Equipment Operator

Salary: $48,600.00 - $68,000.00 Annually
Location : Lake Woodard Annex, 3324 Lake Woodard Drive, Raleigh, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00580
Department: PU Sewer Maintenance
Opening Date: 08/18/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
Hiring Range: $48,600.00 - $58,300.00


Job Description
The Easement Maintenance Equipment Operators support the Easement Maintenance Program by assisting with the maintenance of sanitary sewer easements and access areas. This position assists Heavy Equipment Operator; Senior and crew members with vegetation removal, jobsite setup and cleanup, material handling, equipment operation, and routine maintenance activities. The Equipment Operators performs daily equipment inspections, helps maintain safe and organized worksites, and works as part of a team to complete assigned maintenance activities safely, efficiently, and effectively.
About You:
You are a dependable equipment operator who can safely operate a variety of trucks and equipment, assist work crews, perform routine equipment inspections and maintenance, and recognize and report equipment issues. You communicate effectively, follow direction from supervisors, and work well with others to support daily operations.
About Us:
The City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department, now also known as Raleigh Water, provides water and sanitary sewer services to roughly 198,000 metered customers and a service population of about 600,000 people in Raleigh, Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon areas. Our mission is to provide safe, sustainable water services for our customers while protecting public health and contributing to the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our communities.

There are 3 openings for this position.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Performs skilled maintenance work supporting City department(s) or maintenance function; selects proper maintenance tools and equipment for tasks; performs work following established safety policies and procedures and applicable codes and regulations
• Serve as assistant to crew lead of a two staff member crew by assigning work and monitoring work completion
• Operates and/or transports equipment; operates small equipment such as chainsaw, weedeater, and polesaws.; operates assigned heavy equipment for various functions which may include grading/excavating, collection and removal of debris, refuse and/or snow; and/or material application and distribution; plans routes and sets up work areas for safety and operational efficiency; oversees set up traffic control measures
• Required to fulfill call duty on a rotating basis which will include weekends and/or holidays
• May be required to work extended shifts including shifts outside of normal business hours and work on weekends and/or holidays
• Utilizes heavy equipment to cut and remove vegetation from areas where sanitary sewer structures are located outside of public right of ways or streets. Work areas may include rough terrain, steep grades, stream beds, and low-lying wetland areas

Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience:
High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalency; Less than 1 year experience in light to medium construction equipment operation or related work

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted
Examples of preferred relatable experience are:

• Construction: grading, storm drain, site work, builder, plumber, any utility construction (including fiber installation), road construction
• Landscaping: installer, maintenance, irrigation
• Mechanics: heavy equipment, HVAC, hydraulic systems
• Farming: manual labor, equipment operating
• Moving Company: labor, truck driver
• General Municipal Worker: utility inspector
• Tech School Student: mechanical
• Firefighter: full or part-time

Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
• Valid North Carolina Class A Commercial Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire
• NC WPCSOCC Collection System Operator Certification Grade I or ability to obtain within 1 year of hire

Additional Information
Knowledge of:

• Standard practices, methods and materials of assigned work
• Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment
• Occupational hazards and safety guidelines
• Uses and properties of supplies and equipment

Skill in:

• Verbal and written communication
• Establishing and maintaining productive working relationships

Ability to:

• Perform routine inspections to ensure safe operating conditions
• Follow instructions provided by a supervisor

ADA and Other Requirements:

Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Medium: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Work Environment:
Work is typically performed in an outdoor environment, street environment (near moving traffic), at a construction site and in and around vehicles. Employees may occasionally be in confined spaces, and warehouse or shop environments.

Work Exposures:
There is frequent exposure to extreme cold (below 32 degrees), extreme heat (above 100 degrees), moving mechanical parts, fumes and airborne particles and loud noises. Employees may occasionally interact with individuals who are hostile or irate and communicable diseases.City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.


To find out about the City's benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page:

The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01


Please select your highest level of education completed.

• Some high school
• High school diploma (or GED)
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD or other professional degree

02


How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in light to medium construction equipment operation or related work?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 3 years
• 3 to less than 4 years
• 4 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 6 years
• 6 to less than 7 years
• 7 to less than 8 years
• 8 to less than 9 years
• 9 to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

03


Do you have a valid North Carolina Driver's License Class C or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire?

• Yes, I currently have a valid NC Driver's License.
• I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License, but I can obtain one within 60 days of hire.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 60 days of hire.

04


Do you have a valid North Carolina Class A (CDL) Commercial Driver's License or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire?

• Yes, I currently have a valid NC Class A Driver's License.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Class A Driver's License, but I can obtain one within 90 days of hire.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Class A Driver's License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 90 days of hire.

05


Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?

• Yes
• No

06


If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
Required Question