Equipment Operator II

Charlotte, County of (FL); Punta Gorda (FL); On-site; USD 37,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte County in Florida is seeking an experienced Equipment Operator to operate heavy trucks, tractors, and a range of machinery for public works and infrastructure projects, including Punta Gorda. You will perform safe, precise operations, assist with loading, and provide daily activity reports.

Requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, two years of equipment operation experience in public infrastructure, and a valid CDL with endorsements.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of experience operating equipment in construction, repair, or maintenance of public infrastructure.
• Must maintain a valid “A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), including appropriate endorsements.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate heavy trucks, tractors, and other medium-sized equipment.
• Support public works and construction projects across the County.
• Set up work zones and perform routine maintenance on equipment.

Skills

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Communication

Recordkeeping

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Are you an experienced equipment operator who enjoys precision work and making a visible difference in your community? In this role, you’ll safely operate heavy trucks, tractors, and other medium-sized equipment to support public works, and construction projects across the County. Your ability to maneuver larger and more complex vehicles—often in tight or active work zones—will be essential to completing projects efficiently and safely.

You’ll serve primarily as an equipment operator, working with a wide range of machinery such as dump and tanker trucks, loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, mowers, roll‑off trucks, and similar equipment. Your work may include grading, ditching, leveling, hauling materials, landscaping, and supporting roadway, drainage, and landfill operations. You’ll also use hand and power tools, assist with loading and unloading materials, and keep job sites clean and organized.

Safety and equipment care are key parts of the job. You’ll set up work zones to protect crews and the public, perform routine maintenance and minor adjustments, and clean equipment after use. You may also assist with the handling and separation of hazardous materials in accordance with safety guidelines. Along the way, you’ll complete daily or weekly activity reports and provide courteous, professional assistance to internal teams and the public.

If you take pride in skilled equipment operation, value safety and teamwork, and enjoy hands‑on work that supports essential County services, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to put your experience to work every day.

Education and Experience

An equivalent combination of relevant training, education and experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of experience in operating equipment in the construction, repair, and/or maintenance of public infrastructure.

Licenses and/or Certificates

• Must maintain a valid “A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), including appropriate endorsements.

What You Bring

You have a solid understanding of departmental policies, modern office practices, and common computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You’re familiar with traffic laws and regulations related to operating and transporting equipment on public roadways, including the safe handling of hazardous materials.

You bring working knowledge of construction and maintenance operations, including excavation, drainage, surfacing, and street paving processes, along with the materials involved such as asphalt and aggregates. Safety matters to you—you understand operational hazards and consistently follow established safety rules and procedures.

You’re skilled in operating vehicles and heavy equipment in compliance with traffic laws and manufacturer guidelines, and you’re comfortable performing hands‑on work, sometimes in challenging weather conditions. Organized and dependable, you can prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work independently while following written and verbal instructions.

Clear communication and teamwork are key strengths. You’re able to maintain accurate records, prepare reports and correspondence, provide guidance and customer assistance, and build effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, service providers, and the public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception, crawling, climbing. Frequent lifting of 10 to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is exposed to outdoor weather conditions or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, heights, and/or dust.

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS

The position requires moderate exposure or risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, assault and battery, communicable disease, etc.).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an Affiant Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.