Heavy Equipment Operator

Company: South Florida Water Management District
Location: West Palm Beach
Posted on: May 10, 2025

Job Description:

Heavy Equipment Operator

Find out more about the daily tasks, overall responsibilities, and required experience for this opportunity by scrolling down now.
WPB Field Station
4338BR

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Operates multi excavation earthmoving equipment to preserve and maintain ditches, canals, and levee systems. Such equipment includes dragline, excavator, backhoe, grader, dozer, front-end loader, dump truck, and knuckle boom. Specializes in installation, removal, and repair of District infrastructure, including weirs, culverts, water control structures, boat ramps, locks and bridges on District waterways, canals, and levees. Operates specialized aquatic plant harvesters such as towboats to cut and/or remove submerged, emergent, and free-floating noxious plants/ vegetation from canals that impede navigation and flow and degrade water quality.

Inspects equipment for safety issues on a daily basis as well as the condition of the work site prior to setting up equipment. Ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures. Reads and understands signs, signals, load charts, grade stakes, excavation plans, load charts for dredging operations, operating manuals and service procedures. Loads, hauls, and dumps material operating a 15-25-yard dump truck, trailer and transport equipment and machinery on semi-trailer to and from job site and its loading and off-loading. Measures and verifies levels of rock or gravel bases and other excavated material.

Monitors gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure equipment is working properly. Operates, inspects, cleans, and performs routine mechanical maintenance on assigned equipment. Moves materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, canal banks, or warehouse. Observes hand signals, grade stakes, and other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications. Becomes familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application. Uses relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with regulations or standards. May require some dragline operation.

Removes cut plants from the water and stores on the machine until they can be off-loaded and disposed of properly. Removes vegetation jams and fallen trees that block navigation, access and water flow. When necessary, enters water to remove snags, debris, etc. Assists with field surveys to determine the need for and location of aquatic plant control operations. This position is subject to random mandatory drug and alcohol testing. This position may be required to perform general welding, fabricating and modifying of materials and equipment. Other Duties as Assigned

This position is subject to random mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

This position may be required to participate in the Pumping Operations Program as either a pump station assistant or pump station operator.

The hiring range for this position is $48,609.60 to $57,241.60 (based on education and years of relevant work experience). Overtime will be required based on weather and/or environmental conditions.

WORK LOCATION AND HOURS

West Palm Beach Field Station/Monday - Thursday from 6:30 am - 5:00 pm.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Typically has High School Diploma or GED (Required) and 2+ years' experience operating and transporting multiple pieces of heavy equipment including excavation and earthmoving equipment, aquatic harvesters, large farm tractors, dump truck with knuckle boom, and lower unit dragline (Required).

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Forklift Operations Certification (Required)
First Aid/CPR/AED (Required)
Valid State of Florida Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with tanker endorsement, without restriction to operate vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and air brakes, or the ability to obtain a CDL Learner's Permit within 2 months and/or CDL License within 6 months from date of hire or placement in the job. (Required)
This position is required to participate in the Pumping Operations Program as either a Pump Station Assistant (PSA) or a Pump Station Operator (PSO). (Required)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Due to the District's response role and in the total scope of emergency management, this position may at times, be required to provide support before, during and after major storm events and emergency situations, such as hurricanes or other declared emergencies, depending on assigned emergency response role.
Extensive Exertion plus travel: Regularly sets up, adjusts, controls, tests and operates equipment to complete assignments. Work environment may be hot and humid with no facilities. Moves or otherwise transports equipment weighing up to 50 pounds or more.
Agility
Balancing
Basic water skills and ability to swim
Climbing
Crawling
Drive/operate equipment
Eye-hand-foot coordination
Hearing
Manual dexterity
Move/transport equipment
Noise exposure
Pulling
Pushing
Recognize color differences
Repetitive bending
Squatting
Upper body vibration
Vision (near vision-computer screen; far vision-driving/operating equipment)

VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. All documentation is due by the close of the job posting.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The South Florida Water Management District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Bureau at HR_Solutions@sfwmd.gov


Salary Minimum

$33,404.80

Salary Midpoint:

$39,707.20

Salary Maximum

$57,241.60

Organization

OM5405423 Wpb Fs-Canl, Leve & Veg Maint

Keywords: South Florida Water Management District, Homestead , Heavy Equipment Operator, Other , West Palm Beach, Florida