Equipment Operator I

The current vacancies are in the Transportation Department; however, this recruitment will also be used to establish a Citywide list to fill future vacancies.

An Equipment Operator I is the entry-level class in the Equipment Operator series and is responsible for the safe, efficient operation and care of construction equipment with limited- to moderate-complexity.  Incumbents perform a variety of tasks involved in the maintenance and repair of City streets, storm drainage systems, parkways, and rights-of-way; or the construction, maintenance, and repair of the City's water and wastewater utility systems.  Work requires considerable skill in order to manipulate equipment associated with each assignment, such as backhoes (fine grading), forklifts, trenching machines, street sweepers, slurry trucks, front-end loaders, tractors/gannons, a truck with a trailer, a stake body, bin truck with a trailer, self-propelled herbicide spray machines, and combination high-velocity jetter/vactor truck or equivalent equipment.  Allocation to this class establishes equipment operation as the primary function of the position.  However, when not operating equipment, an employee in this class is expected to take the initiative in assisting in the manual and technical aspects of the construction, maintenance, and repair activities.  These assignments may involve duties such as public contact, work in close proximity to heavy traffic and underground utility lines, exposure to hazardous chemicals, possible injury as a result of working around trash and debris, confined space entry, and heavy physical exertion under all weather conditions.  Employees in this class are required to use appropriate safety equipment and follow safety procedures in performing assignments.  Duties require initiative and independent judgment in the care and operation of construction equipment, as well as mechanical aptitude and skillful coordination of eye, hand, and foot movements.  Employees have responsibility for the safety of coworkers while equipment operation is being performed.  This class is subject to frequent emergency call-out and incumbents must be willing to work scheduled stand-by and overtime on nights, weekends, and holidays as required.  This class is responsible for performing related duties as required. 

The Equipment Operator I class is distinguished from the Equipment Operator II by the latter's higher degree of skill required to operate moderately complex heavy equipment and the greater consequences of error and exposure.  The Equipment Operator I class is distinguished from the Field Worker II classification by the higher degree of skill required to operate a variety of construction equipment with limited to moderate complexity with equipment operation established as the primary function of the position.  Supervision is received from a crew leader, foreman, or supervisor who reviews incumbents' work through on-site observation of work in progress and completed projects.  Employees in this class may progress to the Equipment Operator II class by noncompetitive, criteria-based promotion after successful completion of required certifications, on the job training, achievement of satisfactory performance appraisals, and successful completion of initial City probation (Water Resources Assignment).  This class is FLSA non-exempt.

Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions. 

Employee Values:  All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required.  Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from high school or GED.  Good (1 - 3 years) experience operating light trucks, construction equipment, and/or manual labor/maintenance tasks related to the assignment area.

Energy Resources Assignment:  One-year full-time employment with the City of Mesa as a Field Worker II within the Energy Resources Department may be substituted for one-year full-time employment operating construction equipment relevant to the construction, maintenance, and repair of natural gas systems.

Water Resources Assignment:  One-year full-time employment with the City of Mesa as a Field Worker II within the Water Resources Department may be substituted for one-year full-time employment operating construction equipment relevant to the construction, maintenance, and repair of public or private utility systems.

Special Requirements.

Energy Resources Assignment:  Must possess a valid Arizona Class A CDL with no air brake restrictions by hire or promotion date.  Must obtain qualification as a gas system operator in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 192 within one year of hire or promotion date.

Transportation Assignment:  Must possess a valid Arizona Class A CDL with tanker endorsement by hire or promotion date.

Water Resources Assignments:  Must possess a valid Arizona Class A CDL with tanker endorsement and no air brake restrictions by application date, in addition to the following requirements based on assignment area:

Wastewater Collections Assignment:  Must obtain a Grade I (or higher) Wastewater Collection System Operator certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) within one year of hire or promotion date. 

Water Distribution Assignment:  Must obtain a Grade I (or higher) Water Distribution System Operator certification from the ADEQ within one year of hire or promotion date.

Substance Abuse Testing.  This class is subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) drug and alcohol testing as outlined in 49 CFR Part 382.

Energy Resources Assignment:  This class is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing as outlined in 49 CFR part 199 for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).