Equipment Operator III (Storm Water) Salary $46,794.00 - $53,813.00 Annually
Location: Norfolk, VA Job Type: Permanent Full-time Job Number: 13618 Department: Public Works Division Storm Water Management Opening Date: 01/07/2026 Closing Date: 1/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description The City of Norfolk's Department of Public Works is currently seeking an Equipment Operator III within the Division of Environmental Storm Water Management. Equipment Operator IIIs are responsible for operating heavy construction equipment such as street sweepers, dump trucks, vacuum trucks, and backhoes, and participating in the routine functions of an operational storm water infrastructure maintenance crew.
The Department of Public Works builds, maintains, and operates the physical facilities that support and enhance the lives of Norfolk's citizens, businesses and visitors, including the City's Storm Water System, Street Network and Waste Management and Recycling Systems. The Department is comprised of 8 divisions that function collectively to make your commute safe and efficient, your neighborhood more attractive, and the streets and sidewalks clean and well-maintained.
Hiring Salary Range: $46,794 - $49,133 (with an additional $5,000 CDL Stipend)
Essential Functions Essential functions include but are not limited to:
• Operates heavy construction equipment assigned such as front-end loaders, backhoes, dump trucks, pick-up trucks, vacuum trucks, street sweepers, and various other mechanical equipment. • Transports workers, equipment, and construction material to and from job sites. • Participates in routine functions of a maintenance crew. • Performs maintenance on ponds and other City best management practices (BMPs), builds and repairs storm drains, cleans ditches and drains, lays pipe, repairs caves, sets catch basins, and other duties as assigned. • Provides supervision and support by performing on the job training and ensuring quality and safety standards are met. • Performs minor maintenance and repairs on equipment. • Assists loading and unloading equipment on job sites. • Assists with cleaning work site areas and equipment. • Requires physical ability to climb, stoop and bend. • Requires considerable knowledge of traffic laws and regulations as they apply to heavy motorized equipment. • Requires ability to lift up to 75 pounds and work safely in hazardous areas. • Requires ability to understand oral and written instructions. • Requires ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. • Requires ability to read city maps. • Must be able to safely enter and exit various construction equipment. • Must be able to work long shifts during emergency weather conditions. • May be required to supervise field crew on an occasional basis. • May be required to respond to citizen inquiries. • Climb, stoop, and bend. • Use considerable knowledge of traffic laws and regulations as they apply to heavy motorized equipment. • Understand oral and written instructions. • Read city maps. • Use adequate hearing, vision, and depth perception to safely work in the right-away and operate construction equipment in streets with high volume. • Work in adverse weather conditions, including extreme hot and cold temperatures and wet / rainy environments during both emergency and non-emergency conditions.
Education/Experience Work requires knowledge necessary to understand basic operational, technical, or office processes. Level of knowledge equivalent to four years of high school or equivalency. Two years experience as an Equipment Operator or successful completion of a City apprenticeship program.
Additional Information & Requirements
Must possess valid Commercial Driver's License. A tanker endorsement may be required. Must provide a copy of Division of Motor Vehicle driving record (obtained within last 30 days) during the interview.
Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization. Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
Retirement If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.
NOTE: The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type. Non-City Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
Supplemental Questions
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
Are you a current City of Norfolk employee? Yes No
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
Please select the highest level of education you have completed. High School Diploma / GED Associates Degree / Vocational Certificate Bachelor's Degree or higher No High School Diploma or GED
Do you have a valid Commercial Driver's License (Please note: A CDL Permit is NOT considered a CDL License. If you only have a permit, you must answer no to this question.) Yes No
Please select the type of CDL you possess. Class A Class B I do not have a CDL
Applicants selected for an interview will be required to provide a current (not more than 30-days old) DMV report at the time of the interview. Are you able to meet these requirements? Yes No
How many years of experience do you have operating heavy construction equipment? Less than 2 years 2 - 3 years of experience 3 - 5 years of experience More than 5 years of experience
Please indicate which of the following heavy construction equipment you have experience operating. (Select all that apply.)
• Backhoe • Dump Trucks • Pay Loaders • Street Sweepers • Vacuum Trucks • I do not have experience operating any of the above heavy equipment.
Please list any additional heavy construction equipment you have operated that is not listed in the previous question. If you do not have any additional experience, type N/A.
I understand this position may be required to work on open water from a boat, at severe heights, and in confined spaces. Yes No
I understand that this position will be required to work on-call after hours and 24-hour shifts during emergencies or weather events Yes No
The expected hiring salary range for this position is $41,503 - $45,653. Are you willing to accept a salary within this range? Yes No
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required) I am not a Veteran I am a Veteran I am a Disabled Veteran