Equipment Operator - Senior

This is a promotional recruitment - only permanent and/or probationary County employees are eligible to apply.

Operate heavy road maintenance and construction equipment with a high level of skill and independent judgment; perform complex and difficult road maintenance and construction duties; and exercise technical and functional supervision over maintenance and technical personnel as needed.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Equipment Operator series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing assigned duties and by the nature of the public contact made. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including operation of heavy equipment within close tolerances and grading in accordance with engineering specifications and exercise technical and functional supervision over maintenance and technical personnel. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

This position receives direction from a Road District Supervisor, and may exercise technical and functional supervision over maintenance and technical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Train and lead assigned personnel in equipment operation activities.
• Operate heavy equipment such as motor graders, heavy duty loaders and cranes, rotary snow plows, chip spreaders and large semi-truck and trailer equipment transporters in road patching, ditch and culvert cleaning, shoulder clearing, snow removal and ice control, traffic barrier construction, culvert installation and bridge building. 
• Grade roads to proper line and grades; cut, fill, level and otherwise prepare road bed; mix spread and compact surfacing material and finish road surface and shoulder to engineering specifications; assist in equipment maintenance by performing minor service tasks and checking equipment for needed repairs.
• Operate less complex equipment when graders or other heavy equipment are not needed. 
• May perform manual labor in tasks such as resurfacing, oiling and patching, cleaning ditches and culverts, laying drainage pipe, building fences and repairing storm drains. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training:  It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience:  Two years of responsible journey level experience performing duties similar to those of an Equipment Operator in Placer County.

Training:  Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid Class B driver's license with air brake and tanker endorsements. Hazardous materials endorsement may be required depending upon the position.
• May need to possess a valid Class A driver's license with air brake and tanker endorsements as required depending upon the position.
• Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices used in the operation and routine maintenance of heavy road and construction equipment.
• Vehicle codes and safety practices relevant to operating heavy vehicles and equipment.
• General construction standards and practices as applied to road maintenance.
• Equipment, tools and materials used in road construction, maintenance and repair.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• Operate various types of heavy equipment in performing complex and difficult road construction and maintenance work requiring a high level of skill and judgment such as working within close tolerances and judging distances in ground levels and grade stakes; read and understand blue prints/blue lines and engineering design notes.
• Operate power and air tools such as chain saw, concrete saw and jackhammer.
• Use hand tools, rakes, shovels and hand tamper.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Safely and effectively operate equipment in regular traffic areas; determine traffic control areas for signing and marking of temporary maintenance or construction zones.
• Work unusual and prolonged work schedules; work multiple shifts during emergencies, seasonally-caused circumstances, or special projects in varying climatic and temperature conditions.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Train, assign and review work of assigned personnel.
• Intermittently, sit while completing forms or reports; bend, squat, climb, kneel, twist and reach when operating equipment controls or installing parts or digging, clearing and spreading; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; regularly lift very heavy weight.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand operations and observe safety rules.  Intermittently analyze equipment problems; identify and locate equipment and tools; interpret work orders; remember equipment and tool location; remember street/road names and general geographic areas. 

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for this position will be invited to the Performance and Oral Examination. The Performance Examination and the Oral Examation are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10, 2013. 

Qualified applicants will be notified of their scheduled time vie email within 1 to 2 weeks from the closing date of this posting.

Performance Examination (70%)
The performance examination will consist of a series of job-related exercises typically performed by Senior Equipment Operators, including a backhoe and motor grader exercise, and a safety check.

Oral Examination (30%)
The oral examination will be conducted by a panel of raters who will assess and rate the degree to which each applicant demonstrates the knowledge and abilities required for this classification. Applicants’ responses to a series of job related questions, as well as their education and experience, will be rated in relation to the requirements for this classification.

 

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

Click here to view General benefits

Week of 09/16/13 -  Minimum Qualifications screening

Wednesday 10/9/13 & Thursday 10/10/13 - Physical Examination and Oral Examination

Week of 10/21/2013 - Eligible List Established