Heavy Equipment Operator I or II / Public Utilities

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County • Athens, GA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to operate equipment and perform manual work functions associated with construction and maintenance of water/sewer service lines. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, operating/maintaining equipment; transporting materials and equipment; performing laboring activities; installing, repairing, and maintaining water/sewer mains, lines and associated functions; and performing additional tasks as assigned. The purpose of this job is to operate heavy equipment and perform manual work functions associated with construction and maintenance of water/sewer distribution and collection systems. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: operating/maintaining heavy equipment; transporting materials and equipment; performing labor activities; and performing additional tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a Georgia Department of Transportation Flagging certification within six months of employment.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a Georgia Commercial Driver's License within six months of employment.
• One year of experience involving construction, equipment operation, and maintenance labor (or related) preferred.
• Two years of construction, heavy equipment operation, maintenance labor, or related experience required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to operate Caterpillar, John Deere, and Case Backhoe preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operates a dump truck to haul supplies and equipment.
• Operates equipment such as tractors, backhoes, boring machine, small trucks, jackhammer, gas-powered saws, etc.
• Transports equipment, supplies and materials, including sand, gravel, rock, supplies, etc.
• Assists in the installation and maintenance of water and sewer mains, fire hydrants, service lines connections, and AMI water meters to include large meters and concrete vaults.
• Assists in setting up GPS units to record GPS data.
• Performs water and sewer taps.
• Performs laboring activities such as shoveling at job sites to set proper grade, pouring concrete, etc.
• Inspects vehicles on a daily basis; assures proper levels of air pressure, gasoline, oil, and other fluids are maintained; washes vehicles.
• Maintains tools and equipment.
• Installs cautionary signage at job sites.
• Flags traffic around work sites.
• Responds to emergency and stand-by calls on a 24 hour basis.
• Prepares and/or receives various forms, reports or other documents; processes and forwards as appropriate.
• Responds to routine requests for information from officials, employees, members of the staff, the public or other individuals.
• Operates equipment such as a backhoe, track-hoe, front-end loader, and bulldozer used in making water and sewer line taps and repairs.
• Operates equipment such as a tractor, bushhog, tree cutter, chain saw, harrow, seeder, and tandem dump truck used in right-of-way cleaning and maintenance.
• Operates a tandem dump truck to haul materials.
• Operates a small truck, winch truck, earth boring machine, trencher and sanitary sewer rodding machine.
• Operates equipment used to install water and sewer mains.
• Responds to emergency and stand-by calls on a 24-hour daily basis.
• Operates tools such as a pipe threader, jackhammer, and other tools used in making water and sewer line taps and repairs; operates various gas- and electric-powered tools.
• Operates tamp to compact dirt.
• Performs general laboring activities related to water and sewer construction.
• Performs water taps.
• Assists in setting large meters and laying pipes.
• Cleans and maintains equipment and buildings as required.
• Responds to emergency service calls to repair water and sewer lines as required.
• May perform duties of supervisor in his/her absence.

Benefits

• Eligible newly hired candidates hired into a position requiring a CDL will receive an incremental hiring incentive upon satisfactory job performance after completion of 3, 6, and 12 months of service.
• Valid Driver’s License: $1,500 one time hiring incentive to be paid in $500 increments (not added to base salary).
• Class A or Class B CDL: $3,000 one time hiring incentive to be paid in $1,000 increments (not added to base salary).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED