Equipment Operator II

Job Title

Under general supervision, this position performs semi-skilled work in the pruning, felling and removal of trees, shrubs and stumps throughout the city by operating various vehicles, and power and hand tools. Reports to the Equipment Operator Crew Leader.

Essential Job Functions

Responsible for performing maintenance on all trees located on city property or right of way, to include planting, pruning, watering and removal of diseased or deteriorated city trees; operates equipment such as bucket trucks with aerial suspension, small bucket truck, bandit large wood chipper, large and small stump grinder, backhoes, stump truck, front end loaders, tractors, dump trucks, chain saws, tree trimmers, powered and manual loppers, ropes and chains; ensures the safe usage of climbing ladders, and power tools utilized in tree care operation.

Performs a variety of heavy manual labor such as cutting and clearing vegetation and debris, landscaping, tree trimming, and clearing debris; hauls debris to landfill or appropriate disposal site; completes daily forms, documentation and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reports; conducts inventory and inspection route assignments.

Performs routine checks and preventive maintenance on equipment; identifies and reports equipment malfunctions and cleans equipment as needed; ensures the safety of city equipment, private property, and others by following proper safety procedures, watching for pedestrians, private property, overhead utility lines and other utilities or obstructions; remains current on the proper use of equipment, safety measures and maintenance of equipment.

Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Performance indicators

Knowledge of Job: Has thorough knowledge of trees maintenance and care of equipment. Thorough knowledge of occupational hazards, safety precautions, and safety regulations related to recreational activities and other work relate precautions.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercise immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high-quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and research problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefits. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develop and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, supervisors, superintendents, professionals and the general public.

Coordination of Work : Plans and organize daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplications of efforts. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.

Safety and Housekeeping : Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Education & Experience

Requires completion of 10th grade in high school or equivalent and 1 - 3 years of experience in tree maintenance, landscaping, grounds keeping, and park maintenance, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. High school diploma, GED or specialized vocational training is preferred.

Special Requirements

A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class -B, and a favorable driving record, or a Commercial Learner's Permit, with the ability to obtain a CDL Class -B, within 90 days of hire.

This position requires pre-employment medical evaluation and substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history and sex offender registry check. Must have the ability to work various rotating shifts to include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Physical Demands

Minimum Qualifications or Standards Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to exert moderate and frequent physical effort. Some combination of climbing and balancing to include walking, climbing trees, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling. May involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds). May occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds). Must be able to perform job functions in adverse weather conditions, including summer heat, rain, wind and cold winter days.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from supervisor.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read route assignment sheets and work orders. Requires the ability to complete attendance sheets, times cards, incident reports, route assignment, etc. using prescribed formats.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagrammatic form; to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English, creative arts and recreational terminology.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of heavy equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as hand tools, ropes, chains and other various power hand tools.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of colors.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situation).

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing-perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.