Heavy Equipment Operator

Polk County (OR); Dallas (OR); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Polk County seeks a skilled Heavy Equipment Operator to oversee road construction and maintenance. This position requires operating complex machinery and training lower classification employees. A high school diploma or equivalent and a valid Class A Oregon commercial driver's license are essential.

Benefits

11 paid holidays per year

8 hours of vacation earned monthly

Full health benefits for employee and family

PERS employer funded contributions

Optional benefits for life insurance and disability

Qualifications

• Four years of road construction experience, including two years as an equipment operator.
• Experience operating heavier equipment.
• Valid Class A Oregon commercial driver's license needed.

Responsibilities

• Operate specialized road construction and maintenance equipment.
• Train lower classification employees on equipment operation.
• Perform jobs with independence from direct supervision.

Skills

Team Leadership

Heavy Equipment Operation

Training Ability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Class A Oregon Commercial Driver's License

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB
Operates the most complex and specialized road construction and maintenance equipment requiring journeyman level skills. Trains employees in lower classifications in the operation of motorized construction equipment and proper working procedures. This classification is distinguished from lower classifications by the greater skill level required in operating a variety of heavy equipment and the independence from direct supervision in the performance of some jobs.

WORK SCHEDULE
Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from high school or successful completion of the equivalent GED. Four years of experience in general road construction and maintenance work with at least two of those years as an equipment operator and at least one year operating heavier, more specialized equipment; or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Possession of a valid Class A Oregon commercial driver's license at the time of appointment. Class A Oregon commercial driver’s license must be free of restrictions for air brakes, fifth-wheel, or manual transmission and must include a tanker endorsement.

Polk County, the Organization:

Polk County takes pride in knowing that our employees are what makes the County a great place to work. We have a strong desire for each employee to feel respected; connected to the department they work for as well as other County departments and the community at large; and know that they are critical to County business. We understand that work may be necessary, but not what should define each individual. We all have diverse personalities and interests away from the job, and at Polk County we encourage our employees to be connected to something bigger than work.

Benefits:

Polk County offers generous employee benefits including, but not limited to:

• 11 paid holidays per year
• 8 hours of vacation earned monthly with increases every 5 years
• 8 hours of sick leave earned monthly
• 4-5 Personal Leave Days earned each fiscal year (Depends on position; prorated depending on date of hire)
• PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) - 100% employer funded contributions
• Full health benefits for the employee and qualified family members with the employee paying only 10% of the premium
• Basic life Insurance - employer paid
• Optional benefits such as additional life insurance, short term disability, deferred compensation savings program and flexible spending accounts for unreimbursed medical and dependent care expenses
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Our Community:

Polk County is located in the Willamette Valley just an hour from the Pacific Coast to the west and an hour from Portland to the north. The population is approximately 87,000 and the area spans about 744 square miles, with two thirds of the western part of the county being forest. National protected areas include the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Siuslaw National Forest.

The County is part of the agricultural richness the Willamette Valley has to offer. In recent decades, the valley has also become a major wine producer, with Polk County being one of the best in the area. The valley is often known as the “Oregon Wine Country.” Polk County has over 25 wineries alone.

Polk County also houses the beautiful liberal arts college, Western Oregon University (WOU), and is only 30 miles from Oregon State University. WOU was an inaugural winner of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. This award recognizes universities and colleges that have demonstrated the highest level of commitment and action towards fostering a campus community that celebrates all the many facets of diversity. WOU is one of the most diverse universities in Oregon and has a higher percentage of Latino students in the Oregon University system.

Please refer to the Class Specification for the full job description and minimum experience, education and training requirements for this position.

** A cover letter is required. If you are a military veteran and want to apply for Veterans' Hiring Preference, you must attach the Veterans' Preference Form (available on our website) and your DD-214/215 and/or disability letter. **

**DO NOT ATTACH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS (transcripts, letters of recommendation, certificates, etc.) They will not be considered at the application stage. You may bring them to the interview if you are selected to interview. **