Position Summary The Heavy Equipment Operator plays a vital role in maintaining and safeguarding the water distribution infrastructure for our community. In this position, you will safely and skillfully operate a variety of heavy-duty construction machinery to build, maintain, and repair our network of earthen canals, concrete-lined ditches, dams, siphons, and underground pipelines . You will also assist ground crews with manual labor and perform routine maintenance on assigned machinery to ensure uninterrupted water conveyance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Equipment Operation:

Skillfully operate heavy machinery—including excavators, backhoes, bulldozers, motor graders, front-end loaders, and dump trucks —in rural and urban right-of-ways.

System Maintenance:

Dredge silt, mud, weeds, and moss obstructions from water channels, and clear brush along district canal banks.

Infrastructure Repair:

Dig trenches and safely excavate around existing utilities to lay, replace, or repair concrete, steel, and PVC irrigation pipelines.

Grading & Earthwork:

Core, cut, and finish slope canal/drain banks to precise grades in preparation for earth stabilization or concrete lining.

Preventative Maintenance:

Conduct daily pre-and-post-trip inspections, grease joints, monitor fluid levels, and perform minor roadside adjustments to ensure machinery safety.

Rigging & Shoring:

Assist ground crews by moving materials and utilizing trench shoring systems to guarantee excavation safety.

Emergency Response:

Participate in on-call rotations to respond to weekend or after-hours system failures, canal washouts, or water emergencies.

Required Qualifications & Experience Experience:

Minimum of 2 to 3 years of documented experience operating heavy equipment in a civil construction, utility, agricultural, or water district environment.

Licensing:

Must possess a valid Class A or B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) (or be able to obtain one within 90 days of hire) with a clean driving record.

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; ability to read construction plans and write maintenance logs.

Safety Knowledge:

Familiarity with OSHA safety standards, specifically trenching, shoring, and excavation practices . Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, exposed to dust, dirt, and swift-flowing water. Ability to lift, pull, and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds . Comfort navigating unlevel terrains, canal slopes, and tight right-of-ways.

Pay:

$22.50 - $25.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

Paid time off Retirement plan

Work Location:

In person