Equipment Operator I, II, III - District #3 in Hotchkiss, Colorado at Delta County Colorado

The position is anticipated to close on May 28, 2026, but applications will be accepted until position is filled and removed from the Delta County jobs website.

GENERAL POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Perform variety of skilled, semi-skilled, labor, maintenance, and construction work involving operation and maintenance of light, medium, and heavy equipment in servicing, building and maintaining Delta County roads and bridges.

There are three levels of operation with increased responsibility, experience, and independent operation.

• Level I - Applies basic skills while developing some specialized skills in procedures, operations, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment appropriate to area of specialization; performs routine and/or repetitive tasks; limited decision making required; generally, works under close supervision; has no or limited experience; work is performed from within specific limits of established procedures and/or defined instructions. (0 – 5 years of experience)
• Level II - Applies skills and job knowledge in area of specialization; applies procedures, operations, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment to meet needs of area of specialization at an intermediate level of knowledge and understanding; may work on non-routine tasks, projects, and applications; resolves issues/makes working decisions within area of specialization or responsibility with minimal supervision. (minimum of 2 years of experience)
• Level III - Works on tasks that are varied and maybe complex. Applies full range of specialized skills and job knowledge; frequently adapts procedures, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment to meet specialized needs; may serve as lead; performs broad and/or focused assignments under general supervision; relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish assigned tasks. (minimum of 5 years of experience)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operate heavy equipment in servicing, maintaining, building and cleaning county roads and bridges, including basic maintenance of equipment.
• Subject to non-restrictive call back 24 hours a day for situations including, but not limited to, snow plowing, wild-land fires, floods, and other emergency or maintenance occurrences.
• Maintain and comply with safety standards and required maintenance protocol at all times.
• The primary location of employment for this position is the designated Delta County office/location with the exception of required duties that are to be performed off site as necessary. The employee is required to perform the majority (generally, at least 95%) of assigned duties from this designated office/location to allow for client, customer and coworker access and collaboration, unless prior written approval for an alternative arrangement, such as temporary remote work, has been granted by the employee's direct supervisor and/or department head and maintained in the employee personnel file.
• Reliable and predictable attendance and punctuality are considered essential functions of this job. Employees are expected to be at their work area and ready to work at the scheduled start time to ensure consistent service delivery and operational efficiency.

GENERAL JOB DUTIES:

• Operate heavy equipment in a safe, adequate and satisfactory manner.
• Perform all equipment operation responsibilities with attention to care, proper usage and maintenance.
• Clean, repair, and replace culverts to ensure proper maintenance, flow, and drainage.
• Inspect for and correct obstructions blocking water passage in culverts and under bridges.
• Repair tire chains, build new crosslinks, and reassemble broken ones.
• Trim or remove trees and brush and chipping.
• Inspect and repair roads for rough areas of gravel, potholes, rocks, fallen trees or limbs, dead animals, and other debris.
• Perform pothole and utility patching.
• Drive water truck and spray for dust control or to achieve optimum moisture for compacted fills.
• Drive dump trucks hauling materials to and from job sites and haul various materials as needed.
• Perform preventive maintenance including oil and filter changes, greasing and lubricating, belts, lights, check and change tires, clean, maintain fluid levels, wiper blades, and other general tasks.
• Repair and replace road signs, markers, reflectors, and other warning devices for road safety.
• Maintain and clean shop, office, bathroom, inventory, and general facilities.
• Remove snow and sand roads with snowplow/sander truck.
• Drive sweeper cleaning roads.
• Use necessary equipment to perform necessary task to repair and maintain county roads.
• Install road striping.
• Always maintain safe practices when at work sites, in the shop, around equipment operations, while operating equipment, moving items, and lifting.
• Install and repair road signage.
• Build or repair fences.
• May train on asphalt equipment.
• Occasionally may operate and work at crusher or move equipment.
• Complete time sheets, preventative maintenance forms, safety checklists, and various reports.
• Answer phones, take and relay messages, operate radio.
• Work well with others in a cooperative atmosphere showing respect and support.
• Perform other similar and related duties as assigned.

Level III

• May act as a lead operator when the foreman and assistant foreman are not available on site to lead other operators in assigned project completion.
• May perform additional administrative or computerized responsibilities for the district.
• Leads others with respect and collaboration to meet project requirements.
• May train other operators on specific equipment operation, maintenance and safety protocol.
• May lead safety initiatives, training, auditing and compliance.

All Levels

• Should the Board of County Commissioners or another authorized representative issue a local disaster declaration in Delta County, all Delta County employees may be called upon to serve as disaster service workers.

