Heavy Equipment Operator

Watonwan County • St. James, MN

9d • Onsite

About The Position

This is manual and skilled work operating highway maintenance equipment and performing related maintenance tasks on County roads and highways. The position is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of varied heavy equipment as well as manual maintenance work. Duties may include leading a small crew of maintenance personnel. Work follows standard procedures or general rules under limited supervision of senior staff. The operator must be able to report to the St. James or delegated shop at the assigned time.

Requirements

• Valid Minnesota Class B Commercial Driver's License; ability to obtain a Class A CDL within 6 months. Assistance is available.
• Considerable experience in road maintenance and construction work, and experience operating highway and heavy equipment.
• Knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of assigned equipment.
• Knowledge of work hazards and applicable safety precautions associated with assigned equipment and operations.
• Ability to assist with minor and major repairs on assigned equipment.
• Knowledge of applicable traffic laws, ordinances, and regulations involved in operating assigned equipment.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, engineers, contractors, county officials, and the general public.
• Ability to work under a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to lift at least 80 pounds from ground level to chest height.
• Physical agility to climb, balance, stoop, exert force, and perform other bodily movements needed to operate required equipment and tools.
• Ability to report to the St. James or delegated shop at the assigned time.

Responsibilities

• Operate a motor patrol grader to plow snow in winter and blade and maintain gravel roads and shoulders in summer.
• Load or move gravel and other road construction materials using a front-end loader or backhoe.
• Operate other heavy equipment when assigned, such as a dragline or bulldozer, and operate light to medium equipment or drive a dump truck when assigned.
• Visually inspect roads and assess and report maintenance needs.
• Perform bridge maintenance and culvert and tile repair.
• Perform manual highway maintenance, including patching road holes, crack filling, cleaning ditches, and digging out frostboils.
• Operate hand tools such as chainsaws, packers, jackhammers, and posthole augers as needed.
• Perform general repair and routine maintenance on equipment and vehicles, including oil changes, greasing, and belt changes.
• Perform shop maintenance and other related tasks in County garages.
• Maintain daily logs of time spent on specific jobs and vehicle maintenance and repair logs.
• Observe Watonwan County safety and health rules and apply accident-prevention principles in daily duties.
• Submit to and pass pre-employment, random, and post-accident DOT drug and alcohol testing.
• Perform other work as assigned.

Benefits

• Insurance and retirement benefits add a minimum value of $9.50 to $15.65 per hour.
• Pay rate is a minimum based on qualifications, with up to two pay increases per year.
• $350 annual clothing allowance.
• $250 boot allowance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed