Equipment Operator III - Public Works
Salary
$23.31 - $38.46 Hourly
Location
7000 Florida Street Punta Gorda 33950, FL
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
2026-00090
Department
PW - ROAD MAINT & OPERATIONS
Opening Date
07/08/2026
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
IUPAT
How You Can Help Us Make a Difference
Are you a highly skilled equipment operator who takes pride in precision, safety, and leadership? In this advanced role, you'll operate heavy trucks, tractors, and complex medium- to heavy-duty equipment to support public works operations. Your expertise in maneuvering large, sophisticated machinery-often in tight or high-traffic environments-will be essential to completing projects accurately and efficiently.
You'll serve as a primary equipment operator on construction and maintenance projects involving roads, storm drainage systems, grading, excavation, landscaping, and landfill operations. Equipment may include dump and tanker trucks, loaders, dozers, excavators, motor graders, compactors, mowers, roll-off trucks, and other specialized machinery requiring a high degree of skill and control. You'll also operate hand and power tools, assist with loading and unloading materials, and maintain clean, organized job sites.
Safety and accountability are central to this position. You'll set up secure work zones, monitor site conditions, perform routine equipment maintenance and minor adjustments, and ensure all work meets operational and safety standards. You may also assist with the identification and separation of hazardous materials in accordance with established guidelines.
In addition to your technical expertise, you may serve as a crew leader-guiding small teams, coordinating daily tasks, and ensuring projects stay on schedule and meet quality expectations. You'll complete required reports and provide professional customer service when interacting with internal teams and the public.
If you're an experienced operator ready to bring advanced skills and leadership to impactful community projects, this role offers the opportunity to take your expertise to the next level while helping maintain the infrastructure that supports daily life.
Education & Credentials That Power This Role
Education and Experience:
An equivalent combination of relevant training, education, and experience:
Licenses and/or Certificates:
Your Purpose & Day-To-Day Journey
You have a strong understanding of departmental policies, modern office practices, and common computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You're knowledgeable about traffic laws and regulations governing the transport and operation of equipment on public roadways, including the safe handling of hazardous materials.
You bring solid technical knowledge of construction and maintenance operations, including excavation, drainage, surfacing, and street paving processes, as well as the materials used such as asphalt and aggregates. You understand the operating methods, care, and maintenance of automotive and heavy construction equipment, and you consistently apply safety regulations and hazard awareness in the field.
You're skilled in operating heavy equipment safely and in compliance with applicable laws and manufacturer guidelines. Organized and dependable, you can prioritize work, meet deadlines, and carry out written and verbal instructions independently. You approach challenges with sound judgment, resourcefulness, and professionalism.
In addition, you communicate clearly, maintain accurate records and reports, and are comfortable using standard office equipment and software for documentation and data entry. You're physically capable of performing manual labor in varying weather conditions and operating motor vehicles as required.
Above all, you value teamwork and service-building strong working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, service providers, and the public while providing clear guidance and responsive customer assistance.
Extra Details You Should Know
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception, crawling, climbing. Frequent lifting of 10 to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is exposed to outdoor weather conditions or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, heights, and/or dust.
RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS
The position requires moderate exposure or risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, assault and battery, communicable disease, etc.).
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Charlotte County is an Affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans' Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons
with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES:
All County employees are required to work before, during, or after an emergency as needed. This may include temporarily being assigned to work and performing duties outside of the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.
Charlotte County is an Affirmative Action, ADA and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As a veterans preference employer, certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, who claim and meet eligibility requirements of veterans' preference, receive preference and priority in employment and are encouraged to apply. In addition, certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.
All positions with Charlotte County may be subject to drug testing in accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Program and/or County policy.
Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive benefits package to regular full-time employees.
Charlotte County Benefits & Total Rewards
01
Do you have/maintain a valid "A" Commercial Driver's License (CDL), including appropriate endorsements?
02
Do you have Five (5) years of experience in operating equipment in the construction, repair, and/or maintenance of public infrastructure?
03
Please elaborate on your experience in operating equipment in the construction, repair, and/or maintenance of public infrastructure?
Required Question
Employer Charlotte, County of (FL)
Address 18500 Murdock Circle
Room 130
Port Charlotte, Florida, 33948
Phone 941-743-1260