Equipment Operator Non CDL

• Three (3) years progressive experience in safe driving of heavy trucks and operating heavy equipment including but not limited to graders, backhoes, dozers, loaders, snow plows and dump trucks desired;
• OR five (5) years progressive experience in safe driving of heavy trucks and equipment operation of some of the district regular heavy or light equipment routinely used required;
• AND hold a Class B CDL with a medical card and ability to get a Class A OR ability to obtain a Class A CDL within 6 months of hire considered with desired experience.

Level I

• Three (3) years progressive experience in safe driving of commercial trucks and operating heavy equipment including but not limited to graders, backhoes, dozers, loaders, snow plows and dump trucks desired;

Level II

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in county road and bridge district operations OR significant proven and demonstrated equipment operation of equipment as listed below is required.
• Hold and maintain a class A Colorado Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a current medical card.
• Satisfactorily, efficiently and safely operate and maintain pickup trucks, fork lift, broom tractor, mower tractor, trucks less than 26,000 pounds, brush chipper, pot hole patching and crack sealer.
• Satisfactorily, efficiently and safely operate and maintain at least 4 of the following heavy equipment or skills:
• Road Grader
• Scraper
• Backhoe/Excavator
• Bull Dozer
• Loader
• Roller/Compactor
• Tractor Trailer
• Truck greater than 36,000 pounds
• 4000 Gallon Distributor Truck
• Demonstrated applied Mechanical Skills
• Chip Spreader (assistive or primary)
• Lay Down Machine
• Asphalt Plant (assistive or primary)
• Screed
• Demonstrate consistent compliance with safety and maintenance protocols and plans.
• Regularly and routinely meet performance expectations as documented in evaluations and review of responsibilities.
• Perform duties with regular accuracy at an intermediate level requiring only minimal supervision.

Level III

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in Delta County Road and Bridge District operations is required.
• Hold and maintain a class A Colorado Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a current medical card.
• Expertly (understand full ability of the equipment, operate equipment efficiently attaining quality results with little to no direction in a superior manner during difficult situation and conditions) and safely operate and maintain at least five (5) of the following heavy equipment or skills:
• Road Grader
• Scraper
• Backhoe/Excavator
• Bull Dozer
• Loader
• Roller/Compactor
• Tractor Trailer
• Truck greater than 36,000 pounds
• 4000 Gallon Distributor Truck
• Demonstrated applied Mechanical Skills
• Chip Spreader (assistive or primary)
• Lay Down Machine
• Asphalt Plant (assistive or primary)
• Screed
• Demonstrate consistent compliance with safety and maintenance protocols and plans with no operator safety issues in the previous 2 (two) years.
• Regularly and routinely meet performance expectations as documented in evaluations and review of responsibilities.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of equipment, construction regulation and processes as evidenced by completion of department assigned projects and applied leadership from coworkers seeking knowledge and support required.

Extra Duty Assignment

• Expert operation (requires two years of training) of the asphalt plant may qualify as an extra duty assignment.

Combination of education and experience may waive specific requirement.

General Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Selective optional insurances available to the employee and eligible dependents on a cost share basis between employee and the organization
• Life insurance and employee only medical insurance is available at no cost to the employee
• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employees contribute 4% of their salary to a 401(a) retirement account fully matched with 4% from the County
• Optional 457(b) tax advantaged deferred-compensation retirement plan
• Paid time off is accrued at 14 hours per month to start
• 11 paid holidays per calendar year
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes 6 counseling sessions along with some legal and financial support counseling
• Modified work schedules for positions and employees that qualify
• Additional employee discounts and fringe benefits are available

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Requirements: Walk, stand, sit, crawl, kneel, squat, type, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects or tools, reach with hands and arms, talk, listen, hear, read, see, lift, bend, climb in/out of equipment

Lifting: 100 pound requirement

Exposure to Elements: Sun, wind, dust, rain, mud, snow, ice, cold, heat, high pressure hoses, solvent, grease, oil, paint, cleaning materials, loud noise and vibration

Handling of Dangerous Equipment: Pickup, dump truck, water truck, backhoe, loader, road grader, roller, sweeper, bulldozer, compactor-sheep foot, steel-wheel, pneumatic roller, track hoe, tractor trailer and radio, meters, paint striper, chainsaw, shovel, rake, pick, broom, post driver, hammer, hand tools, hydraulic & pneumatic tools, grinding wheel. Operator skill level not required for all equipment and tools

Risk of Assault or Injury: Highway safety conditions and heavy equipment operational hazards can be minimized through close attention to good operating practices. Maintain safe practices when around equipment, when moving and lifting heavy objects

Other Hazardous Conditions: Blizzards, floods, fires

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Employees may be required to perform additional duties of a similar and like skill set. Delta County reserves the right to revise the job description.