Heavy Equipment Operator

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC; New Braunfels (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts / Health-Sp

Time Off - 11 company-paid holidays +

Employee Assistance Program

Telemedicine

401(k) matching up to 5%

Life and Disability Insurance

Voluntary Life Protection Plans

Rewards and Recognition Programs

Financial Planning

Employee Discount

Job summary

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC in Texas is seeking an Operator to safely handle, move, and process materials across the facility. This role operates heavy equipment—forklifts, front-end loaders, and excavators—to unload, stage, and transport materials while maintaining QA/QC standards.

You will perform daily inspections, support safety, environmental compliance, and cross-train in multiple areas to boost plant efficiency and ensure compliant operations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bi-lingual - Spanish speaking is a plus.
• 3 years of experience in industrial operations, shipping and receiving, warehouse operations, material handling, or a related field preferred.
• Must have experience operating a forklift, excavator, front-end loader.
• Experience operating forklifts, front-end loaders, excavators, and other heavy equipment required; certification or the ability to become certified is preferred.
• Basic understanding of QA/QC processes, including material inspection and documentation, preferred.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow operating procedures, work instructions, safety policies, and environmental regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Basic math, reading, verbal communication, and written communication skills.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift up to 51 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks, including standing, walking, bending, climbing, kneeling, and entering/exiting heavy equipment throughout the workday.
• Ability to work in dusty environments, around industrial equipment and hazardous materials, and in varying indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
• Must be able to wear PPE, including respirators, and pass a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and respirator fit test.
• Must be willing to cross-train and develop operational knowledge of all facility processes to support plant operations and business needs.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate forklifts, front-end loaders, excavators, and other powered industrial equipment.
• Receive, unload, stage, and transport incoming materials throughout the facility.
• Load and unload trucks, containers, roll-off boxes, and other material handling equipment.
• Process materials in the solidification pit by adding required materials, blending, mixing, and preparing waste streams according to operating procedures.
• Perform routine material handling and movement to support daily plant operations.
• Conduct daily pre-use inspections of heavy equipment, forklifts, and powered tools; promptly report equipment deficiencies.
• Perform daily facility and work area inspections to identify and correct safety, environmental, and operational concerns.
• Assist with QA/QC activities, including inspection of incoming materials, verification of documentation, sample collection as required, and identification of non-conforming materials.
• Follow established operating procedures, work instructions, and environmental compliance requirements during material processing.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas through routine housekeeping of processing areas, equipment, roadways, and storage locations.
• Communicate equipment issues, material discrepancies, and operational concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
• Support preventive maintenance by cleaning equipment and reporting maintenance needs.
• Comply with all company safety policies, environmental regulations, and standard operating procedures.
• Participate in safety meetings, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cross-train in multiple operational areas and assist with other facility processes as business needs require.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Forklift operation

Front-end loader operation

Excavator operation

Bilingual Spanish

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift

Excavator

Front-end Loader

Job description

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC, is a recognized leader in providing sustainability solutions, with three divisions providing industry-leading services. With a mission to innovate solutions to meet clients' sustainability goals, VLS has over 1,200 employees in 40+ locations across North America.

VLS Waste Services provides customized waste processing solutions for hazardous and non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste, including landfill diversion and sustainability programs, solidification of liquid waste, recycling, wastewater treatment, and waste sequestration.

Railcar Services

VLS Railcar Cleaning and Repair Services division provides specialty cleaning services for difficult-to-clean products, including chemicals, hardened materials, and pressurized gases, and comprehensive repair services for certified full-service repairs, tank car qualifications, and maintenance.

Marine Services

VLS Marine Services division offers state-of-the-art barge cleaning, repair, and gas-free facilities for various chemical solvents and downstream petroleum products.

