Senior Equipment Operator -Waste Management Services

Anne Arundel County; Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Bureau of Waste Management Services, is seeking an experienced heavy equipment operator to join our team at the Millersville Landfill. This is a safety sensitive, full-time position requiring skilled operation of multiple heavy machines.

Responsibilities include loading and moving trash, compacting waste, constructing temporary roads, and conducting maintenance. The role may involve overtime, trainings, and supervising staff as needed.

Qualifications

• Six (6) or more years of experience operating heavy construction vehicles, equipment, and power tools.
• Graduation from high school or vocational school.
• Possession of a valid Class A or B commercial driver's license (CDL) with tanker endorsements preferred or ability to obtain within six months.
• Ability to lead a maintenance crew and train staff; strong safety knowledge.
• Ability to read engineer blueprints and follow maps/directions.

Responsibilities

• Safely operating heavy equipment including bulldozer, loader, compactor, excavator, and trucks to load, move, compact waste, and place cover soil.
• Perform equipment inspections and minor preventive maintenance.
• Conduct training classes and instruct staff on proper operation of heavy equipment.
• Read GPS software to determine grades and elevations; use surveys to construct landfill features.
• Lead a crew when needed and respond to emergencies or overtime requirements.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Training others

Safety compliance

GPS interpretation

Reading blueprints

Public interaction

Maintenance knowledge

Education

High school diploma or vocational school

Tools

GPS software

Engineer's blueprints

Job description

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Bureau of Waste Management Services, is seeking an experienced heavy equipment operator to join our team at the Anne Arundel County's landfill. This is the highest level of skilled equipment operation, primarily involving heavy construction equipment. This is a full time, permanent, represented, and safety sensitive position.

NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK

This position is a key part of a team responsible for the safe and efficient operation of motorized heavy equipment at the Millersville Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility.

Responsibilities include loading and moving trash and other materials, compacting trash, and placing cover soil in accordance with established standards and regulatory requirements. Other routine projects include constructing temporary roadways, grinding yard waste, repairing and maintaining stormwater management features, and general landfill maintenance.

This role also involves training, developing, and certifying employees for higher-level Maintenance Worker and Equipment Operator classes. Employees in this class are expected to be specialists in the operation and preventive maintenance of a variety of vehicles and construction equipment, as well as skilled laborer duties in waste management services. This position interacts with managers, supervisors, other county employees, and the public, explaining laws, regulations, and providing information and assistance as needed.

The work requires considerable judgment with minimum supervision. An employee in this class can lead a crew, give directions to support employees, and may act in a supervisory capacity when necessary. Due to the nature of this work, an employee is expected to be available to work hours beyond the normal work week and respond to work emergencies when required. This is a safety-sensitive position requiring personal protective equipment (hard hats, safety shoes, safety vests) and considerable public contact, requiring courtesy and patience.

Note: Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Safely operating heavy equipment, including bulldozer, track loader, landfill compactor, excavator, and off-road trucks, to load and move trash and other materials, compact trash, and place cover soil in accordance with established standards and regulatory requirements.
• Operating other vehicles and equipment such as a rubber tire loader, horizontal grinder, and water truck.
• Performing equipment and vehicle inspections and minor preventative maintenance.
• Conducting training classes and instructing employees on proper operation of heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Certifying employee proficiency in proper operation of heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Reading and understanding GPS software to determine grades and elevation.
• Use standard survey methods for determining grades and elevations to construct landfill final outside slopes, cover terraces, drainage ditches, roads, and down chutes.
• Responding to various types of emergencies such as snow, fire, hazmat, and other emergencies and call‑outs during and after normal work hours.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Extensive knowledge of the operating characteristics and preventive maintenance requirements of heavy construction vehicles, equipment and power tools. Extensive knowledge of construction practices in maintaining roads, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, storm drains and setting of grade stakes. Extensive knowledge of the work hazards and applicable Federal, State and local laws concerning safety precautions required to be applied in operating construction equipment and power tools. Extensive knowledge of how to effectively and safely rig vehicles, loads and products for towing. Extensive knowledge of applicable traffic laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to operating equipment. Extensive knowledge of the primary and secondary road system in Anne Arundel County. Extensive knowledge of Federal, State and County health regulations that pertain to the transporting and disposal of sewage, sewage sludge, recyclable items and solid waste. Extensive knowledge in excavating around buried utilities. Ability to train and instructs employees in the proper operation of construction vehicles and equipment. Ability to lead a maintenance crew in performing work assignments. Ability to read and follow engineer blue prints. Ability to read and follow street map directions. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to stand or walk over rough terrain for long periods of time. Ability to work in confined spaces requiring considerable bending, crouching, stretching or crawling. Ability to climb ladders or scaffolding. Ability to lift heavy objects and bulky items. Ability to work in dirty, noisy, dusty conditions where very disagreeable odors are present. Ability to work with dangerous hand and power tools. Ability to work hours beyond the standard workweek and schedule as required. Ability to establish effective working relationships with other employees. Ability to communicate effectively with the public, and employees.

Education: Graduation from high school or vocational school.

Experience: Six (6) or more years of experience in the operation of heavy construction vehicles, equipment, and power tools.

Additional Requirements

A valid commercial Class A or B motor vehicle operator's license, as determined by area of assignment.

NOTE: Longevity pay is available based on years of service.

NOTE: This is a Safety Sensitive position and employees in this position are subject to Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) and Alcohol testing.

NOTE: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level and are not intended to include all of the essential functions of this position.

NOTE: A skills test, including the operation of heavy equipment, will be conducted as part of the interview process.Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following:

• Possession of a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with tanker endorsements or the ability to obtain the tanker endorsements within six (6) months of hire.
• Six (6) or more years of experience operating heavy landfill equipment, including but not limited to: Landfill Compactor, Tracked Bulldozer, Tracked Loader, Tracked Excavator, Rubber Tire Loader, Articulating Dump Truck, Water Tanker Truck, and Horizontal Grinder.
• Experience with landfill operations and solid waste placement and compaction.
• Extensive customer service experience.
• The ability to work frequent mandatory overtime.