Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

Metro's Waste Prevention and Environmental Services (WPES) department is looking for a Heavy Equipment Operator to join the team at the Metro South Transfer Station. Heavy Equipment Operators play an important role in keeping the facility safe and operating efficiently by using large equipment to move and manage solid waste. This is hands-on work in a busy public and industrial setting where you will operate equipment around employees, contractors and members of the public. You will also support tipping floor operations, material recovery, equipment maintenance and employee training. This is a great opportunity for an experienced equipment operator who enjoys hands-on work, working as part of a team and providing an essential public service.

As the Heavy Equipment Operator you will:

• Safely and efficiently operate heavy equipment, including dozers, front-end loaders, compactors, roll-off trucks, street sweepers and other assigned equipment.
• Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections and identify, document and report equipment defects or unsafe conditions.
• Perform routine operator-level maintenance, including checking fluid levels, lubricating equipment, cleaning machinery and completing required maintenance and inspection records.
• Maintain situational awareness while operating equipment in a high-traffic environment around employees, contractors and members of the public.
• Identify hazardous or prohibited materials in the waste stream and follow established procedures for isolation, notification and disposal.
• Perform transfer station technician duties, including assisting with unloading vehicles and recovery activities on the tipping floor as needed.
• Transport materials on-site and off-site as operational needs require and operate vehicles requiring a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) when qualified and assigned.
• Assist with training Transfer Station Technician II staff in the safe operation of heavy equipment after required qualifications and training have been completed.
• Participate in training to develop lead skills and perform Transfer Station Lead duties in a training capacity when qualified and assigned.
• Follow Metro safety policies, procedures and standard operating procedures while contributing to a safe, clean and welcoming transfer station for employees and customers.

Attributes for success:

• Safety-focused and consistently aware of changing conditions in a busy industrial and public-facing environment.
• Skilled at operating heavy equipment safely, efficiently and with attention to equipment condition and performance.
• Comfortable working outdoors in changing weather conditions and around noise, dust, dirt, odors, traffic, machinery and solid waste.
• Able to recognize hazards, make sound decisions and respond appropriately when conditions change.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills when working with coworkers, supervisors, contractors, customers and members of the public.
• Reliable and accountable, with a commitment to following through on assigned work and maintaining regular attendance.
• Able to follow established procedures while using good judgment when situations require additional problem solving.
• Willing to learn new equipment, procedures and responsibilities and share knowledge with coworkers.
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced operational environment.

• Committed to public service, cultural humility, teamwork, accountability, openness to change and effective communication.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

To qualify:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED, and
• One (1) to four (4) years of experience operating heavy equipment or machinery in solid waste, transfer station, landfill, or related setting, or
• Any combination of experience, education and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential job duties.

Required qualifications:

• Must possess, be able to obtain, maintain or complete the following training, licenses, and certifications:
• Possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), as required. Street Sweeper drivers require a CDL with a tank endorsement.
• Within one (1) year of hire:
• Forklift certification
• First Aid/CPR certification
• Asbestos Awareness training
• Bloodborne Pathogens training

Ability to work the assigned schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays as operationally required.

Ability to work safely in a high-traffic transfer station environment around moving equipment, solid waste, hazardous materials and members of the public.

Ability to perform the physical and environmental requirements of the position, including regular standing, walking, bending, climbing, operating equipment and lifting up to 50 pounds, with occasional lifting of objects weighing more than 50 pounds.

This position works primarily outdoors, with approximately 90 percent of the work performed outside. Work includes regular exposure to changing weather conditions, temperature extremes, noise, vibration, dust, dirt, strong or unpleasant odors, traffic, moving machinery, municipal solid waste and potentially hazardous materials.

The position requires regular standing, walking, bending, climbing, equipment operation and physical activity on uneven surfaces. Employees may occasionally be required to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds. Personal protective equipment is required as appropriate for assigned duties and working conditions.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply:

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications:

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Experience operating heavy equipment in a solid waste, transfer station, landfill, recycling or related industrial environment.
• Experience operating dozers, front-end loaders, compactors, roll-off trucks, street sweepers or similar heavy equipment.
• Experience working in a high-hazard, high-traffic industrial or processing environment.
• OSHA-10 certification.
• Forklift certification.
• HAZWOPER 40-hour certification.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Asbestos awareness training.
• Bloodborne pathogens training.
• Experience providing equipment training or guidance to coworkers.

Screening and Evaluation:

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments
• Reference check
• Driving records check for finalist candidate

Compensation, Benefits and Representation:

The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $30.60 to step 7: $41.