Heavy Equipment Operator/ Water Operator I-III

Under general supervision of the Water Supervisor, this is a broad classification with individual positions that may be assigned to one or more functional areas described below; duties and assignments may overlap depending on the operational needs of the department and staffing levels.

Incumbents are required to maintain a flexible work schedule that includes overtime, on-call status, call-backs, nights, weekends, holidays, and rotational shifts. performs skilled work in the operation of light and heavy and complex equipment, such as backhoe, digging up water mains/services, bulldozers, graders, graders with sloper bar, scrapers, and heavy skip loaders; operates Excavators, Scrapers, and Sheeps Foot; and performs other work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The following classifications of Heavy Equipment Operator/Water Operators are distinguished by the possession of a current Class A California Drivers license and a valid Water Distribution certificate issued by California State Water Resources Control Board:

• Heavy Equip Operator I - Class A/Grade II Water Distribution Certificate

• Heavy Equip Operator II - Class A/Grade III Water Distribution Certificate

• Heavy Equip Operator III Class A/Grade IV Water Distribution Certificate

Advanced classification does not vest supervisorial authority; it only indicates State certification level.

Below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Individuals must be able to perform with minimum supervision and must possess the ability to complete tasks without additional instruction or guidance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties:

• Daily Water operations
• Grease, oil and do daily maintenance of equipment.
• Makes earth cuts and trenches in preparation for installation of weirs, side gates, concrete pipe, valves, and other items required for diversion and delivery of water.
• Hand dig around existing utilities when necessary
• Removes weeds, tulles, moss, and other forms of natural obstruction from the banks and beds of all accessible canals and water facilities.
• Operates a backhoe/excavator for excavating utility trenches, placing pipe, and cutting fine grade.
• Regrades existing roads on ditch banks; widens; deepens and dredges canals.
• Assist in hauling equipment to and from job site.
• Performs finish sloping and grading to specifications on canal banks.
• Operates bulldozers and scrapers for moving earth in the construction of new spreading basins.
• Prepares surfaces for the construction of new roads and the maintenance of existing ones.
• Leads a crew on operations or repair project, directing all aspects of the operation in the absence of a foreman.
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Basic mathematical skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Operation and maintenance characteristics of heavy equipment used in the area assigned.
• Interpretation of a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Occupational hazards and safety precautions applicable to assigned equipment.

Ability to:

• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to deal tactfully with the public.
• Make minor repairs and adjustments to equipment.
• Use and operate a lazar level for light surveying for grade in spreading basins, open channels, and canals.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Lead a crew engaged in maintenance and repair operations.
• Follow projects through to completion with minimum instruction and supervision.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be capable of performing sustained periods of intensive manual labor in all types of weather.
• Willing to be on call and respond to after hours of water emergencies.

Training and Experience:

• Three (3) years experience in the operation of heavy and complex equipment.
• Equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Water Operator Experience preferred.

Licenses, Certificates and Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid Class A California driver's license.
• Must obtain a California Water Distribution License Grade 2 within 1 year of employment.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands may include: possession of normally functioning olfactory sensation and normal color vision, balancing, climbing, ascending and descending ladders, driving, heavy physical labor, kneeling, crouching, lifting, pushing and/or pulling of objects weighing 60 pounds or more, making repetitive hand or body motions, running, sitting, speaking, standing, stooping, bending, using hands and fingers, using hand or power tools, walking, working in cramped and confined spaces, working outside and underground; utilizing Personal Protective Equipment per OSHA General Industry Standards 29 CFR 1910. Vision in the normal range with or without correction. Hearing in the normal range with or without correction.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work environment includes: exposure to water, chemicals, confined work spaces, dust, dirt, electrical hazards, fumes, odors, gases, high or low temperatures, noise, poor lighting, shift work, extended shifts, toxic materials, air contamination, wetness and humidity, vibration, and driving on a daily basis; frequent exposure to high work places; inclement weather conditions which may include extreme cold or heat and exposure to snow, rain, wind, sun, etc.

Disaster Worker:
In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, District employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and are required to report for duty and respond accordingly.

FSLA:
This is an FLSA Non-Exempt position.