Equipment Operator Foreman

City of Raleigh North Carolina; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Raleigh North Carolina seeks an Equipment Operator Foreman in the Solid Waste Services Department to oversee field crews and ensure safe, efficient route collection across garbage, yard waste, bulky, and recycle lines.

The role combines 70% field time with 30% office duties, emphasizes leadership, accountability, and coaching of drivers, with a focus on customer service and performance improvements within the department.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• 3–5 years of experience operating light to medium construction equipment.
• Experience with safety procedures and frontline leadership preferred.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities with emphasis on safety and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Direct and lead front-line employees to achieve service goals.
• Oversee route completion and ensure timely collection.
• Monitor driver performance and provide feedback for evaluations.
• Coordinate with supervisors to resolve field issues.
• Maintain safety compliance and conduct pre/post inspections.
• Assist with training new hires and promotions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Safety leadership

Coaching

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

CDL

Job description

This position is assigned to the Operations Division of the Solid Waste Services Department. The primary purpose of this role is to provide daily oversight and direction to a line of service for Solid Waste Operations. This position performs approximately 70% of time in the field and 30% in the office.

This position provides primary support to Solid Waste Service Supervisors. The Equipment Operator Foreman may be assigned to any line of service (garbage, yard waste, bulky, recycle, XX). Assignments may change based on skill set and needs of the department. Equipment operator foreman should be able to fully function within any room and should willingly and unselfishly offer support to any room and fellow equipment operator foreman who may need their assistance. Collaboration between Equipment operator foreman and rooms is required and expected.

This position provides feedback on employee performance. Work includes directing and leading front-line employees; Performs and/or oversees the completion of route collection; resolving customer complaints; reviewing and analyzing performance and implementing improvements; and assisting with budget formulation.

Equipment operator foremen are responsible to hold themselves and drivers accountable to their job responsibilities and exercise them consistently, fairly and in good faith.

About Us:

The Solid Waste Services Department provides residential curbside collection of garbage, recycle, yard waste and a variety of specialized services. The Department works proactively to reduce waste and to increase recycling in Raleigh, while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability in all areas of the operations.

About You:

You are a dependable and experienced leader who understands the importance of safety, teamwork, and accountability in a fast-paced solid waste environment. You have strong communication and problem-solving skills, can effectively organize and prioritize daily work, and are comfortable coaching and supporting employees to achieve service and performance goals. You take pride in providing excellent customer service, maintaining efficient operations, and working collaboratively with supervisors and team members to get the job done.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• This position serves as a Primary Point of Contact to resolve Driver’s issues in the field. Serve as lead worker by assigning work and monitoring work completion.
• If a Driver bypasses their Equipment Operator Foreman to address/resolve a field/route issue with their Solid Waste Services Supervisor, the Solid Waste Services Supervisor should direct the Driver back to their Equipment Operator Foreman for resolution. If the Solid Waste Services Supervisor does not agree with a course of action by the equipment operator foreman, the Solid Waste Services Supervisor should still direct the Driver back to their Equipment operator foreman, then discuss and agree on a proper course of action yet still allow the Equipment operator foreman to provide the Driver with the corrected course of action.
• This includes daily issues, performance concerns and any other grievance an employee may raise.
• Provides oversight to assigned solid waste service routes and crews including:
  • Making recommendations and suggestions on any needed disciplinary action(s) to Solid Waste Services Supervisors based on employee actions, behavior, performance, or conduct. Solid Waste Services Supervisors will have the final determination on disciplinary actions.
  • Provide feedback to Solid Waste Services Supervisors regarding employee performance for the performance evaluation process including mid-year review and final review. Assist Solid Waste Services Supervisors with support, feedback, and insight during the employee evaluation period regarding employee behavior, productivity, development, etc.
  • Assist Solid Waste Services Supervisors with developing and training employees for promotional opportunities who display or express the desire to assume leadership roles in the department.
  • Provides solid waste services in support of the department; selects proper maintenance equipment for assignment; monitors work site safety; performs work following established safety policies and procedures and applicable codes and regulations.
  • Assisting with training and orientation of new hires.

Daily Tasks:

• Verify Pre and Post Trip Inspections - Verify Drivers complete and sign DVIRs and daily required pre and post trip inspection on assigned equipment before departing and returning from their daily routes.
• Verify Route Completion – Ensure drivers complete their assigned route and/or set up route daily.
• Ensure Route Efficiency - Ensure their assigned room works efficiently, and drivers complete their assigned routes within the expected time limits.
• Resolve City Works Complaints – Verify and complete their assigned City Works work orders.
• Process and assign work orders and service requests; prepares and maintains activity records, correspondence, and standard performance reporting.
• Review routes during a shift to balance the workload and mitigate vehicle breakdowns or accidents.
• Resolve customer complaints.
• Process work orders and service requests.
• Delegate failed collections.
• Respond to vehicle accidents and personal injuries and assist with the reporting and investigative process.

Monthly Tasks:

• Monitor and tracks inventory supply levels; initiates orders to replenish inventory; restocks supplies.

Training Required:

• Within the first six months of promotion, all Equipment Operator Foremen will complete training courses.

Education and Experience

High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalency; 3 to 5 years' experience in light to medium construction equipment operation, or related work OR Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.

Licenses or Certifications

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire

• Valid North Carolina Class A OR Class B Commercial Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire

Knowledge Of:

• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques (based on assignment).
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment).
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment).
• Standard practices, methods and materials of assigned work.
• Standard system functions and methods of assigned work.
• Project management principles and practices.
• Business math concepts.
• Filing and record-keeping principles.
• Occupational hazards and applicable safety principles and practices.
• Uses and properties of supplies and equipment.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
• Customer service principles.
• Specialized equipment relevant ant to area of assignment.

ADA and Other Requirements:

Work Environment and Physical Effort:

Very Heavy: Exerting more than 100 pounds of force occasionally, more than 50 pounds of forcefrequently, and/or more than 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Work Environment:

Work is typically performed in an outdoor environment, construction site, and in a vehicle. Employees may occasionally work in a street environment (near moving traffic), confined space, warehouse environment, or shop environment.

Work Exposures:

There is frequent exposure to extreme cold (below 32 degrees), extreme heat (above 100 degrees), moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and loud noises. Work is this position is occasionally exposed to individuals who are hostile or irate, individuals with known violent backgrounds, communicable diseases and/or toxic or caustic chemicals and substances.

City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.