Senior Equipment Operator -Waste Management Services

Anne Arundel County Office of Personnel; Maryland; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in Maryland is seeking an experienced heavy equipment operator to join their public works team at the landfill. The successful candidate will be responsible for operating heavy construction equipment, training employees, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Minimum requirements include a high school education and at least six years of experience. The role also involves conducting maintenance checks and responding to emergencies, and it is considered safety-sensitive, requiring personal protective equipment.

Qualifications

• Must have six or more years of experience in operating heavy construction vehicles.
• Requires a valid commercial Class A or B motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Capable of performing equipment inspections and maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate various heavy equipment at the landfill.
• Conduct training classes and certify employee proficiency.
• Respond to emergencies and perform minor maintenance.

Skills

Operating heavy construction equipment

Preventive maintenance

Training and instructing employees

Reading GPS and engineering blueprints

Communication with the public

Education

High school or vocational school graduation

Tools

Bulldozer

Excavator

Landfill compactor

Water truck

Horizontal grinder

Job description

Position 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. It 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.

The 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.

Employees interact 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, allowing a crew leader role and supervisory capacity when necessary. Due to the nature of this work, employees may be required to work beyond the normal work week and respond to emergencies. This is a safety‑sensitive position requiring personal protective equipment (hard hats, safety shoes, safety vests) and public contact.

Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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 preventive 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.
• Using 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 to 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 instruct 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 blueprints and street map directions. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to stand or walk over rough terrain for long periods of time and to work in confined spaces requiring 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 and to use 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 and to communicate effectively with the public and employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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 required by area of assignment.
• Note: Longevity pay is available based on years of service.
• Note: This is a Safety Sensitive position and employees are subject to Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) and Alcohol testing.
• Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated are for determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level and are not intended to include all essential functions of this position.
• Note: A skills test, including the operation of heavy equipment, will be conducted as part of the interview process.

Supplemental Qualifications

• 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.