Equipment Operator
The City of Tacoma Public Works Department is recruiting for the position of Equipment Operator. Equipment Operators operate a variety of trucks and equipment, such as but not limited to: dump trucks, lowboy, vibratory rollers, computerized oil distributors, plow trucks, brine trucks, self-contained hot patch trucks, and water trucks, etc. Duties include driving/operating a wide variety of equipment in the installation, maintenance, and repair of City infrastructure, working independently or as part of a large crew on a project. Experience operating dump truck with pup trailer is desired. This position is occasionally responsible for providing work direction to subordinate staff to accomplish assigned duties. Work is performed independently after receiving general instructions from a Crew Leader or Supervisor.
This recruitment is being conducted to create a civil service eligibility list that will be used to fill Equipment Operator vacancies as they occur in the Public Works Department. The list is expected to be valid for one year.
Recruitment for all the Equipment Operator jobs will be conducted separately. The City of Tacoma will be posting separate Equipment Operator job announcements for the Water Department and Solid Waste Department. We invite you to apply for hiring consideration for each job announcement when it is posted.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Position requires climbing, pushing and occasionally lifting objects weighing up to 90 pounds.
- Outdoor environment subject to occasional extreme weather conditions.
- Subject to driving in heavy traffic from site to site.
- Employees in this position may be subject to noise, fumes and potentially
- hazardous materials.
City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.
Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent
AND
One (1) year of work experience driving trucks and light equipment in support of maintenance, operations, or construction duties.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- A valid Class A Washington State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Air Brake Restriction removed required at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.
- Must obtain a Tanker Endorsement prior to probation completion, with maintenance thereafter.
- Must obtain a valid flagging and traffic control card and a First Aid and CPR card prior to probation completion with maintenance thereafter.
Knowledge & Skills
- Methods, materials, terminology, and techniques used in road maintenance and construction activities.
- The safe operation and minor maintenance of a variety of hand and power tools, vehicles, and power equipment used in road maintenance and construction activities.
- Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and guidelines relevant to assigned duties.
- Methods and techniques for record keeping.
- Principles of mathematics.
- Learn and apply safety rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Read and interpret construction drawings, maps, and specifications.
- Operate specialized construction and maintenance, light to heavy vehicles, and equipment.
- Perform heavy manual labor lifting up to 50 lbs or more.
- Understand and follow oral and written directions.
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to audiences of various social, cultural, ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds.
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others working efficiently and productively.
- Effectively coordinate, perform, and complete multiple duties and assignments concurrently and in a timely manner.
- Work independently in the performance of assigned duties with little direction.
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
To be considered for this opportunity:
Interested individuals must apply online and meet the minimum qualifications to progress in the examination process.
In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.
Candidates who are eligible for Veteran's Preference scoring criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4, (proof of military discharge form) at time of application, to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points.
Examination Process:
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in an online test. This test may include, but is not limited to, questions on vehicle operation and safety, traffic signs and laws, personal safety, proper lifting techniques and customer relations. The testing information will be sent to the applicants' email address after the closing date of this job announcement. In order to receive the test link, applicants must provide a valid email address on their job application/candidate profile. Applicants must complete and pass the test with a minimum score of 70% in order to be placed on the Eligible List for interview and hiring consideration.
Per City of Tacoma Personnel Management Policy #170, the City of Tacoma is a drug-free work environment. Appointment is subject to passing a background check which includes information from previous employer about Commercial Driver License related citations and drug/alcohol testing, a pre-employment medical exam, pre-employment physical ability test and drug/alcohol screen.
This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local 117. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.
WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:
- Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
- Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
- Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
- Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
- Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
- Personal time off.
- Paid holidays.
- A great pension plan.
Our City:
With a population of over 210,000, Tacoma is the second largest city in the Puget Sound region, gracing the shores of Commencement Bay. We are a diverse, progressive, international city that serves as a gateway to the Pacific Rim and the rest of the world. Named one of the most livable areas in the country by Livability.com, Tacoma and the surrounding area is a playground for outdoor and maritime enthusiasts. Our businesses are vibrant, our parks are beautiful, our schools are exceptional and our housing is affordable.
When you work for the City of Tacoma you'll have an opportunity to enjoy a healthy work/life balance, the potential for flexible schedules (with some job classifications), continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:
The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, or questions regarding this job announcement, please call Human Resources at (253) 591.5400 before 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement.