Equipment Operator Street Department

City of Clemson, SC; Clemson (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid annual leave

Paid sick leave

12 paid holidays per year

Health, dental & vision plans

PEBA Retirement

401K and 457 options

Life Insurance

Medical FSA / HSA

Job summary

City of Clemson, SC is hiring for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Public Works. You will operate trucks and a variety of machinery to support construction, maintenance, and repair tasks.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus two years of equipment experience; a valid SC CDL is required within six months of hire. Benefits include paid leave, holidays, health plans, and retirement options.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with two years' experience operating medium/high equipment.
• Bucket truck and chain saw experience a plus; valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Operate trucks and heavy equipment for loading, hauling, and maintenance tasks.
• Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance; report defects.
• Work with line crew in digging, hoisting, and related Public Works activities.
• Maintain records of serviced areas and items for billing.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Truck operation

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Backhoe

Dump truck

Street sweeper

Job description

Under general supervision, operates and performs maintenance on a variety of medium and heavy equipment and trucks utilized in construction, maintenance, and repair activities; performs a variety of semi-skilled tasks in the maintenance of Public Works systems.

• Benefits: Paid Annual and Sick Leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Access to FREE acute medical care for employee's, their spouse and children under the age of 26.
• PEBA Retirement
• 401K and 457 Retirement Plan Options
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• Life Insurance
• Medical Flexible Spending Plan/Health Savings Account

Essential Job Functions

• Operates trucks of various sizes and weights in the loading, hauling, and unloading of various equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Drives front-loading garbage collection truck; operates tub grinder.
• Operates trucks and construction or power equipment, such as mechanized broom, backhoe, digger derrick, man-lift, dump truck, snowplow, and inductor truck.
• Operates jackhammers, mowers, and other small equipment and tools to maintain Public Works systems.
• Operates heavy equipment and trucks under a variety of conditions performing required work tasks in a safe and effective manner.
• Works with and assists the line crew in digging ditches, pole holes, hoisting material, tools, equipment, transformers, and any related work with a backhoe or digger derrick.
• Performs routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment and refers defects or needed repairs to supervisor; cleans equipment.
• Performs all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.
• Operates equipment and vehicles in a proper manner, in the performance of those tasks for which it was intended for use, and within established city safety policy.
• Provides on-call duty coverage during non-working hours as per duty roster.
• May be required to work during emergencies.
• Maintains records of areas serviced and addresses and items picked up for billing purposes.
• Operates a variety of motorized vehicles and equipment, including backhoe, dump truck, pickup truck, utility truck, street sweeper, jetter/inductor truck, garbage trucks, rear and front loading garbage truck, tub grinder, street roller, man lift, devices, mobile radio, phone, ditch witch, cranes, diesel-electric generators, gas engine, generator sets, trailer pumps, bush hog, boring unit, etc.
• Uses a variety of tools and supplies including tamper; plate compactor, saws, pumps, compressors, sanders, generators, common hand and power tools, shovels, wrenches, detection devices, buckets, cables, chains, grapples, holding fixtures, hooks, nets, pallets, ropes, slings, turnbuckles, work orders, rotary hammer, jackhammer, side grinder, jacks, safety tripod, trench box, ditch jacks, air-packs, blowers, shovels, rakes, probing rods, oxygen gas, analyzers, tamps, concrete tools, wrenches, hammers, demolition saw, chain saw, analyzers, etc.

Additional Job Functions

• May be designated according to type of power unit as Diesel-Power-Shovel Operator; Gasoline-Power-Shovel Operator.
• May operate power shovel which digs by pulling the dipper toward the machine and be designated Back-Hoe Operator.
• Is required to fill in for other positions within the department.
• May operate motor graders, front loaders, and tractors equipped with various implements, such as, but not limited to, rototillers, pulverizer, bush hogs, and augars.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent with two (2) years of experience involving the use of medium and heavy equipment. Bucket truck experience, chain saw experience, knowledge of hand tools, or any equivalent combination of training and experience, which provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.

Licenses or Certifications

Must have a valid South Carolina Driver’s license and commercial driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of the date of hire.

Applications accepted until October 20, 2026.

The City of Clemson provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.