Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator

***This recruitment may close ahead of schedule if 50 applications are submitted before the application deadline***

 Proficient Class B Drivers with experience operating heavy construction equipment are highly encouraged to apply for this job opportunity.

THE POSITION

The City of Santa Maria is recruiting for two Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator vacancies in the Solid Waste Division of the Utilities Department. The Solid Waste Division manages the collection of refuse, including solid waste, recycling, green waste, and organics, and operates the Santa Maria Regional Landfill, including the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Recycling Park. 

IMPORTANT
This position is assigned to the Santa Maria Landfill and works a 4/10 schedule (ten-hour workdays, four days per week) which includes weekends and holidays.

Under general direction of the assigned supervisor, drives and operates heavy equipment used in the operation of the sanitary landfill, and maintains travel ways and ditches.  Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification but may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees or special projects.

The Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator position is an Individual Contributor role that works as a team member to effectively operate the landfill. This role enables the city to provide the community’s most essential and basic refuse service in the most efficient, cost-effective and courteous manner possible.

The ideal candidate will have at least four years of experience operating heavy equipment such as D8 Caterpillar dozers, scrapers, and motor graders.  They should be knowledgeable in safety procedures and landfill operations, with strong skills in equipment maintenance, grading, and compacting refuse.  Excellent communication skills, reliability, team player, and a strong commitment to safety and customer service are also essential.

1. Online application
2. Cover letter that explains how your experience and background align with the Ideal Candidate Statement (a resume will not be accepted as a substitute)

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization.
This position:

• Safely operates heavy equipment, including: bulldozers, scrapers, compactors, water trucks, motor graders, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders, dump trucks, etc.
• Prepares and maintains travel ways and ditches, including drainage ditches. 
• Grades roads and other surfaces, and prepares wet weather roads and unloading pads.
• Pushes and spreads general refuse including demolished construction, hard to handle materials, and cover material, and compacts refuse material to maximum density.
• Clears and prepares land for existing and future landfill sites (cells).
• Excavates trenches for cover material and stockpiles excavated material for future cells.
• Performs daily preventive maintenance inspection of the heavy equipment.
• May issue receipts and maintain scale house records.
• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director. 
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

Individual Contributor:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance (see the full definition: Individual Contributor Competencies)

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs. 
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources  and  disseminate  it  in  a variety  of  ways.  They  use  modern  technologies  to  access  and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen. 
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

• Ideally, four years of experience operating heavy construction equipment such as 
• D8 Caterpillar dozer, scraper, water truck, motor grader, and landfill compactor; and
• Graduation from high school.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  • Operation and daily preventive maintenance inspection of heavy equipment, i.e. D-8 Caterpillar, carry-all scraper, 4,000-gallon water truck, motor grader and landfill compactor.
  • Safety procedures in operating heavy equipment.
  • Sanitary Landfill operations requirements, as defined by the State.
  • Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent). 
  • Effective use of computer and other office equipment. 
• Required licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment:
  • Valid Class “B” Driver’s License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business. 
• May be required to obtain immunizations for Hepatitis A and B.

• Possession of a valid and appropriate Driver License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business.  
• Under the Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Program, successfully complete a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and submit to random drug and/or alcohol testing throughout employment with the City.
• Requires completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.
• The incumbent must meet the physical requirements of the job class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

• May require completion of a pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the City.
• Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Salary : $64,146 - $77,970