Lead Equipment Operator

University of Maine; Orono (ME); On-site; USD 55,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maine seeks a full-time Equipment Operator to perform heavy equipment operations on campus and project sites. Tasks include snow removal, site preparation, landscaping, and concrete-related work, with oversight of crew and safety compliance.

Responsibilities include inspecting equipment, reading blueprints, providing direction to operators, and ensuring DOT/OSHA standards are followed. The role requires physical stamina and ability to work in variable conditions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Class A CDL required.
• Minimum five years of heavy equipment operation experience.
• Exposure to OSHA/NIOSH/DOT regulations.
• Trailering excavator experience.

Responsibilities

• Trailer excavator to job sites.
• Snow removal.
• Landscaping and lawnmowing.
• Event setup and tear down.
• Line striping.
• Office moves.
• Asphalt patching.
• General earth work.
• Write estimates.
• Demolition.
• Manual labor.
• Maintain catch basins.
• Oversee equipment maintenance and logs.

Skills

Customer service

Equipment operation

Traffic laws

Safety practices

Blueprint reading

OSHA/DOT

Equipment maintenance

Records

Training others

Manual labor

Education

High school diploma or GED

CDL Class A

5 years heavy equipment experience

OSHA/DOT exposure familiarity

Trailering excavator experience

Job description

This classification performs defined responsibilities related to the operation of vehicles and/or heavy equipment of various sizes and complexity, and on various levels of projects. Incumbents may be assigned to operate a single or multiple types of heavy equipment and may work on defined tasks or multiple phases of a project. This classification may set up the worksite and/or leads a crew based on the campus and project assignment. Full-time, regular position, 40 hours per week, 5 days per week. Normal daily work hours are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This position pays $26.64/hour.

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Trailer excavator to job sites
• Snow removal
• Landscaping and lawnmowing
• Event Set up and tear down
• Line striping
• Office moves
• Asphalt patching
• General Earth work
• Write Estimates
• Demolition
• Manual Labor
• Maintaining Catch Basins
• Oversee maintenance needs of equipment, log maintenance and fleet needs by reviewing logs to ensure accuracy, requesting equipment needs, and scheduling maintenance
• Read and interpret blueprints for site work and safety compliance, ensure Federal and State regulations are implemented
• Proper setting up work site
• Inspecting work of other Equipment Operators to ensure they can proceed
• Inspecting and maintaining their equipment; related duties in support of other departments
• Provide work direction and review to tea of Equipment Operators
• Provides dig safe instructions on site, directing crew, determines flow of work, safety follow-ups, inspect work of others
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level

About the University:

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state.

UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world.

More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Visit the Maine Office of Tourism to learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D)
• (Class A) Commercial Driver’s License
• Five years of heavy equipment operation experience
• Exposure to OSHA (State and Federal), NIOSH, DOT confined space regulations
• Trailering excavator experience

Skills:

• Customer service principles
• Procedures for operating, inspecting, maintaining, and storing assigned equipment
• Traffic laws and regulations governing equipment operation
• Occupational hazards involved and the safety precautions necessary to the proper operation of assigned motorized equipment; use of assigned tools/equipment
• Procedures and techniques involved in assigned work processes
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints
• Occupational requirements per OSHA, DOT, etc.
• Identifying equipment malfunctions
• Maintaining records and reports, if required
• Providing training to other employees, if required
• Performing heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, often under unfavorable conditions

Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, fingering, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Heavy work: The ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Lifting and exerting forces more than 50 pounds requires assistance by other employee(s) or mechanical assistance. Individual forces must never exceed 50 pounds.

Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, wetness, humidity, fire, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, difficult driving conditions, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, intense noises and travel.

Ability to conform to Federal DOT drug and alcohol testing rules and regulations. Ability to work longhours as needed (snow removal and emergency situations) as directed.

Other Information:

Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references.

Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30p.m. EST on October 19, 2026.

For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Jodi Munster at [e-mail] or 581-2720.

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening and post offer physical.

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/.

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report. If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.