be expected to perform tasks involving stretching, bending, twisting, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, lifting and stooping while inspecting vehicle, while pushing/pulling 50+ pound refuse containers or throwing items into a refuse truck at approximately 5 feet high. This position walks from house to house to retrieve carts, brush, bulk, and bags for approximately 8-10 hours during a normal workday and works in extreme heat, cold, rain and other bad weather.

Additional Hazards

Additional hazards include working close to mechanical parts, oils, fumes/odors/gases, noise, repetitive motions and vibration which expose joints and muscles to vibration and shock produced by the truck as well as walking near traffic, uneven surfaces, mud, snow, ice or rain daily. Employees may come in contact with blood and/or other potentially infectious materials. Employees must have sufficiently good eyesight to drive and inspect trucks and other equipment. Additionally, listening while driving is necessary to hear emergency vehicles and other issues with traffic or operational equipment. Employees must also be able to hear and speak to communicate with supervisors, dispatchers, and citizens.

Tobacco Free Locations

NOTE: All Austin Resource Recovery locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e‑cigarettes is not permitted on any ARR worksite – including parking lot or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

EEO Statement for City of Austin

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk. City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call [phone] or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.