Job Summary

Role Summary

The Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient handling, movement, and processing of materials throughout the facility. This position operates heavy equipment, including forklifts, front-end loaders, and excavators, to unload incoming materials, transport materials within the facility, and support processing operations. Operators perform daily equipment and site inspections, maintain housekeeping standards, and assist with quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities to ensure materials are managed in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Operators are cross trained across facility operations and are expected to develop and maintain a working knowledge of all operational processes to provide operational flexibility and support plant efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Safely operate forklifts, front-end loaders, excavators, and other powered industrial equipment.
• Receive, unload, stage, and transport incoming materials throughout the facility.
• Load and unload trucks, containers, roll-off boxes, and other material handling equipment.
• Process materials in the solidification pit by adding required materials, blending, mixing, and preparing waste streams according to operating procedures.
• Perform routine material handling and movement to support daily plant operations.
• Conduct daily pre-use inspections of heavy equipment, forklifts, and powered tools; promptly report equipment deficiencies.
• Perform daily facility and work area inspections to identify and correct safety, environmental, and operational concerns.
• Assist with Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) activities, including inspection of incoming materials, verification of documentation, sample collection as required, and identification of non-conforming materials.
• Follow established operating procedures, work instructions, and environmental compliance requirements during material processing.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas through routine housekeeping of processing areas, equipment, roadways, and storage locations.
• Safely use powered and non-powered hand tools and equipment required to perform assigned duties.
• Communicate equipment issues, material discrepancies, and operational concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
• Support preventive maintenance activities by cleaning equipment and reporting maintenance needs.
• Comply with all company safety policies, environmental regulations, and standard operating procedures.
• Participate in safety meetings, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cross-train in multiple operational areas and assist with other facility processes as business needs require.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bi-lingual - Spanish speaking is a plus.
• (3) years of experience in industrial operations, shipping and receiving, warehouse operations, material handling, or a related field preferred.
• Must have experience operating a forklift, excavator, front-end loader.
• Experience operating forklifts, front-end loaders, excavators, and other heavy equipment required; certification or the ability to become certified is preferred.
• Basic understanding of Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) processes, including material inspection and documentation, preferred.
• Ability to safely inspect, operate, and maintain heavy equipment, powered industrial trucks, and other powered and non-powered tools.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow operating procedures, work instructions, safety policies, and environmental regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Basic math, reading, verbal communication, and written communication skills.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift up to 51 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks, including standing, walking, bending, climbing, kneeling, and entering/exiting heavy equipment throughout the workday.
• Ability to work in dusty environments, around industrial equipment and hazardous materials, and in varying indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, and successfully pass a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and respirator fit test.
• Must be willing to cross-train and develop operational knowledge of all facility processes to support plant operations and business needs.

What's in it for you!

At VLS our employees are the core of our business. As such, we value our employees' physical, mental, and financial wellbeing by providing first class, high value benefits and resources that are centered around a proper work-life balance.

Physical and Mental Wellbeing: VLS is committed to supporting our employees' physical and mental health by providing:

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - Based on each employee's need, we offer various high quality, low-premium medical, dental and vision plans, which include our first-in-class concierge service (available in Spanish) and 2nd MD Offering.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Healthcare Saving Accounts (HSA) -- Set aside pre-tax money to use toward your health care spending. VLS provides an employer contribution to all HSA accounts.

Time Off - We offer 11 (eleven) company-paid holidays, in addition to our paid time off and voluntary time off plans.

Employee Assistance Program -- 24/7 assistance and counseling services that are 100% confidential and free to all employees and their dependents.

Telemedicine -- All employees and dependents receive free virtual visits by licensed practitioners any time, any day...including holidays!

Financial and Retirement Planning: At VLS we offer the following to assist our employees with planning around their finances and saving for retirement:

401(k) - Generous 401(k) matching program after 90 days of employment. VLS will match up to 5% of your pay every pay period. Matching contributions are 100% vested immediately.

Life and Disability Insurance -- Employer-paid life insurance, along with short-term and long-term disability coverage provided to all full-time employees.

Voluntary Life Protection Plans -- Employees and their dependents can elect coverage in our voluntary life/add, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident plans.

Rewards and Recognition Programs -- We celebrate our employees! From birthdays to anniversaries and other various milestones/achievements, we have programs in place to recognize our employees.

Financial Planning - Free One on One financial planning with a certified Financial Planner/Coach.

Employee Discount - Employee Discount Program for savings on everyday goods and services at various retailers throughout the US.

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