Heavy Equipment Operator (Street) - $1,500 Sign-On Bonus

Salary : $40,567.81 Annually

Location : Hickory, NC

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 200-01148

Department : PS Street

Opening Date : 02 / 27 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 14 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

Salary Depends on Qualifications : Yes

Description

For doers and makers seeking a well-rounded community, Hickory is a bridge between Asheville and Charlotte at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along Interstate 40, where a collective spirit of craftsmanship strengthens any endeavor with detail, artistry and quality.

Hickory, North Carolina, is a three-time All-America City on the Catawba River approximately one hour east of Asheville and one hour north of Charlotte. More than 40,000 residents call Hickory their home and Hickory is the hub of a 350,000 metropolitan area. Hickory has outstanding school systems, seven recreation facilities, two libraries, several golf courses, theaters, art museums, and eighteen gorgeous parks. Beautiful Lake Hickory is over 4,000 acres and has many public access areas. Please check out Hickory at or for a web portal all about Hickory and the surrounding areas and what makes Hickory a "Well Crafted" City.

Qualified applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetics, or the presence of a non-job related medical condition or disability. U.S. Law requires all applicants to furnish proof of identity and right to work in the U.S.

All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a post-offer functional prework screen and a drug screen. This examination process is designed to determine if applicants are able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the job without physical harm to themselves, or others. All applicants are subject to a background check.

Minimum age of 18.

Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.

Must possess a CDL driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.

This position is responsible for operating heavy equipment and performing manual labor associated with department projects.

Applicants must possess ability to operate heavy equipment such as track loader, motor grader, track hoe, backhoe, tandem, rubber tire loader, etc.

Please note this position is required to work an on-call rotation and will be required to work during inclement weather.

Salary Depends on Qualifications

Major Duties

Operates a variety of heavy equipment or large vehicles with specialized functions which may include a motor grader, bulldozer, bucket truck, or front end loader.

Hauls, transports, loads and unloads various equipment and materials.

Performs various tasks associated with street maintenance, repair, and construction.

Performs general and preventive maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment, and tools in operable condition.

Operates snow plows to remove snow from city streets; operates salt truck.

Operates heavy equipment such as track loader, motor grader, track hoe, backhoe, tandem, rubber tire loader, etc.

Assists in the direction of traffic in work zones.

Assists other departments with projects as assigned.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

After-hours work is required as necessary during emergencies, inclement weather and other times as necessary.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Ability to read, write and perform mathematical calculations at a level commonly associated with the completion of high school or equivalent.

Sufficient experience to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties of the position, usually associated with the completion of an apprenticeship / internship or having had a similar position for one to two years.

The preferred applicant will possess a CDL Class "A" driver's license.

Knowledge of city policies and procedures pertaining to street construction, maintenance, and improvement.

Knowledge of achieving grade, drainage, and proper compaction.

Skill in operating equipment such as a motor grader, excavator, bulldozer, dump truck, street sweeper, and backhoe.

Skill in operating various hand and power tools.

Skill in oral and written communication.

PLEASE NOTE : Applicants must meet the City criteria for an acceptable driving record.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee in this position to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently / repeatedly required to stand; walk; use hands and exert forces needed to handle various types and sizes of tools, equipment and objects; reach with hands and arms and perform elevated work for periods of time; climb ladders and balance; climb into vehicles and equipment; stoop; kneel; half-kneel; squat; crouch; or crawl; and talk; or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift, push, pull and / or move more than 100 pounds. An employee in this position will have successfully passed a "Functional Prework Screen" administered by a professional and impartial third party specialist.

SAFETY SENSITIVE : This position has been identified as safety-sensitive. The employee in this position will be part of a random drug testing pool. The methodology for choosing the random test subjects is handled by an outside, impartial, third party vendor.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work is performed outdoors, where the employee is exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, machinery with moving parts, and occasional inclement weather. The work may require the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, or gloves.

The City of Hickory provides a generous benefit package, in addition to salary :

• 11 paid holidays
• 12 paid sick leave days per year
• Paid vacation
• City-paid individual health insurance (H.S.A.)
• Low-cost dental and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program - 5 FREE visits
• 13.6% contribution per employee to the NC Local Government Retirement System
• Up to 5% matching contribution to 401k
• Free Life insurance of 1.5 times salary up to ($125,000)
• Tuition Assistance Program
• On-site Wellness Clinic
• A selection of voluntary benefits such as additional life insurance, dependent life, Short-term disability insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance; All at very competitive rates.
• Benefits package valued at over ($12,500) annually.
• Employees working in seasonal / part-time positions are not eligible for benefits.

Are you at least 18 years old?

Do you have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED?

Do you have a Class A or Class B CDL driver's license from North Carolina

Do you acknowledge this position is required to work inclement weather and an on-call rotation?

Describe your skills and / or experience as it relates to this advertised position.

I acknowledge an offer for employment is contingent on the successful completion of a post-offer pre-work screen and drug screen. This examination process is designed to determine if applicants are able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the job without physical harm to themselves or others. The testing will be based on the physical demands of the job. While performing the test, the blood pressure must be within the American Heart Association guidelines of no greater than 159 / 99 and the heart rate must be within the American College of Sports Medicine guide of 220-age x 90%.

I acknowledge this position has been identified as safety-sensitive. The employee in this position will be part of a random drug testing pool. The methodology for choosing the random test subjects is handled by an outside, impartial, third party vendor.

Do you have any relatives currently employed by the City of Hickory?Two members of a family (relatives as defined below) shall not be employed if such employment will result in an employee directly or indirectly supervising a member of his / her family, or if one member occupies a position which has influence over the other's employment, promotion, salary administration or other management or personnel consideration. "Relative" is defined as spouse, parent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, grandchild, grandparent, (including corresponding half, step, in-law, and adopted relationships), or any member of the employee's household. The term also includes domestic partners (a person with whom the employee's life is interdependent and who shares a common residence), and, a daughter or son of an employee's domestic partner.)

Required Question

Salary : $40,568 - $125,000