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Equipment Operator - Solid Waste

Olmsted County Minnesota
Rochester, MN Full Time
POSTED ON 2/21/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 3/20/2025
Olmsted County has earned the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work - Southeast Minnesota designation.

Minimum Qualifications Of Education And Experience

A combination of education and experience equivalent to three (3) years of full-time heavy equipment operation in a similar position as listed in the work functions.

Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.

NOTE: Individuals will be required to complete a pre-employment drug test per the Omnibus Transportation Testing Act of 1991, Department of Transportation rule, 49 CFR part 40 and will be subject to subsequent testing as required per the regulation.

Required Special Qualifications

Successfully complete the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency landfill operator II training course and become certified with one (1) year of employment.

Must pass a pre-employment physical and annual occupational physical in order to obtain medical approval to wear a respirator.

Desirable Qualifications

Valid Minnesota Class A or B Commercial Driver's License.

Nature of Work

Under the general supervision, performs skilled work in a variety of solid waste tasks and locations. Safely and efficiently operations a variety of heavy and complex equipment used in the receipt, processing and disposal of solid waste, including filling, compaction, and covering of waste, maintenance and repair of various solid waste facilities, and the operation of the county yard waste compost site. Work is performed at all solid waste sites including the landfill, compost site, Olmsted Waste to Energy Facility (OWEF), hazardous waste facility, and the recycling center. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

Examples of Work

  • Operates and maintains landfill equipment including excavators, scrapers, dozers, compactors, semi-tractors, tandem trucks, industrial shredder, trommels and pickup trucks.
  • Performs preventive and corrective maintenance tasks on a wide variety of equipment used in the processing of solid waste including excavators, scrapers, dozers, compactors, semi-tractors, tandem axle trucks, industrial shredders, front end loaders, trommels, windrow turners, pickup trucks, etc.
  • Operates and maintains yard waste composting equipment including front end loaders, trommels, windrow turners, and water trucks.
  • Receives, inspects, sorts, and processes Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), demolition, industrial solid waste, and yard wastes, and removes unacceptable items prior to their proper disposal.
  • Assists OWEF staff during outages. Loads and unloads miscellaneous equipment and deliveries, performs snow removal, and maintains tipping floor cleaning zone.
  • Assists hazardous waste staff in receiving, sorting, and removal of problem and hazardous materials at the Olmsted Hazardous Waste Facility.
  • Operates commercial scale at OWEF, Hazardous Waste Facility, and the landfill processing both cash and credit transactions.
  • Mows grass on shoulders and in ditches, plows snow, and sands roads, etc.
  • Meets with, informs, and educates the public.
  • Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required

  • Knowledge of the proper techniques, procedures, materials, and tools used in operating and maintaining heavy equipment as described above.
  • Knowledge of the capabilities of the equipment operated including the adaptations and specialized uses to which equipment can be put in meeting emergency or other unusual conditions.
  • Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions involved in the operation of heavy mobile and stationary equipment.
  • Knowledge of the basic operational requirements of a solid waste landfill.
  • Knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in the production of a marketable compost product.
  • Knowledge of various types of solid waste produced in Olmsted County and the practices available for managing each.
  • Knowledge of the traffic laws, ordinances and regulations involved in heavy equipment operation.
  • Skill in the operation of heavy equipment.
  • Skill in written and verbal communication.
  • Skill in the use of computers and technology.
  • Ability to identify various types of solid waste.
  • Ability to safely use personal respiratory protective devices.
  • Ability to follow both written and oral instructions.
  • Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work tasks.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
  • Ability to work effectively with and educate the public.
  • Ability to perform strenuous physical work.

Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the Physical and Environmental Demands:

Function

24% or Less

25% - 49%

50%-74%

75% or more

Office environment

X

Outdoors environment

X

Shop environment

X

In vehicle/operating equipment

X

Exposure to needle sticks/sharps exposure

X

Exposure to human blood/pathogens/body fluids

X

Exposure to hazardous materials/chemicals/toxic or caustic chemicals

X

Confined/restricted working environment

X

Exposure to weather, extreme heat/cold, wet and/or humid

X

Exposure to noise

X

Exposure to vibration

X

Exposure to electrical current

X

Sitting

X

Standing, walking, reaching, pulling, climbing, crouching, kneeling, stooping, balancing, crawling

X

Pushing up to 75 pounds

X

Lifting up to 75 pounds

X

Handling, feeling

X

Repetitive hand and foot movements

X

Typing/data entry

X

Talking, hearing

X

Operate vehicle

X

Operate heavy equipment

X

Close vision, depth perception, field of vision

X

Distance and color vision

X

Accommodation (bring object into sharp focus)

X

Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)

X

Light effort (exert up to 20 pounds of force)

X

Medium effort (exert up to 50 pounds of force)

X

Heavy effort (exert up to 100 pounds of force)

X

Very heavy (exert over 100 pounds of force)

X

Proximity to moving, mechanical parts

X

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Provisional employees are eligible for benefits if employment is projected to be 12 months or longer and work at least 40 hours per pay period.

