Equipment Operator III - BC-10

Solid Waste Truck-Tractor Operator

Employer: County of Hawai`i

Salary: $75,708.00 Annually

Location: Future vacancies with immediate vacancies in Kailua-Kona and Waimea, HI

Job Type: Permanent & Temporary Positions

Department: Environmental Management

Division: Solid Waste

Opening Date: 07/19/2026

Closing Date: Continuous

There are three (3) immediate vacancies with the Department of Environmental Management - Solid Waste Division:

• Two (2) permanent full-time vacancies in Kailua-Kona
• One (1) permanent full-time vacancy in Waimea

The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life of the list. Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment. Special Working Conditions: Work 4 days/10 hours. Operations run 7 days a week. Scheduled work days may include weekends and holidays, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Must be available for stand-by duty and to report to work in all emergencies. Work in and around obnoxious odors and sludge; be able to lift more than 50 lbs. Submit to random drug testing per Federal DOT regulations.

Duties Summary

Operates and maintains a truck-tractor with a 16 ton trailer and a D-8 bulldozer as a primary work assignment for the Solid Waste Division.

Examples of Duties

• Operates truck-tractor with a low bed trailer to haul refuse material.
• Operates D-8 bulldozer to clear land of brush and small trees. Lowers and sets blade to strike and cut roots of trees; push brush and trees into large piles; push larger trees down; strip and remove top soil.
• Push, spreads refuse for sorting of recyclable materials using bucket loader.
• Push, spreads, and compacts refuse at landfills using bulldozers and landfill compactors as required.
• Push, spreads gravel and/or soil cover materials at landfills for daily refuse cover.
• Operates D-8 bulldozer to deploy and retrieve alternate daily cover (ADC) material using mechanical tarping machine.
• Spreads fill; backfills abutments, culverts, trenches, and ditches.
• Practices preventative maintenance on equipment. Maintains, lubricates, and services equipment; changes and sharpens blades; makes adjustments; cleans and changes filters and brakes; refills fuel tanks, etc.
• Assists mechanics in making field repairs to heavy motorized equipment such as pulling tracks; removing and welding dozer blade; and repairing the hydraulic system, engine, fuel pump, transmission, and power takeoff.
• Complies with all Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, and policies relating to occupational safety and health, and the environment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Training and Experience: Experience and/or training of sufficient scope and quality to show competence in the operation and maintenance of a truck-tractor with a 16 ton trailer, and experience and/or training of sufficient scope and quality to show competence in the operation and maintenance of a D-8 bulldozer, as applicable to the position, and applicants will be required to demonstrate such competency by satisfactorily passing an assessment exercise administered by the Department of Environmental Management.

License/Certificate Requirement: Possession of a valid State of Hawai'i Commercial Driver License (Class A) at time of appointment*; a current Department of Transportation Medical Examiner's Certificate at the time of filing, and possession of a good driving record certified by a traffic abstract confirming no DUI convictions, license revocations, or suspensions for three (3) years preceding and no moving violations for one (1) year preceding. A current traffic abstract is valid for 30 days from date of issuance by the district court. (You will be required to submit your current traffic abstract at time of the job interview).

*Commercial Driver License (CDL): If you have an out-of-state CDL, you must transfer it to a Hawai'i issued CDL by the time of appointment. Please contact the Hilo Driver Licensing Office at View phone number on click.appcast.io or the Kona Driver Licensing Office at View phone number on click.appcast.io for information on how to obtain a Hawai'i CDL. Note: Possession of combination and air brakes endorsements is required, prior to completion of probation.

Examination: All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points. An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant's training, education and experience as presented in the application.

Knowledge of: operation and maintenance of a truck-tractor with a 16 ton trailer and D-8 bulldozer as its primary work; operating characteristics, capacities, and capabilities of equipment, such as use of gears and power ratios; lifting; balancing; braking and turning capacities; determining power requirements for various ground conditions; determining safe operating speeds; laws, ordinances, and regulations governing the operation of equipment and motorized vehicles on State and County highways; maintenance, service, and repair practices of heavy motorized equipment; and, occupational hazards and safety precautions applicable to operating such equipment.

Ability to: operate and maintain a truck-tractor with a 16 ton trailer and D-8 bulldozer; operate standard, automatic, hydrostatic, magnetic, and other types of transmissions applicable to primary equipment; apply skill and judgment in operating and maneuvering equipment in a safe and efficient manner; drive skillfully, courteously, and safely according to traffic laws and ordinances; recognize mechanical and operational defects; service, conduct preventative maintenance inspections, and emergency repairs on heavy motorized equipment; keep records and prepare reports; comprehend and understand, receive, and follow both oral and written instructions; and, perform construction and maintenance operations using equipment without close supervision.

Physical Requirements: Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Physical Effort Grouping: Heavy

Benefits of County Employment

The County of Hawai'i offers a competitive compensation package. Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.

• Flexible Working Arrangements: Options may include alternate work schedules (4-10) and flexible working hours. (Not all Departments/Agencies participate and not all positions are eligible.)
• Vacation: Start accruing paid vacation time immediately upon hire up to 21 days per year.
• Sick Leave: Start accruing paid sick leave time immediately upon hire up to 21 days per year.
• Holidays: The County provides 13 paid holidays per year (plus General Election Day when applicable).
• Training and Development: The County has a variety of training and development opportunities for employees.
• County Tuition Reimbursement Program: This scholarship program rewards employees who take the initiative to advance their education and learning.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: You may be eligible for this federal program which forgives portions of federal student loans for individuals working in public service.
• Retirement Plan: The Employees' Retirement System is a qualified defined benefit public pension plan that provides retirement, disability, survivor and other benefits to all eligible full-time and part-time county employees in the State of Hawaii as well as their beneficiaries.
• Deferred Compensation: Eligible employees may participate in the Island Savings Plan (a deferred compensation plan as provided under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code.) This is a voluntary supplemental retirement savings plan that allows for the investment of tax-deferred contributions into a variety of investment options.
• Flexible Spending Plan: Eligible employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for their portion of insurance premiums, qualified dependent care and/or medical expenses.
• Health Benefit Plans: The County of Hawai'i offers the following health benefit plans for eligible employees:
• Medical Plan (HMO or PPO)
• Vision Plan
• Dental Plan
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The County offers a voluntary assistance program which provides its employees and their family members with free professional and confidential assistance in overcoming personal and work-related problems.
• Group Life Insurance: The County provides a free life insurance policy for active employees.
• Credit Union Membership
• Other Leaves: You may be eligible for other leaves, such