Senior Equipment Operator -Waste Management Services

Position Description

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Bureau of Waste Management Services, is seeking an experienced heavy equipment operator to join our team at the Anne Arundel County's landfill. This is the highest level of skilled equipment operation, primarily involving heavy construction equipment. It is a full‑time, permanent, represented, and safety‑sensitive position.

This position is a key part of a team responsible for the safe and efficient operation of motorized heavy equipment at the Millersville Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility. Responsibilities include loading and moving trash and other materials, compacting trash, and placing cover soil in accordance with established standards and regulatory requirements. Other routine projects include constructing temporary roadways, grinding yard waste, repairing and maintaining stormwater management features, and general landfill maintenance.

The role also involves training, developing, and certifying employees for higher‑level Maintenance Worker and Equipment Operator classes. Employees in this class are expected to be specialists in the operation and preventive maintenance of a variety of vehicles and construction equipment, as well as skilled laborer duties in waste management services.

Employees interact with managers, supervisors, other county employees, and the public, explaining laws, regulations, and providing information and assistance as needed. The work requires considerable judgment with minimum supervision, allowing a crew leader role and supervisory capacity when necessary. Due to the nature of this work, employees may be required to work beyond the normal work week and respond to emergencies.

This is a safety‑sensitive position requiring personal protective equipment (hard hats, safety shoes, safety vests) and public contact.

• Safely operating heavy equipment, including bulldozer, track loader, landfill compactor, excavator, and off‑road trucks, to load and move trash and other materials, compact trash, and place cover soil in accordance with established standards and regulatory requirements.
• Operating other vehicles and equipment such as a rubber tire loader, horizontal grinder, and water truck.
• Performing equipment and vehicle inspections and minor preventive maintenance.
• Conducting training classes and instructing employees on proper operation of heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Certifying employee proficiency in proper operation of heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Reading and understanding GPS software to determine grades and elevation.
• Using standard survey methods for determining grades and elevations to construct landfill final outside slopes, cover terraces, drainage ditches, roads, and down chutes.
• Responding to various types of emergencies such as snow, fire, hazmat, and other emergencies and call‑outs during and after normal work hours.

Extensive knowledge of the operating characteristics and preventive maintenance requirements of heavy construction vehicles, equipment, and power tools. Extensive knowledge of construction practices in maintaining roads, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, storm drains and setting of grade stakes. Extensive knowledge of the work hazards and applicable Federal, State and local laws concerning safety precautions required to be applied to operating construction equipment and power tools.

Extensive knowledge of how to effectively and safely rig vehicles, loads and products for towing. Extensive knowledge of applicable traffic laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to operating equipment. Extensive knowledge of the primary and secondary road system in Anne Arundel County. Extensive knowledge of Federal, State and County health regulations that pertain to the transporting and disposal of sewage, sewage sludge, recyclable items and solid waste.

Extensive knowledge in excavating around buried utilities.

Ability to train and instruct employees in the proper operation of construction vehicles and equipment. Ability to lead a maintenance crew in performing work assignments.…