This document is a brief Summary of Benefits for Olmsted County Employees on the Paid Time Off Program.

Paid Time Off

Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their length of service as follows:

First year to 5 years of service - accrue up to 23 days

6 to 10 years of service - accrue up to 25 days

11 to 15 years of service - accrue up to 27.5 days

16 to 20 years of service - accrue up to 30 days

21 to 26 years of service - accrue up to 32.5 days

Over 26 years of service - accrue up to 35 days

Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.

Flexible Time Leave

All regular, full-time employees and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours or more per week on an ongoing basis shall receive up to 24 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at their regular base pay each calendar year.

Commencement of Employment # of FTL Hours

Between January 1 and June 30 24 Hours

Between July 1 and August 31 16 Hours

Between September 1 and November 30 8 Hours

Between December 1 and December 31 0 Hours

Paid Holidays

Olmsted County Recognizes The Following Legal Holidays

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday – Thursday only), Christmas Day

Employee Health And Insurance Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

Health Insurance

The self-insured Olmsted County Employees’ Health Plan is administered by Medica. Under the plan, eligible employees and their dependents have access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network, including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center. Members have access to a travel network through First Health.

The plan offers a comprehensive preventive care program to help protect the health of employees and their dependents, 80% co-insurance on most services (after deductible) and access to Nice Healthcare, which offers no-cost virtual and in-home appointments, labs, x-rays, and more.

There is a base in-network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with the opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family. The in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.

Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.

The Monthly Rates For Healthcare Coverage Are As Follows

Health Insurance Rates

Single health coverage monthly cost to the employee is $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period. Employee Plus Children monthly cost to the employee is $500 per month or $240 per pay period. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.

Nice Healthcare

Nice Healthcare is an additional healthcare option for employees on our health plan. The plan includes virtual and in-home care, primary care, convenient medication delivery, lab work and diagnostics, and comprehensive family care. Coverage is available for employees on the health plan (and their benefits-eligible dependents) all at no cost to employees.

Prescription Drug Plan

The Olmsted County Employees’ Health Plan prescription drug benefit is part of the health plan and is administered by Alluma. Covered pres­crip­tions are based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary. The plan contracts with Express Scripts to provide a national network. This allows members to receive prescriptions conveniently at home, or across the country, for the same co-insurance amount. Prescription co-insurance is 25% or 40% depending on whether the prescription is formulary or non-formulary, with the opportunity to lower co-insurance through mail order. Prescriptions are subject to minimum and maximum charges. Both retail and mail order prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out of pocket limit.

Dental Insurance

The Olmsted County Dental Plan is self-insured and administered by Delta Dental. Coverage includes Diagnostic & Preventive Services – 100%; Basic Services - 80%; Major Restorative Services - 50%; and Orthodontics - 50%. Lifetime maximum for Ortho­dontics is $1,500 per eligible dependent child. Diagnostic and Preventive Services do not apply to the yearly individual maximum benefit of $1,500. There is a $50 deductible per family member per year, with a maximum of $150 per family. The deductible does not apply for Diagnostic and Preventive Services.

Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.

Single dental coverage monthly cost to the employee is $0.00 per month. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $19.00 per month or $9.50 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $47.00 per month or $23.50 per pay period.

Life Insurance

Benefits

The County paid Basic Life Plan is group term guaranteed issue life insurance up to two times employee’s annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Olmsted County also pays 100 percent of enrolled dependent coverage costs for the following life benefits:

Spouse: $2,000

Children up to age 26: $1,250

Voluntary Life Insurance

The cost of employee and spouse Voluntary Life Insurance coverage is determined by age and the amount of coverage. This coverage would be in addition to what employees receive under the Basic Life Plan.

New employees who enroll within 30 days of eligibility may select up to $250,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $50,000 for their spouse without answering any health questions. Employees may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000. Spouses may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $250,000.

New employees can also elect child life insurance without having to answer any health questions. The cost of life insurance is $1.30 per month, regardless of the number of children covered. The coverage amount is $10,000 per child.

PERA Life Insurance

Employees can purchase guaranteed issue group term life insurance coverage through the Voluntary Group Life Plan with the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems (NCPERS) in which Olmsted County is a participant. It is underwritten by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and administered by Member Benefits.

Cost is $16.00 per month with no medical questions asked.

