What are the responsibilities and job description for the Motor Equipment Operator II - Public Works, Bureau of Utilities, Water Reclamation position at Howard County?
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.
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.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
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 and power tools. Work includes manipulating a variety of complex controls simultaneously or non-simultaneously with the operation of the basic 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.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Operates dump trucks hauling waste from plant, to include salt, mulch, gravel and any other needs or equipment to maintain the various stations.
- Operates motor vehicles with attachments and/or tools, to spread salt and sand on icy roads, shore up ditches, install pipes, cut grass, and similar activities.
- Inspects and performs minor routine maintenance on equipment and tools.
- Checks for damaged or worn tires or tracks, proper air pressure in tires, and other elements affecting safe equipment operation; performs routine and preventive maintenance as established by unit.
- Operates forklift to load and unload heavy materials; manually loads and unloads other materials; performs both routine and skilled laboring tasks.
- Keeps log of vehicle operation; makes reports of equipment defects, accidents, traffic violations, and other mishaps.
- May operate more complex motor equipment, hand tools, and power tools; may direct and instruct other employees in the use of motor equipment, hand tools, power tools, and related work.
- Operates the Vactor truck and leads others in using various attachments and equipment associated with the Vactor.
- Operates snow plow and salt spreader plowing and salting roads.
- Fueling of stand by generators and other equipment.
- This position is considered emergency essential, and, as such, the incumbent may be required to report for regular work shift during inclement weather, or then when an emergency situation arises.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
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:
- Knowledge of traffic laws and truck related laws.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of motor equipment operation.
- Knowledge of the hazards and safety rules and regulations involved in laboring and equipment operation activities in the unit to which assigned.
- Some knowledge of carpentry and form building.
- Some knowledge of the component parts of motor equipment, hand and power tools and their function.
- Skill in the safe and efficient operation of dump trucks and other motor equipment of the same complexity both on and off the highway.
- Skill in the operation of hand and power tools.
- Some skills in map and blueprint reading.
- Ability to perform preventative maintenance on motorized equipment.
- Ability to learn the operation of mechanical equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, hydraulic excavator, front end loaders, and other heavy construction equipment.
- Ability to learn the geography of the County.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals.
- Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time often under adverse weather conditions.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with coworkers and others.
- Ability to perform heavy manual labor in road construction when required.
- Ability to read write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
- Ability to effectively present information to one-on-one and small group situations to coworkers and others.
- This position is designated as an emergency/essential position and may be required to respond in a variety of emergency situations.
- Knowledge of traffic laws and truck related laws.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of motor equipment operation.
- Knowledge of the hazards and safety rules and regulations involved in laboring and equipment operation activities in the unit to which assigned.
- Some knowledge of carpentry and form building.
- Some knowledge of the component parts of motor equipment, hand and power tools and their function.
- Skill in the safe and efficient operation of dump trucks and other motor equipment of the same complexity both on and off the highway.
- Skill in the operation of hand and power tools.
- Some skills in map and blueprint reading.
- Ability to perform preventative maintenance on motorized equipment.
- Ability to learn the operation of mechanical equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, hydraulic excavator, front end loaders, and other heavy construction equipment.
- Ability to learn the geography of the County.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals.
- Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged periods of time often under adverse weather conditions.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with coworkers and others.
- Ability to perform heavy manual labor in road construction when required.
- Ability to read write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
- Ability to effectively present information to one-on-one and small group situations to coworkers and others.
- This position is designated as an emergency/essential position and may be required to respond in a variety of emergency situations.
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 frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and may be required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, 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 frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; extreme cold; and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
The employee is responsible for using safety devices and protective equipment in order to minimize the frequency and severity of work-related accidents. The employee is also responsible for using safe practices and methods in the operation of equipment and supplies related to their particular job. The employee is further responsible for correcting and/or reporting any conditions within the building or grounds that may be hazardous to the public, co-workers, or other county employees.
LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group 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 to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
Shall have a valid CDL license class A, 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 employment as a Motor Equipment Operator II, and possession of a flagger certification and confined space training certification, when required by work assignment, and certification to operate a forklift truck.
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.
Salary : $49,192 - $54,267
