Heavy Equipment Operator

Overview

Job Description

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools at careers.hcde.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030.

The purpose of this job is to operate/drive heavy equipment and vehicles and to perform manual work associated with various projects/activities within the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE).

Responsibilities

• Acts in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner at all times.
• Creates a customer-focused climate and provides quality services and support to school and other stakeholders.
• Complies with applicable district, state, and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Operates/drives a variety of heavy equipment or large vehicles with specialized functions involving performing or maneuvering to exacting tolerances and specifications or involving operation of complex mechanisms to perform work tasks; operates light/medium equipment or vehicles involving routine operation to drive from point to point or involving use of basic/simple maneuvering mechanisms to perform tasks.
• Responds to work orders or work requests to conduct various projects as assigned; plans work activities to minimize disruption to areas utilized/occupied by school students, teachers, or other individuals; reports potentially hazardous or dangerous situations to supervisor; responds to emergency situations.
• Operates a variety of heavy, medium, or light equipment, machinery and tools, which may include a bulldozer, small dozer, asphalt/pavement roller, pup roller, motor grader, tractor/trailer, dump truck, bucket truck, backhoe, pay loader, bobcat, trencher, tractor, concrete cutter, saw, chain saw, jackhammer, generator, pump, pick ax, post hole diggers, shovel, rake, mechanic tools, or two-way radio.
• Hauls, transports, loads, and/or unloads various equipment and materials used in projects or at work sites; transports portable classrooms between schools and sets up at new locations; hauls junk or heavy items from school facilities to junkyard, landfill, or other sites.
• Performs various tasks associated with projects as assigned, which may include moving and setting up portable classrooms, moving/relocating semi-trailers for service teams, renovating playgrounds, repairing/renovating ball fields, measuring/laying out playgrounds and ball fields, cutting/removing downed trees, installing/repairing fencing, installing/repairing asphalt, packing asphalt, cutting concrete, grading parking lots, patching holes in road/parking areas, repairing roofing, assisting with installation/removal of boilers, installing/repairing boiler steam lines or return lines, digging holes for water/sewer line installation/repair, digging ditches/trenches, dragging landscape, pouring concrete, removing graffiti from walls/surfaces, picking up and removing trash/debris, raking or spreading ground materials, shoveling materials, or lifting/moving heavy materials.
• Performs general/manual tasks associated with department projects, which may include moving equipment/furniture, moving/storing records/boxes, preparing school grounds/facilities for school functions, or preparing meeting rooms for meetings or special events.
• Inspects/tests machinery, equipment and parts for proper operations; makes adjustments, repairs or replacements as appropriate; reports problem situations.
• Performs general cleaning/maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment, and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, checking fluid levels, replacing fluids, greasing equipment, replacing parts, sharpening blades, washing/cleaning equipment, or cleaning shop/work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment; locks/secures equipment after use to ensure safety and security.
• Communicates through the proper channels to keep supervisor and other appropriate personnel informed of impending problems or events of unusual nature.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees, students, and other individuals.
• Works collaboratively with school staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Attends work and arrives to work on time.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Attends meetings as needed.
• Travels to school locations and other locations throughout the district to perform job tasks.
• Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed; assists other skilled-trade employees as needed.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, purchase vouchers, warehouse requisitions, accident reports, on-the-job accident reports, time cards, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, work orders, backflow data sheets, purchase voucher records, vehicle maintenance schedules, codes, blueprints, diagrams, specifications, maps, asbestos management plan, material safety data sheets, manuals, catalogs, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Monitors inventory of equipment and supplies; ensures availability of adequate materials to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new/replacement materials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge/Education/Experience

Qualifications

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by vocational/technical training in heavy equipment operation and truck driving; supplemented by three (3) years previous experience and/or training that includes heavy equipment operation and truck driving; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid Tennessee Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) including appropriate endorsement(s). Pre-employment drug test required. After employment, random drug testing required.

Skills/Qualifications

• Ability to effectively communicate.
• Ability to safely operate the required equipment and tools to complete job assignments.
• Ability to read and interpret instructions, blueprints, diagrams, maps, and other documents.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Ability to calculate decimals and percentages.
• Ability to work in adverse weather and environmental conditions.
  
  

Compensation

Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

Grade E

Salary Scale