Short Term Disability Insurance

The County provides a short-term disability benefit of 80 percent pay replacement for up to 150 calendar days based on medical need. Short-term disability benefits are effective on the 181st calendar day of employment and are pro-rated based on the eligible employee’s Full Time Equivalence (FTE).

Long Term Disability Insurance

The County provides 40 percent pay replacement coverage.

Employees have the option to purchase an additional 26 2/3 percent pay replacement coverage for a total of 66 2/3 percent. Long-term disability benefits are effective on the 181st calendar day of employment.

Employee Assistance Program

Deer Oaks, Olmsted County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is a confidential service to help employees and their families address work and life issues. Online and telephone resources are available 24/7/365.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employees have the option of using one or both flexible spending accounts provided through Olmsted County to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and day care expenses with pretax dollars.

Health Care Spending Account limit is $3,200.

Dependent Care Spending Account limit is $5,000.

Blood Assurance Program

A Volunteer Blood Donor Program through Mayo Clinic Blood Bank is available to employees. It covers the employee and family for all red blood cell products.

Workers Compensation

All employees are covered by Workers Compensation insurance while performing County business.

Retirement

Olmsted County and employees pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) as follows:

General Plan: Employee Share is 6.50%, County Share is 7.50%

Police & Fire Plan: Employee Share is 11.80%, County Share is 17.70%

Correctional Plan: Employee Share is 5.83%, County Share is 8.75%

General Plan members pay into both PERA and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation Plans

Olmsted County employees may choose to participate in Deferred Compensation Plans (457 Plans) offered through: Empower Retirement Services, VOYA Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan.

Years of Service Awards

Olmsted County recognizes employees for milestones in their years of service (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and above).

Direct Deposit

All employees are paid bi-weekly. Employees’ paychecks are electronically deposited directly into employees’ bank accounts, avoiding situations like late checks or inconvenient trips to the bank.

United Way Donation

If an employee requests, the County will deduct contributions to United Way through payroll deduction.

Staff Development Program

The Staff Development Program offers courses online and in the classroom. The purpose is to train and retain employees through educational opportunities.

Tuition Reimbursement

Olmsted County offers tuition reimbursement for college courses of 80% or $3,000 (whichever is less) per year with prior approval from supervisor and Human Resources for job-related courses.

Olmsted County has partnered with Saint Mary's University to offer employees a 10% tuition grant and waived application fee for qualifying classes.

As a Local Government, Olmsted County is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act. Go to StudentAid.Gov to learn more about this program and see if you qualify.

Credit Union

Employees are invited to join the First Alliance Credit Union. For more information, call the Credit Union at (507) 288-0330 or (800) 866-1999.

Parking/Transit Plan

Parking for Government Center employees is available employee parking lots. The County supports public transportation. Employees who ride the bus to and from work and during work hours are offered subsidized bus passes.

Jury Duty

Employees required to report for jury duty or attend a trial in response to a subpoena will do so without loss of income. Employees will receive their regular pay during their court service.

01

I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Supplemental Questions sections of my application. This includes a detailed description of all work experience that I feel qualifies me for the job I am seeking. I also understand that I may not submit resumes in lieu of filling out the application or answering the Supplemental Questions.

  • I have read the above statement and understand that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected or my receiving a lower examination score which may make me ineligible for further consideration in this recruitment process.

02

You must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the Equipment Operator-Solid Waste position. Do you have a combination of education and experience equivalent to three (3) years of full-time heavy equipment operation in a similar position as listed in the work functions AND the ability to complete the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency landfill operator II training course and become certified with one (1) year of employment?

  • Yes
  • No

03

Do you have the ability to pass a pre-employment physical and annual occupational physical in order to obtain medical approval to wear a respirator?

  • Yes
  • No

04

Do you possess a valid Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License, class A or B?

  • Yes
  • No

05

How many years of experience do you have in heavy equipment operations?

  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year, but less than 2
  • More than 2 years, but less than 3
  • More than 3 years, but less than 4
  • More than 4 years, but less than 5
  • 5 or more years

06

Do you have any experience operating the following types of heavy equipment? Check all that apply.

  • Front end loaders/Pay loaders
  • Dozers
  • Excavators
  • Compactors
  • Scrapers
  • None of the above

07

How many years of experience do you have in maintenance and service of heavy equipment?

  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year, but less than 2
  • More than 2 years, but less than 3
  • More than 3 years, but less than 4
  • More than 4 years, but less than 5
  • 5 or more years

08

How many years of experience do you have in landfill or yard waste compost site operations?

  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year, but less than 2
  • More than 2 years, but less than 3
  • More than 3 years, but less than 4
  • More than 4 years, but less than 5
  • 5 or more years
  • Required Question

Salary : $2,400

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