HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR/PSO

This position will report to the Ft. Lauderdale Field Station and will be required to operate multi-excavation earthmoving equipment to preserve and maintain ditches, canals, and levee systems. Experienced (or will train) to operate 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.

Requirements

• Reads and understands signs, signals, load charts, grade stakes, excavation plans, load charts for dredging operations, operating manuals, and service procedures.
• Inspects equipment for safety issues daily and the condition of the work site before setting up equipment.
• Ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
• Loads, hauls, and dumps materials operating a 15–25-yard dump truck, or trailer, and transports equipment and machinery on a semi-trailer to and from the job site and its loading or 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.
• Observe 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 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.
• Remove cut plants from the water and store them 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, enter water to remove snags, debris, etc.
• Assists with field surveys to determine the need for and location of aquatic plant control operations.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• 401k matching
• Retirement plan