Heavy Equipment Operator - Solid Waste Division

Description

Make an impact. Move our community forward.

The City is seeking a skilled and safety-focused Heavy Equipment Operator to join our Solid Waste Division. This position plays a critical role in keeping our community clean, safe, and operating efficiently by working alongside our Driver/Collector team and supporting daily operations at the Solid Waste Transfer Station.

The Heavy Equipment Operator serves as the primary operator responsible for active tipping floor operations and the Construction & Demolition (C&D) material pile. This role operates high-capacity equipment, including front loaders and other specialized heavy equipment, while maintaining constant awareness of site hazards, traffic, commercial haulers, and changing floor conditions.

We’re looking for someone who demonstrates the City's values every day:

• Accountability – Prioritizes safety, follows procedures, and takes responsibility for the work.
• Empowerment – Uses sound judgment and takes initiative to keep operations moving safely and efficiently.
• Innovation – Looks for ways to improve processes, productivity, and service delivery.
• Ownership – Takes pride in the work and understands the important role Solid Waste plays in our community.

This position requires specialized training, strong operational judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to remain vigilant in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment. Prior experience operating heavy-duty equipment is preferred.

Schedule: Hours may vary based on business needs but typically begin as early as 4:00 a.m. and end no later than 6:00 p.m. Employees may be required to work until assigned routes or tasks are completed; no shift will exceed 12 hours. A one-hour unpaid lunch break is included.

Important: Driver/Collector – Sanitation and Heavy Equipment positions are considered interchangeable based on the operational needs of the City. Employees may be assigned duties across both classifications to support efficient and reliable service to our community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary person for working material distribution, floor capacity, and operational safety on the active tipping floor and C&D pile.
• Operate excavator with grappler claw and other attachments and Solid Waste Wheel Loaders, or its equivalent, skid steers, dozers, forklifts, and related site equipment. May be required to drive collection vehicles to meet operational demands.
• Direct vehicular traffic within assigned tipping and dumping areas to ensure smooth operational flow and prevent floor congestion.
• Perform daily equipment inspection, routine preventive maintenance, cleaning, and minor field adjustments.
• Maintain assigned work areas in a safe, clean, and orderly condition.
• Assist in preparing the facility for daily opening, shift changes, and secure shutdown procedures.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent supplemented by three (3) years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Must obtain and maintain Transfer Station Operators and Materials Recovery Facilities Cert within 6 months from hire date.; OSHA 10-Hour Construction; OSHA-Aligned Heavy Equipment Operator; Forklift Operator, FEMA 100, 200, & 700; and CPR and First Aid certifications within 330 days of employment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid FL State Driver's License Class "A" with NO Restrictions.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

An Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of St. Cloud is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in all of its employment practices based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran or family status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by applicable state or federal laws. The City participates in employment eligibility verifications through E-verify. Veteran’s preference is given in accordance with Florida Law.

City of St. Cloud Benefits Package
We believe our City employees to be our most valuable asset. To attract and retain those employees, we offer a competitive wages and benefits package including on-the-job training, seminars, and performance appraisals.

We invite you to look at the benefits the City of St. Cloud has to offer. We think you will find that the rewards of the job are equal to the challenge.

All of our Full-time regular employees are eligible for the city's benefits package, which includes:

• On-Site Employee Health Care Center - free for employees and their dependents on the health insurance plan
• Paid Vacation
• Sick Leave (Ability to roll over from year to year)
• 11 Paid Holidays for General Employees – Sworn Fire department employees can earn up to 156 holiday hours per fiscal year, and sworn Police Officers earn up to 116 holidays hours per fiscal year. (Both are prorated from the employee’s start date.)
• One (1) Floating Holiday for General Employees.
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Pension Plan
• Awards Programs
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Discounted Automobile Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Holiday Bonus – subject to City Council approval
• Take-Home vehicles policy (Police Officers)
• Life and Accidental Death (One-time annual salary paid by City)
• Long Term Disability Coverage (paid by City)
• Management Leave
• Sick Leave Bank available for all employees - for Fire Union sick leave bank information, see union contract