Solid Waste Facility Operator

Charlotte, County of (FL); Punta Gorda (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte County seeks a Safety- and results-driven Equipment Operator to support landfill operations. You will operate loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, compactors, and trucks to maintain berms, drainage, and waste compaction while ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

Responsibilities include routine maintenance, GPS-guided grading, and assisting with litter control. Customer interactions and report preparation are also part of the role.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1 year of experience in operating backhoes, tandem dump trucks, or other heavy-duty construction equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate light, medium, and heavy equipment to support landfill operations.
• Load/unload materials and assist with berms, drainage, cover, erosion control, and waste compaction.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance and use GPS for grading/positioning.
• Prepare daily/weekly activity reports and assist with manual labor when needed.
• Interact with customers to direct them to disposal areas and explain landfill policies.

Skills

Equipment operation

Safety compliance

Customer service

Record keeping

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

GPS systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Are you someone who takes pride in operating equipment safely and making a visible impact every day? In this role, you’ll operate light, medium, and heavy-duty motorized equipment to support daily operations at the County’s solid waste landfill. Your skills and experience will help ensure waste is processed efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

You’ll work with a wide range of equipment—such as loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, compactors, roll-off and tanker trucks—to construct, maintain, and manage landfill operations. Your day-to-day work may include loading and unloading materials, building and maintaining berms and drainage systems, applying daily and intermediate cover, controlling erosion, and ensuring proper waste compaction and grading.

Safety and environmental protection are central to this role. You’ll establish safe work zones, monitor site conditions, identify hazards, and take action to correct issues when needed. You’ll also perform routine equipment maintenance, operate GPS systems for grading and positioning, and assist with litter control and hazardous material handling in accordance with regulations.

In addition to equipment operation, you’ll interact with customers—helping direct them to proper disposal areas and answering questions about landfill policies and procedures. You’ll complete daily or weekly activity reports and assist with manual labor or repair tasks when equipment operation is not required.

If you enjoy hands‑on work, operating heavy equipment, and contributing to safe, environmentally responsible waste management, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to put your skills to work every day.

Education and Experience:

An equivalent combination of relevant training, education and experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year of experience in the operation of backhoes, tandem dump trucks, or other heavy‑duty construction equipment.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Within three (3) months of position assignment:
  • Must maintain a valid Class “B” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), including appropriate endorsements.
  • Must possess and maintain Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO) Equipment Operator Short Course Certification.

What You Bring:

You have a working knowledge of departmental policies, modern office practices, and the computer tools used to support daily operations, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other job‑related applications. You understand the operation, routine care, and basic maintenance of vehicles and equipment used in construction, maintenance, and landfill‑related work.

Safety is a priority for you. You’re familiar with safe work methods, occupational hazards, and traffic laws governing the operation and transport of equipment on public roadways—including the proper handling and transport of hazardous materials. You also have an understanding of excavation, drainage, surfacing, and related construction practices, particularly as they apply to landfill operations and solid waste regulations.

You’re skilled at operating vehicles and equipment safely and according to manufacturer guidelines, recognizing equipment issues, and making minor adjustments when needed. Organized and dependable, you can work independently within established procedures or as part of a team, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and follow written and verbal instructions.

Clear communication and customer service are key strengths. You’re able to provide guidance, solve problems with tact and resourcefulness, maintain accurate records and reports, and build positive working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, service providers, and the public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, climbing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception. Frequent lifting of up to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work typically requires moderate exposure to one or more disagreeable conditions (i.e., irate customers, outdoors weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme heat, odors or dust).

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS

The position requires moderate exposure to risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, assault and battery, communicable disease, etc.).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an Affirmitive Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.