Equipment Operator

King county Road Services Division is looking for skilled and safety-conscious Equipment Operators to join our dynamic team. This position is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a variety of heavy equipment, including backhoes, graders, track hoes, dozers, and slope mowers, as well as handling graders over ten tons and front-end loaders with bucket capacities up to four yards. The ideal candidates will have experience conducting daily vehicle inspections and performing minor preventative maintenance. Flexibility is essential, as duties may involve responding to emergencies, addressing equipment breakdowns, and working on special projects. If you're a dependable team player committed to safety and are looking to make a meaningful impact in our community, we encourage you to apply.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work . Our commitment to True North values which ensures every person has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential and forms the core of our mission and purpose . Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

The King County Road Services Division designs, builds, operates , and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel . To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington

Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

• Safely operate various heavy machinery/equipment, such as: front-end loaders, backhoe, track hoe, grader, road brooms, slope mowers, roller, and dozers.
• Support maintenance/construction activities by using heavy equipment in the upkeep and development of roads, right-of-way, and other public facilities.
• Inspect assigned vehicles and perform minor preventative maintenance and associated manual tasks to correct safety problems as necessary.
• Determine safe and efficient methods for operation of all County equipment.
• Collaborate with crews to ensure safety and maintain focus on assigned tasks.

• Ensure the safety of crews and the public by providing appropriate traffic control measures on streets and highways, including flagging, and placing signs, cones and barricades as needed .

• Responds to emergency situations such as floods, snow/ice/wind storms, etc.

• Perform a variety of manual tasks requiring the use of hand tools and handheld power tools as needed.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with the public, coworkers, and emergency personnel.
• Provide respectful, professional communication when engaging with the public.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Experience safely operating heavy equipment, including but not limited to front-end loaders, backhoes, track hoes, graders, road brooms, slope mowers, rollers, and dozers.
• Skill in operating equipment in high-density traffic under adverse weather conditions.
• Knowledge of traffic control procedures and equipment, including flagging techniques and proper placement of signs, cones, and barricades to ensure public and crew safety.
• Ability to work collaboratively with crews, maintaining a focus on task completion and workplace safety.
• Basic mechanical skills with the ability to inspect, troubleshoot, and perform minor preventive maintenance on assigned vehicles and equipment.
• Skill in reading and interpreting blueprints, plans, specifications, and road maps.
• Proficiency in fundamental math skills.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions, prioritize tasks, and work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and proficiency in the proper use, and care of a variety of tools and equipment.
• Demonstrates behaviors that include fairness, respect, and inclusiveness.
• Effectively serve on a team that contributes to a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued.
• Defensive driving skills with a strong focus on safety, hazard anticipation, and accident prevention.
• Ability in performing demanding demanding tasks in dynamic high pressure environments.
• Ability to maintain predictable and reliable attendance.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: (add here in bulleted format if applicable)

• Experience related to construction and maintenance projects, including grading, drainage and right-of-way development.
• Paving experience.
  
  

NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:

• Successfully pass a pre-employment physical.
• Submit to drug testing and test negative for presence of controlled substances; sign a Consent Form for release of Information for each employer for the past three (3) years; and successfully pass a background check for Alcohol and Controlled Substances testing, and a CDL background information check.
• Have a valid Washington State Class A or B with Air Brakes Commercial Driver's License and a current Medical certification prior to the practical exam date.

SAFETY SENSITIVE PSOITION:

• This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for these positions are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols.

WORK LOCATIONS:

• Multiple sites across King County, WA. The primary operations site is based in Renton, WA., with outlying facilities located in: Black Diamond, Vashon, Skykomish, Fall City, and Redmond.
• We are currently recruiting for the following locations: Redmond, WA and Fall City, WA. This recruitment may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.

PRACTICAL/TEST/INTERVIEWS ALL IN ONE DAY
Those candidates who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in an in-person practical exam and interview. Only those who pass the practical assessment will move forward to the interview. The practical and interview are anticipated to take place on the same day the week of August 4, 2025.

WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.

A PPLICATION PROCESS : A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.

Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

WORK SCHEDULE:
The work schedule will consist of four, ten-hour days in the spring/summer, Monday Thursday, 6:00 am 4:30 pm , and five eight-hour days in the fall/winter, Monday Friday, 7:00 am 3:30 pm. This position is Non-Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime pay, with prior supervisor approval.

E MERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS :
First Responder - Employees who, in the early stages of an incident, are responsible for protecting and preserving life, property, evidence, the environment, and restoring order.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:
This position is represented by LOCAL 302.

To learn more about the Road Services Division , Pe r mitting or Directors Office , please visit us at:

Road Services Division:

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Permitting:

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Directors Office:

style="margin: 0; padding: 0; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0"> For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Cassandra Montgomery Human Resource Analyst, Senior ...
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Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.