EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - WATER QUALITY *

City of Fort Smith; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Fort Smith is seeking a versatile Equipment Operator to support water/sewer maintenance and street repair projects. The role involves operating a range of heavy equipment, performing pre‑ventive maintenance, and ensuring safety in busy urban environments.

The incumbent will drive between sites, assist with training, and work under supervision to repair mains, service lines, hydrants, and piping while adhering to City and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• The incumbent must possess or have the ability to obtain within 9 months of appointment a Class “A” CDL driver’s license with no air brake restriction.
• May consider any equivalent combination of experience and/or training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Responsibilities

• Operate assigned small and heavy construction equipment in a safe manner.
• Load and off load heavy equipment from trailers safely.
• Drive between job sites and load/unload equipment in congested neighborhoods.
• Dig around utility lines and pour flowable fill and concrete for street repair.
• Train new maintenance personnel and operators as required.

Skills

Operate heavy equipment

Good verbal and written communication

Safety and regulations

Ability to work in urban environments

Education

High school diploma or GED

Class D driver's license

Class A CDL within 9 months

Class B CDL with air brake & tanker endorsements

Job description

Job Description

The incumbent, under the guidance of the Water or Sewer Line Maintenance Supervisors, provides general labor and operates equipment to accomplish tasks safely and efficiently. Works in accordance with City, State, Federal regulations and AWWA Standards to repair or replace mains, service lines, fire hydrants, valves, and transmission lines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Note: All City of Fort Smith positions require the employee to provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees, and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. Must show cooperation and respect to fellow employees and supervisors at all times.

1. Operate assigned small and heavy construction equipment including but not limited to hand tools, jack hammers, hot saws, dump truck, backhoe, bulldozer and large excavator in a safe manner.
2. Load and off load heavy equipment from trailer in the safest manner possible.
3. Ensure dump truck, backhoe, and other assigned equipment are operating properly.
4. Ensure equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance and minor repairs are performed as needed.
5. Drive from one job site to another. Load and unload equipment and tools in congested neighborhoods.
6. Dig up or around Fiber Optic lines, High/Low voltage electric lines, High/Low pressure gas lines, Telephone lines, Video/Communication lines and other utility lines on daily basis.
7. Prep hard surfaces on jobsite and pour flowable fill and concrete for street repair.
8. Perform other duties including, but not limited to, fill in for leadperson and train new maintenance persons and operators on assigned equipment as required or assigned.
9. Must be able to classify soil types for stability and excavate area to meet sloping, benching and trench box guidelines for the safety of the crew.
10. Must be able to operate in busy urban environments such as in streets, curb and gutter, bar ditches, drainage easements, highways, highway right of ways, parking lots, sidewalks, driveways, etc.
11. Must be able to backfill and restore excavation sites to their original condition. This includes sloping ditches, excavate to grade for repair by other departments.
12. Required to participate in stand‑by and callout rotation as needed.
13. Required to maintain residence within 40 minute driving time to the City Maintenance Center to limit response time for calls to service.
14. Regular attendance and timeliness are required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

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 to perform the position at the tier of which the individual is applying. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Equipment Operator in Training

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Class “D” driver’s license is required.
• The incumbent must possess or have the ability to obtain within 9 months of appointment a Class “A” CDL driver’s license with no air brake restriction.

All special skills may be acquired on the job.

Education and/or Experience: Equipment Operator I

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Must have a valid “Class A” CDL license, with no air brake restriction.
• All special skills may be acquired on the job.

Education and/or Experience: Equipment Operator II (Sewer Only – Vac/Jet Truck)

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience as a CDL driver and in operating heavy construction equipment.
• Must have a valid “Class B” CDL license that includes air brake and tanker endorsements.
• The incumbent must possess or have the ability to obtain within 9 months of appointment a Class “A” CDL driver’s license with no air brake restriction.
• 1 year of experience in the operation of heavy hydraulic equipment.
• All special skills may be acquired on the job.

Education and/or Experience: Equipment Operator III

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience as CDL driver.
• Must have a valid “Class A” CDL license with no air brake restriction.
• 2 years of experience in the operation of heavy excavating equipment.
• Flagger certified by the American Traffic Safety Services Association.
• All special skills may be acquired on the job.

May consider any equivalent combination of experience and/or training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Class IV Water Distribution License is preferred.
• Certified in Competent Person Excavation, Excavation Trench Safety, Confined Space Entry, Backhoe and Excavator training, Asbestos training.
• Flagger certified by the American Traffic Safety Services Association.

Other Skills and Abilities

The incumbent should possess knowledge of the use of tools and equipment in the department.

The incumbent must have good verbal and written communications skills as well as good organizational skills.

Problem solving and analytical ability are required to perform the duties of this position.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required.

The incumbent should have knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.

Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures and equipment with aptitude to learn new software applications.

Knowledge of structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform 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 must frequently stand, walk, talk and hear.Frequently sit; use hands to handle objects, and reach with hands and arms. The incumbent must also stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and climb or balance. The employee is also required to use sense of smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, color, distance, and peripheral vision. Depth perception and the ability to adjust focus are also required.

The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 100 pounds

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 position the incumbent is exposed to hazardous materials (Asbestos cement pipe, Dry‑Tec Granular Calcium Hypochlorite/Chlorine, fumes from oxyacetylene torch and arc welder, etc.) to outdoor weather conditions and is required to work near moving mechanical parts. The incumbent is also exposed to non-weather related extreme heat or cold. The incumbent is also at risk of electrical shock and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

NOTICE OF CONSENT DECREES POSTING

The City of Fort Smith, Arkansas ("City") has entered into a Consent Decree in litigation with the United States of America and the State of Arkansas ("Consent Decree"). The Consent Decree was filed on April 6, 2015, in civil action 14cv02266PKH, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas Fort Smith Division. The Consent Decree is available for review or copying on the City's website where it may be found at www.FortSmithWater.org .