Water​/Wastewater Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator – Village Maintenance Program

Under general supervision, the Heavy Equipment Operator operates various heavy and light motorized equipment and vehicles as part of the Village's maintenance program. Responsibilities include running equipment to dig trenches for installation or repair of water and sewer facilities, moving dirt or other granular material, and assisting the Street Department with snow clearing. The role helps other employees in construction, maintenance, and repair of utility facilities and performs a variety of manual labor assignments of a public works nature.

Non‑exempt FLSA.

Essential Job Functions

• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services.
• Operates heavy equipment including snow removal equipment, dozer, loader, dump truck, high‑pressure jet rodder, vactor truck, and backhoes for utilities maintenance and construction, transports light mobile equipment and materials, and operates equipment at the job site.
• May assist other departments with construction and labor‑type duties.
• Installs water and sewer lines, makes water taps, installs meters and meter cans, repairs water line leaks, digs ditches, loads and hauls construction materials, cleans sewer lines, flushes and cleans storm culverts, lifts stations, replaces valves and hydrants, picks up and disposes of large heavy debris.
• Responsible for all routine sewer maintenance of the collection system including Village‑owned lift stations, sewer mains, sand and oil traps, and all routine water distribution maintenance to water lines.
• Inspects, cleans, and performs routine maintenance work on vehicles and light equipment; identifies and reports mechanical problems requiring additional repair; performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs; cleans and cares for tools and equipment; completes equipment maintenance inspections and checklists.
• Participates in erosion and flood control work projects.
• Sets up traffic control devices; follows safety regulations on all work‑zone and flagging sites, including placing barricades and cones.
• Adheres to safety practices and standards; attends safety meetings and trainings.

Other Responsibilities or Job Requirements

• Performs manual labor activities when necessary to complete assigned projects.
• Maintains log of work activities, fills out personal timesheet and appropriate paid leave slips, overtime slips, and any other required paperwork and completes personal timesheet accurately and timely on a weekly basis through the online Employee Self‑Service portal.
• Ensures proper purchasing procedures are followed; reports on‑the‑job injuries immediately and follows up with appropriate forms and actions; reports any harassment immediately and takes appropriate actions; complies with all Village of Ruidoso policies and procedures including Procurement, IT, Personnel Manual, Safety Manual, etc.; reports any suspected fraud and/or abuse to the Utility Manager, Public Works Director, or Village Manager.
• Enters daily work orders in mobile 311.
• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.

• Ability to maintain physical condition and stamina appropriate to performance of assigned duties, which may include sitting, standing, walking for extended periods, driving or riding in vehicles.
• Occasional squatting, bending, pushing, pulling, lifting, and/or moving up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently required to sit, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; reach above shoulder level; talk or hear; and smell.
• Visual acuity sufficient to perform essential job functions.

• Adapts to inclement weather conditions and/or situations day or night as work is performed outside with exposure to all weather conditions.
• Ability to drive, occasionally long distances and work in a stressful environment and deal effectively with stress.
• Ability to perform duties and adapt to flexible work schedules as established by management; may be called out when needed and work irregular schedule, long hours, weekends and holidays.
• Works around light and/or heavy equipment, moving mechanical parts and highly congested…