Equipment Operator Trainee - Public Works Department

City of Port St. Lucie; Port Saint Lucie (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Port St. Lucie is seeking an Equipment Operator Trainee to perform skilled labor and operate a range of city equipment under supervision. The role supports street maintenance, sod installation, and heavy lifting tasks in a Municipal Public Works setting.

Applicants should have a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid Florida driver's license with Class B or A and Tanker endorsement, and prior equipment operating experience is preferred. Emergency duties may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Prior equipment operator experience preferred.
• Valid Florida driver's license with Class B or Class A and Tanker endorsement; clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Operate City equipment (dump trucks, skid steers, water trucks, etc.) under supervision.
• Perform heavy manual labor and prep work for sod installation or landscape maintenance.
• Maintain equipment through preventative actions and basic repairs.
• Haul materials to/from job sites and assist in resurfacing and road maintenance.
• Follow safety rules, document daily equipment use, and communicate with Crew Leader.

Skills

CDL walk-around

Safety awareness

Equipment operation

Manual labor

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The City of Port St. Lucie is an equal opportunity employer.

This position requires the applicant to successfully pass a drug screening.

This position requires DOT physical and drug screening.

Performs technical, skilled, labor-intensive work as an Equipment Operator Trainee. Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the City.

This position is considered an "Essential Position" for the purpose of Emergency Management. Emergency duties will be assigned as needed. This position requires 24 hours a day, 7 days per week availability during City of Port St. Lucie emergencies, as determined by City Administrators, the Emergency Manager, or City Officials.

The following duties are Illustrative for this position. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Keeps the mission, vision, and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives; maintains high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Operates equipment such as City vehicles, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, skid steer loaders, water trucks, power screens, tack trucks, and other equipment while under the supervision and guidance of a Crew Leader or Certified Operator/Designee.
• Operation of gasoline, diesel, and electric powered equipment such as walk-behind rollers, jackhammer/air compressor, trenchers, pumps, oxy-acetylene torch, vibratory compactors, chain saw, chipper/stump grinder, concrete/asphalt saws, circular saw, generator, portable cement mixer, hand tools, and other similar equipment.
• Performs heavy manual labor such as digging, lifting, and placement of various pipes (i.e. reinforced concrete pipes and plastic poly pipe).
• Prepares work area for sod installation and/or performs landscape maintenance.
• Operates small machinery/hand tools (i.e. concrete cutting saw, and tamper), prepares forms, and performs concrete finishing work.
• Performs all assigned maintenance tasks associated with the repair and resurfacing of City roadways including filling potholes, making street cuts using asphalts saws, using tampers and hot asphalt.
• Hauls a variety of material to/from the job site to facilitate completion of assigned projects.
• Performs preventative maintenance on several pieces of equipment.
• Works under the direction of a Crew Leader, Supervisor, Administrator, and/or Manager Designee from the Public Works Department.
• May be required to work hours other than the standard day shift should an emergency arise.
• Regular and punctual attendance.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma is required. Prior experience as an Equipment Operator or Heavy Equipment Operator for a comparable municipality is preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Possession of a valid driver’s license and maintenance of a clean driving record are required, with the ability to obtain a valid Florida driver’s license within 30 days from the date of hire.
• Valid Class B or Class A Florida Driver’s License with Tanker Endorsement and maintenance of a clean driving record is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of rules and regulations on safety and operation of equipment.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of operating light to heavy construction equipment.
• Skill in cleaning and maintaining medium and heavy construction equipment.
• Skill in the use of hand and power tools.
• Ability to make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment and detect problems with equipment.
• Ability to maintain daily logs of assigned equipment.
• Ability to perform manual work.
• Ability to follow and understand written and oral instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Skill in performing a CDL vehicle walk-around.
• Ability to focus on the positive in every situation.
• Ability to model respect for individuals, teams, and the organization.
• Ability to stay centered when challenged.
• Ability to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the department and public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow through with assigned tasks.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions that may be adverse and extreme (heat, humidity, cold, rain, etc.).

The employee is frequently exposed to noise, dust, fumes, airborne particles, uneven surfaces, heights, and stressful situations. The employee works with hazardous power tools and is exposed to heights up to 15 feet.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Steel-toe or composite shoes are mandatory.

Documentation Requirements

Please Read Carefully

Applicants, including City of Port St. Lucie employees, must upload and submit attached copies of their education credentials with the employment application. Please be sure to attach all required documents to your employment application each time you apply. Uploaded documents remain in your online profile, but they will not attach automatically, and you will be deemed ineligible without the proper documentation.

ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED MUST BE CLEAR, LEGIBLE, AND IN PROPER FORMAT.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT(S) ARE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION AND ARE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF:

1. Proof of education in the form of a diploma, degree, or transcripts. Foreign diplomas/degrees must be submitted with a credential evaluation report from an approved credential evaluation agency*. Translations of diplomas/degrees are not accepted. Audit/Academic reports are not accepted as substitutions for college transcripts.
2. Driver's License:A Valid Driver's License from any state (Equivalent to a State of Florida Class E) may be utilized upon application; however, within thirty (30) days from the date of hire, a State of Florida Driver's License (Class E or higher) must be presented.

*Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies:

• An accredited four-year college or university in the United States, OR
• A current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), OR
• A current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), OR
• A recognized Professional Organization

For an additional list of approved credential evaluation agencies, visit the Florida Department of Education

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents submitted with the employment application are in a format that is acceptable, clear, and legible for eligibility determination or risk being disqualified. Applicants, including City of Port St. Lucie employees, must completely detail their work experience on the employment application or risk being disqualified. Resumes will not be reviewed in place of the employment application. It is the applicant's responsibility to update their online profile with personal data, work experience, education, and certifications when submitting application(s); failure to do so may result in disqualification.