Equipment Operator

City of Palmer; Alaska; On-site; USD 34,440,000 - 52,349,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Palmer is seeking an Equipment Operator to safely and efficiently operate heavy and light equipment for maintenance and repair of streets, sewers, water utilities, street lighting, airport areas, and related facilities.

The role requires sound judgment in dangerous conditions, independence within guidelines, and willingness to respond to on-call weekends and emergencies as needed by the Public Works Superintendent.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• CDL Class A or B with acceptable driving record.
• Minimum 3 years operating heavy equipment; sewer/water/street lighting experience desirable.
• Judgment to weigh maintenance vs. replacement and safety considerations.
• Ability to read electrical meters and basic electrical systems; OSHA/SDS awareness.
• Team player with reliable attendance.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment for streets, drainage, airport areas, sewers, and utilities.
• Test and maintain water/sewer lines and related facilities.
• Repair street lighting and traffic control equipment; locate requests.
• Perform manual labor for city facilities maintenance.
• Carry out routine minor maintenance on equipment and controls.
• On-call work on weekends and for emergencies as directed.
• Additional duties as assigned by the Public Works Superintendent.

Skills

Safe operation

Equipment knowledge

Teamwork

Judgment

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma / GED

CDL Class A or B

Job description

The employee occupying this position is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of heavy and light equipment for maintenance and repair of City of Palmer streets, sewer, storm water, water utilities, street lighting, airport runways taxiways parking aprons, airport lighting steam thawing utilities and parking lots.

The Equipment Operator is responsible for safe and efficient operation of equipment. Work is performed with some independence within prescribed guidelines standards, and procedures. Individual judgment is particularly important in situations where dangerous construction and weather conditions are involved.

• Operate heavy equipment (grader, backhoe, front-end loader, dump trucks, boom / bucket trucks, street sweeper, steam thawing equipment sand trucks, water trucks, solid waste equipment, Vactor trucks, snow blowers, brush hog attachments etc.) for maintenance, repair and construction of streets, drainage ditches, airport runway and parking, sewer, and water utilities in a safe skillful manner.
• Perform and assist in testing or maintenance work as required on water sewer main lines and connections, water and sewer treatment plants, city buildings and facilities.
• Perform repairs of street lighting, load centers, traffic control equipment, streetlight maintenance or locate requests on city streets.
• Perform manual labor as required in construction, repair and maintenance of city equipment, utilities, signs, roadways and facilities.
• Perform routine minor maintenance on city equipment as required for safe operation, grease, check oil levels, tire change, rebuilding tire chains, cutting edge replacement, installing & uninstalling snowplows, and snow gates on equipment.
• Perform on call work on weekends and emergency call outs as required by the Public Works Director or Superintendent
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Public Works Superintendent.

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Current valid State of Alaska Class A or B – Commercial Driver’s License with acceptable driving record.
• Ability to operate various pieces of heavy equipment in a safe and efficient manner with a minimum of three (3) years experience. Experience with construction and maintenance of sewer, water systems, streets and street lightning desirable.
• Ability to use judgment with the provision of periodic preventive maintenance as well as in determination of costs and benefit of repair versus replacement of equipment.
• Ability to operate and work with electrical voltage meters and have working knowledge of basic electrical systems.
• Ability to understand OSHA job specific requirements and working knowledge of SDS sheets to perform safety sensitive assigned tasks.
• Skill in the safe usage of equipment and trucks, as required by the position.
• Ability to work as a member of a team of staff working towards a common goal.
• Ability to meet attendance requirements for the position.

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY PERSON(S) ASSIGNED TO THIS POSITION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL IN THIS POSITION. ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.