Heavy Equipment Operator

Help protect one of Florida’s most vital resources — water —with a career at the
Southwest Florida Water Management District (District).

The District is a government agency whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the public’s water needs are met. We serve a population of nearly 6million people in west-central Florida as directed by state law.

This position offers a unique opportunity to support our Field Operations Section through essential maintenance and stewardship of District lands. In this role, you will contribute to the care of recreation sites, well sites, fences, buildings, and other key assets while helping ensure the long-term functionality and resilience of our natural systems. A key responsibility of this position is coordinating and performing maintenance activities for the Four River Basins projects, including the Tampa Bypass Canal and Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal.

The role also provides maintenance and construction support for conservation lands in the South Region, including small-scale FDOT mitigation sites, upland and wetland restoration efforts, and Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) restoration projects. This role provides meaningful impact, professional growth, and the opportunity to help preserve Florida’s vital natural resources while enjoying flexibility and true work-life balance.

District employees are offered an excellent total rewards package that includes:

• 9 paid holidays (+ 1 floating holiday)
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave, including Maternity, Bonding and Family Supportive Work Program
• Medical and dental insurance (91- 97% District paid)
• Vision insurance
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Basic and voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability (District Paid)
• Health savings & flexible spending accounts
• Flexible schedule for work-life balance
• Legal and Identity Theft protection
• Wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Transfer in years of service for other public sector work – towards the FRS program and sick time

• Mows and performs general maintenance of canals and waterways utilizing tractors, batwing mowers, front end loaders, bulldozers, and other types of heavy equipment.
• Mows and trims around fence lines, gates, and culverts utilizing zero turn mowers, line trimmers, equipment trailers and pickup trucks.
• Sprays herbicide to maintain fence lines, gates, riprap embankments, and culverts.
• Operates chainsaws and other handheld equipment as required.
• Picks up and disposes of trash and debris.
• Operates tractor-trailers, dump trucks, heavy duty trucks, and trailers to transport heavy equipment, rock, dirt and construction materials to job sites.
• Maintains District conservation lands utilizing harrow discs, bush hog mowers, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment to maintain roads, firebreaks, creeks, and natural systems.
• Participates in prescribed burning and wildfire suppression activities. Performs routine maintenance and makes minor repairs to the equipment operated.
• Operates, maintains and transports heavy equipment; oversees and executes projects on District lands.
• Completes U.S. Army Corps…