PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TREE MAINTENANCE

City of Huntington Beach; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Huntington Beach is seeking a Public Works Equipment Operator to join the Tree Maintenance Division within the Public Works Department. Under general supervision, you will operate a range of maintenance vehicles and equipment to care for beaches, landscapes, streets, trees, and other City property.

Ideal candidates will have a high school diploma, at least two years of heavy equipment experience, and a valid California Class A or B driver's license.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience: Two years operating field maintenance or heavy equipment.
• Licenses/Certifications: Valid California Class A or B license required.
• ISA Arborist certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation.

Responsibilities

• Receives work orders and assigns tasks under lead worker or crew leader.
• Operates a range of maintenance equipment including dump trucks, backhoes, graders, and other City equipment.
• Establishes safe work areas and coordinates with employees, contractors, or the public as needed.
• Performs maintenance on beaches, landscapes, streets, and trees; performs grading and utility work as required.
• Responds to emergencies and may work outside normal hours; adheres to safety procedures.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety awareness

Team coordination

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

California Class A/B driver's license

ISA Arborist certification

Job description

Here in Huntington Beach, we believe passionately that the key to becoming the best beach City in the world starts and ends with finding the right people to join our team. At this time, we have an outstanding career opportunity available, as we're looking for the right person to serve as Public Works Equipment Operator within the Tree Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department.

The Position

With general supervision, operates a variety of maintenance vehicles and equipment to maintain City beaches, landscape, streets, trees, or other City property and performs other duties as required within the scope of the classification. The Public Works Equipment Operator differs from Senior Public Works Maintenance Worker in that the Public Works Equipment Operator has primary responsibility for operating heavy-duty vehicles and equipment in the maintenance and repair of the City’s beaches, landscape, right-of-way/streets, or trees while the Senior Public Works Maintenance Worker serves as a member of the crew performing maintenance and repair of City maintenance projects.

• Receives work orders and project assignments from lead worker or crew leader
• Assembles and prepares equipment and tools necessary to complete assignments
• Establishes a safe work area and coordinates activities with employees, contractors or the general public as necessary
• Depending on assignment, operates a variety of maintenance equipment including but not limited to: dump trucks, ten wheelers, backhoes, graders, loaders, rollers, asphalt spreaders, BOBCAT or equivalent, street sweepers, sand sweepers and sanitizers, can dumpers, reciprocating or concrete saws, water trucks, aerial lifts and trimmers, root cutters, stump grinders, pruners, and/or mowers
• Performs duties associated with equipment such as landscape and tree maintenance (water trucks for watering, tractors, loaders, and backhoes to move and remove materials, aerial lifts to trim trees)
• Depending on assignment, removes roots and dirt; performs rough and fine grading repairs or replaces utility line and backfills soils in excavated areas
• Operates front end bobcat loads to carry sandand materials to and from dump trucks and dump sites
• Operates forklift to move and store materials
• May operate patch trucks and paver equipment in support of streets maintenance crews, depending on assignment
• Operates dump trucks and flatbed trucks
• Operates jackhammers and power hand tools
• Responds to emergency calls for service on a call-out basis, and works outside of normal business hours as needed
• Observes standard operating procedures and safety practices
• Attends training; supports and actively promotes the City’s safety programs assists with periodic safety inspections; identifies and corrects safety hazards
• May assume work of Leadworker during absence

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent certificate.
• Experience:Two (2)years of experience operating field maintenance or heavy equipment. Previous experience in area of assignment preferred.
• Licenses/Certifications:Possession of a valid California Class A or B driver's license and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and throughout employment. A California Class A driver's license must be obtained within twelve (12) months of appointment and maintained during course of employment.
• Certified I.S.A. Arborist or equivalent certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Positions in this classification are deemed safety sensitive under Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and subject to drug and alcohol testing.

Employees regularly assigned/required to drive a city or personal vehicle in the course and scope of work shall be required to participate in the DMV Employer Pull Notice program.

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

• An online application must be completed in full.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they meet the minimum education, experience, license and/or certification requirements to be considered. Applicants whose qualifications best meet the City’s needs will be invited to participate in a virtual oral examination (weighted 100%) tentatively scheduled for October 14, 2026.
• Eligible List
• Selection Interview
• Background
• Appointment