Utility Worker I – Solid Waste Management

City and County of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

City and County of Denver’s Solid Waste Management team is hiring a Utility Worker I to perform heavy and light labor on city trash collection projects. The role requires lifting, operating basic equipment, and supporting repairs on facilities and roads.

You’ll work on-site with a four-day, 10-hour shift schedule after training, at one of our campuses. The position offers a competitive hourly wage, paid time off, and full-time benefits, with opportunities for advancement within the DOTI.

Qualifications

• No formal education or experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lift and empty heavy solid waste containers into disposal trucks, operate hydraulic compaction unit, and wash trucks as needed.
• Can be assigned to dead animal, e-waste, or extra trash collection including large items.
• Performs unskilled, light to heavy physical labor on construction, maintenance, and repair projects.
• Assists skilled trade workers by performing minor repairs to buildings and facilities including painting, plastering, carpentry, plumbing repairs, and simple electrical tasks.
• Performs minor repairs to gardening and grounds equipment, vehicles, and machinery including replacement parts.
• Operates light equipment powered by small engines for maintenance, cleaning and minor construction projects.
• Performs pre-trip inspection on equipment and secures, cleans and cares for tools and equipment.
• Places and removes barricades, cones, and other traffic control and safety devices.

Job description

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $20.06 - $23.00 an hour. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location & Schedule

• In this position, you can expect to work on-site five days per week during the training period.
• Upon completion of training, you will transition to a four-day, 10-hour shift schedule at one of our three campuses: Central Platte, Cherry Creek, or Rosalyn. Campus assignments are not guaranteed and may change based on operational needs.
• This role may require occasional holiday coverage. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), through its employees, enhances the quality of life in Denver by efficiently delivering effective, high quality, safe and equitable public infrastructure, and services. For more information, please visit the DOTI website.
DOTI’s Commitment to Equity:

• DOTI is committed to providing attention and resources to the areas, assets and people of the city with the greatest need. Through equitable contracting, equitable investments, and equitable workforce development.
• DOTI’s culture revolves around four key principles: (1) Invest in Our People, (2) Operate with Discipline, (3) Use Data to Drive Decisions, and (4) Deliver Results.

Solid Waste Management provides trash collection service, hazardous waste removal, recycling, and a composting program for single family Denver homes and multi-family dwellings with up to seven units, municipal facilities, and Denver Public Schools. The Utility Worker II position will assist with general labor, safety, and related work tasks on a crew with Equipment Operators. DOTI offers great advancement opportunities to build within its agency and the City as a whole, making this a great place to build a career.

The Solid Waste Management team has an opening for a Utility Worker I. Job duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lifts and empties heavy solid waste containers into disposal trucks, operates hydraulic compaction unit on city trash collection vehicles, and washes trucks as needed
• Can be assigned to dead animal, e-waste, or extra trash collection including large items
• Performs unskilled, light to heavy physical labor on a variety of construction, maintenance, and repair projects that involves physical exertion and the use of manual tools and limited use of small power operated tools
• Assists skilled trade workers by performing minor repairs to buildings and facilities including painting, plastering, carpentry, plumbing repairs, and simple elements of electrical systems such as replacing faulty switches and outlets
• Performs minor repairs to gardening and grounds equipment, vehicles, and machinery including repair or replacement of broken parts
• Operates light weight equipment powered by small engines used for maintenance, cleaning, and minor construction projects
• Performs pre-trip inspection on equipment for such things as fluid levels, leaks, condition of hoses and belts, tire pressure, brake lights, and related areas and secures, cleans and cares for all tools and equipment needed for job assignments
• Places and removes barricades, cones, and other traffic control and safety devices in and around work areas
• Performs exterior maintenance duties including spading dirt, pruning shrubs, raking leaves, watering assigned areas, picking up litter, and clearing dumpster areas
• Utilizes hand operated construction equipment such as jackhammers, air spades, shovels, rotors, metal detectors, and air drills.
• Performs seasonal duties such as salting, sanding, and removal of ice and snow by hand
• Performs other related duties as assigned

What You’ll Bring

Our ideal candidate will have some or all of the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Previous experience with solid waste collection, dead animal collection, and other labor-related tasks
• Experience working in various weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, etc.) and environments (dust, fumes, etc.)
• Knowledge of city of Denver streets/alleys and use of maps
• Desire to promote to other positions within the department

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Education requirement: None
• Experience Requirement: None
• Education/Experience Equivalency: None
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until Tuesday, November 3, 2026. no later than November 3rd at 11:59 PM.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CJ2083 Utility Worker I

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$20.06 - $30.10

Target Pay

$20.06 - $23.00/hour, based on experience and education

Agency

Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies

City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.

Dept of Transportation & Infrastructure

Assessment Requirement

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [e-mail] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or click here for Spanish.