Solid Waste Operator

Position Summary

The City of Bozeman is now accepting applications for a Solid Waste Operator to support our Transportation & Engineering Team. We’re looking for dedicated team members to help keep our neighborhoods clean, safe, and sustainable. In this role, you’ll collect residential or commercial waste using a collection truck along assigned routes, support recycling efforts, and perform basic equipment checks and maintenance. If you enjoy working outdoors, staying active, and serving your community, we’d love to hear from you.

• Collects trash, compost, and recyclables on an assigned City route and transports materials for processing, and disposal at landfill as directed.
• Operates and maintains light and medium-duty equipment and vehicles appropriate to the functional area of assignment, including compactors, collection trucks, backhoes, front-end loaders, pickups, and other specialized equipment used in solid waste collection, disposal, and recycling.
• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required.
• Performs routine and preventative maintenance of solid waste and recycling facilities, including cleaning buildings and grounds replacing light bulbs, and light painting.
• Performs routine and preventative maintenance of vehicles and equipment, including inspecting vehicles and checking tire pressure, and washing and lubricating equipment.
• Operates a variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignment.
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including securing equipment at the close of the work day.
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and recommends solutions.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner.
• Provides outstanding customer service to City of Bozeman residents, employees, and customers.
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities.
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED, and
• Some (at least 1 year) related vehicle and equipment operation experience and customer service; or
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Substantial knowledge of the maintenance and operation of related light and medium duty equipment.
• Some knowledge of basic principles and practices of maintenance, and repair activities to the solid waste facilities, equipment and grounds.
• Some knowledge of the safe and proper use of basic hand tools, power tools, and other related construction equipment.
• Some knowledge of basic safety principles and practices of maintenance and repair activities.
• Some knowledge of or ability to quickly learn related Federal, State, and local ordinances and regulations governing landfill operations and solid waste facilities.
• Some knowledge of the techniques, methods, and materials related to the disposal of solid waste, organics, recyclables, and bulky items.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of times with exposure to varying weather conditions.
• Ability to efficiently operate related light and medium duty equipment, hand and power tools, and other equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned supervisors, other City employees, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions.
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.
• Ability to operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.
• Integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Must possess a current valid Driver’s License and have the ability to obtain a Montana Driver’s License within 60 days of employment.
• Must have a valid Montana Commercial Driver’s License, Class B (without airbrake restriction), or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of employment including drug and alcohol testing in accordance with FMCSA and medical examiner’s certificate.
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to appropriate post conditional offer process.