SW&R EQUIPMENT OPERATOR III

The City of Lake Worth Beach invites qualified individuals to apply for the position of SW&R EQUIPMENT OPERATOR III.

This is a Non-Exempt, Full-Time position based on a 40-hour work week with an hourly rate of $25.2308 - $31.5385. This position is a part of the Public Employees Union (PEU) collective bargaining union. This position will work at Public Works - Solid Waste & Recycling Division located at 1880 2^nd^ Avenue North, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33461.

In addition, this position offers:

• Vacation and Sick Leave Accruals
• 13 Paid Holidays
• 3 Floating Holidays
• City of Lake Worth Beach Medical Benefits that include Life Insurance, Dental and Vision coverage
• Retirement Plan

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for highly skilled work and expertise related to the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling throughout the City of Lake Worth Beach (City). Functions as a senior operator and provides task guidance and training to other Equipment Operators when required. Work is physical in nature and involves working independently and as part of a crew. The distinguishing characteristic of this position is that the employee spends a significant amount of time operating specialized front-loader (FEL) equipment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Skillfully and safely operates complex equipment exclusively to this position (front load and roll-off trucks) in very difficult situations including alleys, locations with minimal space, backing into lanes of traffic, etc.
• Performs commercial dumpster collection service throughout the City which includes knowledge of routes, adding/removing service locations as needed, manually re-positioning dumpsters when needed, determining if collection can be made safely by observing power lines and other obstacles, working in the dark, and reporting issues to the office.
• Performs all operational functions of the division and covers scheduled routes as needed.
• Operates a variety of other solid waste and recycling equipment including rear load garbage truck, trash truck, 60/40 recycling truck, top load truck, rear steer, automated side load truck, City vehicle, dumpster/cart delivery vehicles, mini rear load garbage truck and any other City vehicles as assigned.
• Performs physical labor on the back of truck providing manual solid waste and recycling collection.
• Maintains specified solid waste and recycling route(s) by emptying waste containers into truck, returning carts to proper location, cleaning up spills and debris from the ground, directing driver when backing up truck, taking waste to disposal facility and cleaning out truck at end of shift.
• Performs daily pre- and post-trip inspections; washes, greases and cleans equipment daily.
• Keeps equipment in good, working condition; promptly notifies Solid Waste Manager and Fleet Manager of mechanical issues.
• Delivers and repairs dumpsters, and garbage, vegetation and recycling carts/bins.
• Reports all service changes, collection issues such as over-flowing and blocked dumpsters, and other relevant information to office.
• Responds to emergency situations and may be deemed essential as needed depending on the situation; participates in emergency-related operations, such as hurricane preparedness and recovery.
• Adheres to all local, state and federal safety regulations.
• The examples of essential functions as listed in this classification specification are not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function of work does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment in relation to the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides task direction, guidance and training to other Equipment Operators when required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of modern practices, methods, and complex equipment and operations used in the solid waste and recycling industry.
• Knowledge of the laws, ordinances and regulations regarding operation of vehicles, occupational hazards and safety practices.
• Knowledge of traffic and highway safety rules and regulations and of effective precautionary measures necessary to avoid accidents.
• Skill in the safe operation of all equipment listed.
• Ability to use/operate a blower, liter picker, pitchfork, shovel, broom, chainsaw and other equipment in the daily performance of duties in accordance with City policies.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a day when assigned.
• Ability to read, write and understand written and oral instructions in English.
• Ability to recognize safety hazards in the workplace and take precautionary steps to protect self and others.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor in all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to clearly communicate using electronic devices.
• Ability to work seven (7) days a week on a rotating schedule.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED. Minimum of four (4) years’ experience in the expert operation of all equipment as listed above and demonstrated ability to operate specialized equipment. A comparable amount of training or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES:

• Must have and maintain a valid CDL Class B Florida driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Employees in this position will be required to complete the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) Certification Levels 100, 200, 700 and 800 within the first six months of employment. Certain positions may be required to attain additional ICS training as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. This employee will be required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include all DOT requirements. Must be able to run behind a waste collection truck providing collection service with minimal breaks.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside-weather conditions and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and fumes or airborne particles. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Lake Worth Beach and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Lake Worth Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, this organization provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Applicants for positions with the City of Lake Worth Beach should know and be aware of the following:

Applicants for employment who become candidates for available employment positions should note employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all reference checks and pre-employment physical satisfaction. Upon request, information on the nature and scope of an inquiry will be provided under FS 119.

Furthermore, some of the job classifications within the City of Lake Worth Beach workforce are covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements with a union. Consistent with Chapter 447 of the Florida Statutes, a bargaining unit employee has the right to join or not join the union. However, the Union is not obligated to represent a non-member.