Heavy Equipment Operator

Yakima County • Cullman, AL

7d • $30 - $38 • Onsite

About The Position

The Heavy Equipment Operator provides skilled work in the safe and efficient operation of heavy equipment with complex controls used in the proper disposal of municipal solid waste at one or more Yakima County solid waste disposal sites. The position is with the Yakima County Public Services-Solid Waste Division and is a regular, non-exempt position eligible for overtime. The pay rate is $30.12–$38.20 per hour, with a hiring rate of $30.12–$31.97 per hour, depending on qualifications and step placement.

The work includes operating and inspecting heavy equipment, directing vehicles and customers at landfill and related facilities, responding to emergencies, and interacting with the public. Work is performed primarily outdoors for extended periods, often in unfavorable weather. The role may involve exposure to noise, extreme temperatures, moving mechanical parts, pathogens, vibration, and hostile or angry individuals; work outside standard business hours and at multiple locations may be required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and six years of equipment operation experience; applicants relying on equivalent education and/or experience must provide a detailed explanation.
• Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
• Ability to learn to operate all pieces of solid waste equipment within one year of employment.
• Consent to queries of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, as required by federal regulations (49 CFR Part 382).
• Knowledge of road and facility maintenance techniques; mathematical calculations for slopes and grades; preventive and equipment maintenance, including troubleshooting; safe equipment operation; waste-disposal safety precautions; surveying principles; and customer service techniques.
• Demonstrated application of safety procedures, ability to respond to on-site situations, and ability to identify potential on-site hazards.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment, use surveying instruments, drive amid heavy landfill traffic, set grades, assess potential contamination, and react appropriately to emergencies such as landfill fires.
• Ability to work with the public, businesses, contractors, and city haulers, and to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Oral and written communication skills sufficient to exchange information and receive work direction.
• Ability to perform heavy work: exert up to or in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds constantly to move objects.
• Ability to meet the stated physical and sensory demands, including bending, carrying, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, climbing, crawling, crouching, kneeling, balancing, and handling repetitive motions.
• Ability to work outdoors in unfavorable weather, under pressure, and outside standard business hours and locations when required.

Nice To Haves

• Air-brake, tanker, and hazardous-waste endorsements.
• Experience in landfill construction and maintenance.
• Certification from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

Responsibilities

• Operate a D-8 dozer or similar equipment for grading, excavating, backfilling, and pushing waste.
• Operate a refuse compactor to achieve appropriate waste compaction.
• Operate a wood waste grinder and other equipment, including front-end loaders, water trucks, bin trucks, waste trucks, and walking floor trailers.
• Apply knowledge of driving laws, equipment use, road-building materials, basic surveying, construction safety, and environmental regulations related to landfill work.
• Identify potentially hazardous or unacceptable materials at job sites and coordinate proper disposal.
• Respond to public inquiries and complaints; promote safety in landfill, transfer station, and recycling areas; and explain Solid Waste Division policies and ordinances.
• Monitor, control, and direct job-site activities, including truck dumping sequence and directing customers to appropriate areas.
• Respond to on-site accidents and emergencies, including fires, explosions, and hazardous spills, assessing immediate concerns and responding with equipment.
• Perform visual equipment safety inspections, check fluid levels and tire pressure, refuel equipment, maintain vehicle cleanliness, and perform pre-trip walk-around inspections.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health care benefits, including medical, dental, vision, basic life, and basic long-term disability coverage.
• Retirement benefits.
• Paid vacation.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid sick leave.
• Overtime eligibility.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness-qualified employer.

What This Job Offers

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