Motor Equipment Operator II - Dept. of Public Works, Bureau of Highways, Mayfield Shop

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.

• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is skilled work at the crew leader level involving the driving of heavy trucks, the operating of heavy motor and construction equipment, complex mechanical equipment, and hand power tools. Work includes manipulating a variety of complex controls simultaneously.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

This is skilled work at the crew leader level involving the driving of heavy trucks, operating heavy motor and construction equipment and complex mechanical equipment, and hand and power tools. Work includes manipulating a variety of complex controls simultaneously or non-simultaneously during the operation of a vehicle; providing routine and preventive maintenance to equipment; performing skilled laboring tasks when not operating motor equipment; directing the activities of a crew of laboring and/or motor equipment personnel when one is assigned by a supervisor.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Operates motor equipment such as bulldozer, grader, or hydraulic excavator in grading earth, sloping banks, cutting ditches, clearing road shoulders and other activities; operates wheeled or tracked earth moving, road building, and related motor equipment such as roller, loader, water truck, and dump truck for highway maintenance.

May operate a highway striping vehicle or its paint striping carriage and a personnel carrier lift truck for tree trimming and other duties.

Operates forklift to load and unload heavy materials; manually loads and unloads other materials; operates compressors, trenchers, and other related equipment as needed by work assignment.

Performs skilled construction and maintenance work as needed by unit to which assigned.

Directs a crew assigned by the supervisor to such jobs as excavation, road resurfacing, clearing trees, brush and debris removal, grading shoulders and banks, snow removal, laying pipe, highway and paint striping, and a variety of other operations.

Reads blueprints and contract maps and sketches when needed to accomplish portions of a construction or maintenance project; demonstrates methods and techniques of such tasks and of general laboring and motor equipment operation activities; trains subordinate crew members in equipment operations, trades practices, and in the care and use of tools and materials.

Observes instruments while vehicle is in operation; takes routine corrective action if malfunction is noted; inspects vehicles for loose parts, damaged or worn tires or tracks, proper air pressure in tires and other items affecting safe equipment operation; performs routine and preventive maintenance as established by the unit.

Performs work assigned from work orders; completes job sheets and time sheets.

Performs site grading and maintenance.

Installs and maintains traffic control devices and operates sign fabrication machine.

Performs manual labor, when necessary.

Operates snow removal equipment when necessary.

Understands and follows oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals.

Performs record maintenance and complete reports of activities on paper and in a personal computer.

Performs heavy labor for prolonged periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions.

Maintains effective and professional working relationships with coworkers and others.

This job has some limited leader responsibilities. May direct a crew of coworkers in the absence of the supervisor to complete a task or tasks.

This position is considered emergency essential, and as such, the incumbent may be required to report for regular work shift during inclement weather or when an emergency situation arises.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to the completion of the tenth school grade and two years of experience operating motor equipment, including one year operating wheeled and tracked motor equipment; or two years of progressively responsible manual laboring work, some of which has included the operation of such motor equipment.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Considerable knowledge of principles, practices, methods, techniques, hazards and safety rules and regulations of laboring and motor equipment operations and activities as they relate to heavy construction and maintenance work.

Considerable knowledge of the geography of the County.

Knowledge of tools, equipment, materials, and supplies used in heavy construction and maintenance work.

Knowledge of the functions, operation, and routine care and maintenance of a variety of wheeled and tracked motor equipment and other mechanical equipment, both on and off the highway, and hand and power tools.

Knowledge of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Skill in the safe and efficient operation of heavy and/or complex motor equipment.

Skill in the efficient use of and care for manual and power tools.

Skill in the operation of aerial lift truck.

Ability to read blueprints and contract maps and sketches.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals.

Ability to maintain records and complete reports of activities on paper or computer.

Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time, often under adverse weather conditions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, and others.

Ability to direct and oversee the activities of a laboring or motor equipment operation crew.

Some experience with personal computers or the ability to learn.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, smell, and taste. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions moving traffic, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; loud noises, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to read write and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos.

Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations, to coworkers and others.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to apply common sense understanding in carrying out detailed written or oral instructions.

Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS

Must possess a valid Class "A" CDL license issued by the State of Maryland and DOT physical card prior to appointment, or possession of such licensure within time limits specified by the County, and during tenure of appointment as a Motor Equipment Operator II, if required by work assignment.

Possession of a valid Maryland approved flagger program card may be required, depending upon work assignment, and must be obtained within Department time frames and maintained during tenure of employment.

Confined space training certification may also be required, when required by work assignment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.

At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.