Equipment Operator - Landfill

City-of-Grand-Island,-Ne; Grand Island (NE); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Grand Island seeks an equipment operator to support operation, maintenance, and construction of landfill, transfer station, and related facilities. You will operate a wide range of heavy equipment and assist in routine repair and maintenance tasks.

Responsibilities include handling hazardous waste per regulations, maintaining records, and working on a rotating schedule with early starts. A valid driver's license and Class A CDL are required; background check will be performed.

Qualifications

• Safe work practices and proper use of safety equipment.
• Operate a variety of maintenance and construction equipment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, Class A CDL.
• Formal or informal education ensures reading/writing ability for job performance.

Responsibilities

• Operate equipment for landfill, transfer station, and related facilities.
• Perform routine operation, maintenance and construction tasks on equipment.
• Assist in cleaning, maintenance or repair of fences, drains, buildings and related structures.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety procedures

GPS display operation

Record keeping

Education

Formal or informal education

Tools

GPS displays

Scale house operation

Computer basics

Job description

Operate a variety of equipment in the operations, maintenance and construction of landfill, transfer station, and related facilities; and assist in the performance of semi-skilled and skilled tasks required for operation, maintenance and construction purposes.

Salary for position is effective October 4, 2026.

Regular attendance that is punctual and dependable is required.

Display honest, trustworthy, and ethical behavior when dealing with internal and external customers.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Operate equipment such as front-end loaders, motor graders, landfill compactors, earth moving scrapers, bulldozers, snowplows, sand trucks, dump trucks, backhoes, box blades, trenchers, bucket trucks, brush-hogs, tractors with various attachments, semi tank trucks, end dump trailers, tractors with compost spreaders, forklifts and other related maintenance construction equipment.

Perform operation, maintenance and construction activities associated with solid waste disposal.

Assist with ice and snow removal.

May assist with cleaning, maintenance or repairing of fences, drainage structures, buildings and related structures.

May assist with operation and maintenance of leachate collection system.

Handle and dispose of special or hazardous wastes in accordance with related regulations.

May assist in compiling and maintaining various records regarding assigned work; file associated reports including those involving solid waste disposal.

Perform a variety of routine repair and maintenance tasks on equipment and tools.

May mow, trim trees, maintain municipal facilities and use a variety of equipment in the maintenance of landfill and transfer station.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

Safe work practices and proper use of safety equipment.

Uses and purposes of general construction tools and equipment.

Traffic laws, ordinances and rules applicable to truck and equipment operations.

Methods, techniques and safety practices used in assigned area of responsibility.

Common hazards and safety precautions necessary for equipment operation.

City policies and procedures in assigned area of public facility maintenance and construction.

Operational characteristics of equipment used in assigned area of responsibility.

Purposes and uses of a variety of vehicles, equipment, power tools and hand tools including motorized, pneumatic and hydraulic equipment.

Properties of backfill materials, construction materials, concrete, asphalt, hot patch, cold patch, oils, paints and a variety of other materials used in maintenance work.

Ability to:

Operate a variety of maintenance and construction equipment.

Provide training and guidance to less experienced staff.

Perform semi-skilled and skilled tasks in operation, maintenance and construction work in assigned area of responsibility.

Operate a variety of solid waste disposal, road maintenance and snow removal equipment.

Perform heavy manual labor for extended periods often under severe weather conditions.

Work safely and adhere to principles of safety in any work environment.

Understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Perform basic computer skills to access email, read instructional material, and operate the scale house, if necessary.

Learn and correctly operate the GPS displays installed in the equipment.

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

At least one year of experience in the operation of any type of medium to heavy equipment.

Training:

Formal or informal education or training which ensures the ability to read and write at a level necessary for successful job performance.

License or Certification:

Employee must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain insurability as determined by the City’s insurance carrier. Click here to view our driver eligibility requirements.

Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, an appropriate, valid Class A commercial driver’s license.

Salary:

Position will start at the entry level of the City's salary table. Consideration may be given if experience exceeds entry level qualifications.

Salary:

Position will start at the entry level of the City's salary table. Consideration may be given if experience exceeds entry level qualifications.

Working Hours:

Rotating through a 3-week schedule cycle as follows:

• 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM ; Tue, Wed, Thu, and Fri
• 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM ; Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, and Fri
• 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM ; Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, and Fri

Additionally, each operator will work 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM every 4th Saturday (once per month). There will also be some scheduled extra call out time as the needs of the department changes.

Other:

Candidates are subject to a background check.