Equipment Operator III- Streets​/Stormwater

The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

One City. One team. One mission.

Are you a skilled equipment operator who takes pride in precision, teamwork, and making a visible impact in your community?

We are recruiting for our Equipment Operator III position, where you can work outdoors, learn valuable trade skills, and be part of a crew that looks out for each other. Team members work in small crews operating tools and specialized equipment while maintaining streams and public spaces across the city. Employees gain hands‑on experience, opportunities to earn a CDL, CPR/First Aid certifications, heavy equipment training, and cross‑training across multiple operational teams.

This is a strong fit for hardworking, dependable people who want to learn new skills, grow their career, and move up through experience and initiative.

The purpose of this position is to maintain and improve the City’s stormwater drainage system and/or assist in the maintenance of public roads to ensure safety and reliability. This is accomplished by operating power-driven equipment requiring a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) in the construction and maintenance of public roads and sidewalks and/or in the construction and maintenance of stormwater drainage systems.

This position is part of the Equipment Operator career series. You’ll handle more complex equipment and tasks than entry and mid-level operators, requiring strong technical ability, attention to detail, and confidence in operating machinery with accuracy. Your work will include operating equipment such as motor graders, dump trucks with snow plows and brine tanks, crack sealers, sweepers, vac-cons, and road patchers.

While your primary focus will be on heavy equipment, you may occasionally operate lighter machinery as needed.

Beyond equipment operation, you’ll support your team by assisting crew members in the field, helping train less experienced staff, maintaining equipment, and completing daily logs and documentation. You’ll work under regular supervision while contributing to essential infrastructure that impacts the entire community.

• Heavy Equipment Operation:
  Operates complex heavy equipment to perform digging, grading, trenching, loading, and material movement for City infrastructure and maintenance projects.
• Project Execution & Precision Work:
  Plans and executes work to ensure accurate grading, slopes, and placement while minimizing impact to property and avoiding underground utilities.
• Equipment Transport & Care:
  Identifies equipment needs; transports, inspects, and secures equipment before and after use.
• Specialized Equipment Use:
  Operates backhoes, motor graders, excavators, and boom mowers for construction, maintenance, and right‑of‑way work, including hard‑to‑reach areas.
• Maintenance & Documentation:
  Performs basic preventive maintenance and maintains daily logs and records of completed work.
• Manual Labor Support:
  Assists crews with general labor tasks, including digging, grading, and handling materials and equipment.
• Safety & Traffic Control:
  Ensures safe work zones by following safety procedures, monitoring surroundings, directing traffic, and placing appropriate signage and barriers.
• Operational Support:
  Assists with storm response, special events, and other assigned duties.
• Lead Worker Responsibilities:
  Provides guidance and training to lower‑level staff.

• High school diploma or GED, with vocational or technical training in the operation of CDL‑operated vehicles; supplemented by a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in construction, maintenance, groundskeeping or a related field, as well as a minimum of three years of progressively…