Laborer, Trades ​/ Skilled Labor, General Labor

tompkins county civil service vacancy

inclusion through diversity

open to the publictompkins county department of human resources office

125 e. Court street ithaca, ny 14850

tompkins county is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply

title: laborer

type of employment: full-time

issue date: 08/25/26

the final date to file applications: 09/30/26

date that this announcement should be removed from posting: 10/01/26

residency: candidates must have been legal residents of tompkins county or one of the six adjoining counties (cayuga, chemung, cortland, schuyler, seneca, tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain residency. For examinations: the eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence.

A municipality or district may exercise its right under section 23-4-a. Of civil service law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, tompkins county must then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

minimum qualifications:

there are no minimum requirements for this position.

tompkins county is committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

distinguishing features of the class:

a laborer performs perform the physical/unskilled duties of the construction trades. This is hard physical work that requires endurance and a willingness to perform physically demanding tasks indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions. An employee in this class is responsible for assisting skilled workers in performing a variety of tasks such as road construction and maintenance, building construction and maintenance, landscaping, buildings and grounds maintenance, cleaning of fleet vehicles, painting, and any other cleaning or minor repair work required.

A laborer who has obtained the appropriate license or learner’s permit may be assigned to operate heavy trucks or heavy equipment on a trainee basis. The work is generally performed under direct supervision. Supervision of others is not a function of this class. The incumbent will perform all related duties as required.

the following work activities are illustrative. Not all duties will be performed at every location in the jurisdiction. In addition, other unspecified labor-class duties may be assigned by the supervisor or appointing authority as necessary.

• may operate heavy trucks (with possession of the appropriate license or learner’s permit) or heavy equipment on a trainee basis;
• may operate (with the appropriate license) light trucks, automobiles, mowing tractors, broom tractors or other motorized equipment;
• may rake and shovel asphalt to patch potholes or assist in the paving of roads;
• may assist in the installation, maintenance and repair of sidewalks by shoveling, jack hammering, laying forms, and pouring cement;
• may assist in the installation, maintenance, and repair of pipeline by excavating, laying pipe, and back filling;
• may cut brush, remove dead trees, plant grass, and mow lawns or rights-of-way;
• may clean debris from parking lots and culverts;
• may shovel snow, remove ice, and spread salt on targeted areas;
• may serve as a wing person on a snowplow;
• may operate power tools and equipment such as saws, mixers, jackhammers, snowblowers, mowers, or tractors;
• may act as a flag person on road-repair jobs;
• may perform routine maintenance on water and sewer systems;
• may clean and maintain vehicles and building areas;
• may pick up and haul recyclables and trash;
• may take part in general grounds maintenance activities such as litter and debris removal, lawn mowing, weed-eating, raking, reseeding, and trimming;
• may make deliveries, load and unload materials, and perform all necessary moving services;
• may perform physical labor in support of masonry, carpentry, electrical, hvac, plumbing, computer technology, and painting for maintenance and construction projects;
• may check…