Heavy Equipment Operator - Locating

Operates a wide variety of equipment for the installation, service, maintenance, and repair of Las Cruces Utility (LCU) owned services and main lines and utilities infrastructure to ensure efficient and effective services to the community.

Works is performed outdoors 95% and 5% indoors; exposure to all weather conditions, noise, dust, dirt, open manholes, street cave-ins, chemicals, gases, mechanical, electrical, explosive and burn hazards. Safety equipment required includes safety shoes, vest, ear plugs, sound attenuator, hard hat, safety visor and gloves.

Heavy physical work involving balancing, bending, climbing, crouching, stooping, kneeling, reaching above shoulder height; lifting and carrying items weighing up to 90 pounds; digging with a shovel weighing up to 10 pounds up to eight hours per day; ability to work in confined spaces, wear and use SCBA confined space equipment, and pass annual physical, visual and verbal ability to recognize and communicate hazardous situations to others.

Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, occasional work beyond normal business hours, requires overtime for responding to emergency operational needs and responding to customer issues. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.

Meeting or exceeding the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.

FIRST CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO CURRENT CITY OF LAS CRUCES EMPLOYEES WHO MEET ALL THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

Full-Time;
Regular;
Non-Exempt;
Union-Represented

This recruitment will be used to fill a full-time, represented, non-exempt position within the Locating section of the Utilities Department but may be used to fill other vacancies to include full-time, part-time and/or contract positions.

This position is graded at BC11

• Operates, uses, and employs backhoe, tractor, truck, vactor truck and other equipment required to perform exclusive activity to meet the need of the specific job and performs preventive maintenance and minor repair on equipment and LCU systems.
• Digs potholes for LCU systems; operates a pipe locator to locate meters, valve boxes, manholes and other LCU infrastructure.
• Participates with crew leaders and other crew members in the overall operation of the City water, gas, and wastewater systems and infrastructure;
  Prepares and gathers equipment and materials for jobs; draws maps and completes work orders for jobs; ensures excavations adhere to LCU policies and procedures related to excavation safety.
• Responds to water, gas and wastewater emergencies by assessing the situation, coordinates work crews and completes necessary processes to resolve the emergency.
• Ensuring traffic control is coordinated as needed for each specific job.
• Respectfully interacts with the public to inform them of maintenance, repair, and installation activities; ensures work is completed with minimal disruption to services.
• May operate a dump truck with a GVWR of 53,000 pounds and a 2.5 ton truck to transport equipment to the work site and an excavator for larger jobs which require digging deeper than 10 feet.
• May provides work direction and training to other crew members.

Equivalent to a high school diploma AND four (4) years of experience in the construction/installation of Utilities systems which includes one (1) year of operating construction equipment. A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.

Valid State of New Mexico Class A commercial driver's license is required. Position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City of Las Cruces policies.

Practices and methods regarding the construction and maintenance of Utility systems; principles, practices, techniques, activities, rules, and regulations related to the operations and functions of the position and services provided; current…