Heavy Equipment Operator

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Job Hubs career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity

• Common Sense

• Innovation

• Accountability

Position Data:

Solid Waste Heavy Equipment Operator-J23-U13-HRegularNon-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range: $29.53 - $37.45(Solid Waste Teamsters Pay Plan, B25 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $29.53-31.34 (Solid Waste Teamsters Pay Plan, B25 Step 1-4 DOQ)

Job Closing Date: September 23, 2025

There is one Heavy Equipment Operator position open with Yakima County Solid Waste. The Heavy Equipment Operator provides skilled work, safely and efficiently operates heavy equipment ensuring that regulations are met while properly pushing, compacting, grading, and sloping municipal solid waste at one or more Yakima County solid waste disposal sites. Depending on location, may be performing cell excavation work, septage lagoon material handling, cover material excavation and/or operate a loader in the transfer station.

*Note: Operator exercise on a D9 Dozer will be completed as part of the interview.*


Benefits included in position:
-Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
-Retirement Benefits
-Paid Vacation
-Paid Holidays
-Paid Sick Leave

Note: This is a Yakima County Solid Waste Teamsters Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

1. Operate a D-9 Dozer or similar for the grading excavating, backfill and pushing a waste.  Operate a refuse compactor to achieve appropriate compaction of waste.  Operate a haul truck and excavator.  Operate a wood waste grinder for the grinding of materials.  Operate other equipment to include but not be limited to alternate daily cover spray machine, front end loader, water truck, bin truck, and waste truck and walking floor trailers. May operate a GPS unit for fill elevations, grade, slope, and compaction. Ability to use a survey peep site to determine elevations.
2. 2.  Apply knowledge of driving laws and proper use of equipment, road building materials, basic survey principles, construction safety principles and environmental regulations related to landfill work.  Identify potentially hazardous or unacceptable materials at the job site and coordinate proper disposal. Communicate with Commercial customers and the public re-direct if necessary, decline materials not accepted per our permits.
3. 3.  Responds to inquiries and complaints from the general public; interacts with the public to ensure safety within the landfill, transfer station and recycling areas; explains policies and ordinances related to the Solid Waste Division.  Performs other duties as assigned.  Monitor, control and direct activities at the job site; control flow and sequence of truck dumping.
4. Respond to on-site accidents, emergencies including fires, explosions, and hazardous spills to assess immediate concerns and to respond to them with appropriate equipment. May be needed to respond to after-hours emergencies or fires that qualify as reportable per the Title V Landfill regulations.
5. 5.  Perform visual safety inspections of equipment; checking fluid levels and tire pressure, refueling equipment, maintain vehicle cleanliness and perform pre-trip (walk around) inspections and other duties as required.

Education & Experience:

High School or (G.E.D.)  and 6 years of proficient equipment operation experience, light equipment, medium equipment, farm equipment, and/or heavy equipment of which 4 years must include the operation of comparable in size to solid waste heavy equipment. Must have proven proficient equipment operation experience which provides knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

Class A, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), must be able to operate manual and automatic.

Must be able to operate dozer, compactor, excavator, loader, and haul truck.

Consent for queries of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to comply with Federal Regulations (49 CFR Part 382).

Successful completion of general employment verification

Preferred:

Air brakes and tanker endorsements on CDL.  

Experience in landfill construction.

Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) Certification from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

Equipment Used:

D-9 Dozer or equivalent, Loader, wood waste grinder, compactor, excavator, water truck, grader, haul truck, transfer truck, walking floor trailers and other equipment associated with landfill maintenance, telephone, 2 way radio, GPS unit or survey peep-site.

Working Conditions:

200: Heavy Work:  Exerting up to or in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work is performed out in the field. Excessive noise, Exposure to weather, Extreme temperatures, Moving/mechanical parts, Pathogen exposure, Vibration, Travel, Multiple work locations, Field Work, May be exposed to hostile / angry individuals; work outside of standard business hours and locations. Bending, Balancing, Carrying, Climbing, Handling, Crawling, Lifting, Crouching, Pulling, Kneeling, Pushing, Reclining, Reaching, Hearing, Sitting, Smelling, Standing, Talking, Walking, Visual Acuity, Fingering, Stooping, mobility, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions, Ability to multitask, Ability to work under pressure, Ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, Ability to follow written instruction, Ability to follow verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

Solid Waste and facility maintenance techniques; mathematical calculations sufficient to determine slopes and grades; preventative and equipment maintenance techniques including troubleshooting; safe equipment operation procedures; safety precautions related to waste disposal; surveying principles; and customer service techniques.  Demonstrated application of safety procedures; demonstrated ability to respond to on-site situations; and demonstrated ability to identify potential on-site hazards.

Skills (And Abilities):

Performing activities related to operation of heavy equipment; applying a working knowledge of possible exposure to biological and/or chemical contaminants; using surveying instruments; driving equipment within landfills amidst heavy traffic; determining a course of action if needed related to potential contamination; setting a grade; reacting quickly and correctly in emergency situations such as a landfill fire; interacting with the public, businesses, contractors and city haulers; applying customer service techniques; establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public; and both oral and written communication sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.