Equipment Operator, Principal*

Equipment Operator, Principal*

Salary

$49,857.60 - $70,642.00 Annually

Location

400 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

3500000884

Department

Public Utilities

Opening Date

06/11/2026

Closing Date

6/25/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y? Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

The City of Richmond, Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified Equipment Operator, Principal to maintain and operate advanced complex heavy motor equipment, machinery and vehicles. This position is also responsible for routine maintenance procedures, safe and effective operating, loading and storage of the equipment.

The incumbent will perform advanced and highly skilled work in operating heavy and specialized equipment used for the installation, repair, and maintenance of natural gas utility infrastructure. Additionally, the incumbent will act as a lead operator on complex assignments and provides direction and technical oversight to equipment operators and crew members in the absence of a supervisor.

Work is performed under the limited supervision of a Gas Maintenance Crew Supervisor and may require independent decision-making in the field during critical operations or emergencies.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Operates heavy construction and specialized equipment including but not limited to excavators, backhoes, vacuum excavation units, and fusion equipment for gas infrastructure installation and repair.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on equipment operation and gas utility construction procedures, ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency.
• Trains and mentors junior equipment operators and crew members in the safe operation of machinery and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Oversees and performs complex field procedures such as bagging for gas control, live main tapping, pipe fusion (PE), and emergency isolation.
• May respond to critical gas leaks and other emergencies, operating detection equipment and coordinating repair activities with minimal supervision.
• Interprets construction drawings, schematics, and utility maps to identify and avoid conflicts with underground facilities.
• Ensures all work meets federal, state, and local compliance standards, including those outlined by PHMSA and OSHA.
• Maintains daily logs, vehicle and equipment reports, and ensures materials and tools are available and in working order.
• Conducts pre-operation inspections and makes or recommends necessary repairs to equipment.
• Supports supervisor in scheduling, planning, and coordinating daily tasks, and may serve as acting supervisor in their absence.
• Performs related field duties such as trenching, shoring, meter setting, and facility restoration as required.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Two years of experience at the Equipment Operator, Senior level
• Training in equipment used at this level of assignment
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Five or more years of experience operating heavy construction equipment, with at least two years in gas utility construction or maintenance.
• Must obtain and maintain certification in plastic pipe fusion within one year of hire.
• Subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing.
• Position requires a 1-hour emergency response time and participation in an on-call rotation if needed.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Drivers License with a satisfactory driving record
• A valid Commonwealth of Virginia Drivers License within 30 days of hire
• A valid Commonwealth of Virginia Commercial Drivers License with proper endorsements in accordance with Division of Motor Vehicle regulations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Expert-level knowledge of equipment operation practices, safety regulations, and gas construction techniques
• Complex heavy equipment and vehicles
• Hydraulics
• Safety rules regarding the operation of various equipment and tools
• Basic math
• Usage of various tools and equipment

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring or training others
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills
• Proficiency in field documentation, basic computer usage (including mobile work order systems), and communication with supervisory staff and peers
• Communication: As a lead communicator in the field, providing updates and guidance to team members and stakeholders
• Service Orientation: Coaches team members on customer-facing professionalism and responsive service during outages or incidents
• Generating, completing and distributing reports and other forms
• Oral and written communication
• Customer service
• Map reading
• Preparing and restoring a work site
• Operating equipment in the Equipment Operator and Equipment Operator Senior classifications, as well as operating equipment and vehicles mentioned above

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans, locate underground utilities, and adapt field strategies accordingly.
• Proven ability to remain calm and decisive in high-pressure emergencies.
• Organize: Prioritizes equipment use, field tasks, and emergency responses based on urgency and available resources
• Problem-solve: Diagnoses field issues independently and formulates effective solutions; escalates when needed
• Manage time effectively
• Pay attention to detail when working in an environment with electrical, power, water and gas lines

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger and see; frequently talk and hear; and occasionally balance, stoop, crouch, stand, pull, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at HR-ADA@rva.gov.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company.

The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.

With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".

The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.

01

10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veterans widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a valid drivers license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you currently possess a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a high school diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered "No" to the previous question, do you have a minimum of two (2) years of direct work experience in the field of natural gas utility construction or maintenance?

• Yes
• No
• Not applicable (I have a high school diploma or GED)

06

Do you have two years of experience at the Senior Equipment Operator level?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of experience do you have operating heavy or specialized construction equipment (e.g., backhoes, trenchers, boring machines, etc.)?

• Less than 2 years
• 2-4 years
• 5 or more years

08

How many years of experience do you have specifically in gas utility construction, maintenance, or emergency response work?

• Less than 1 year
• 1-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5 or more years

09

Do you have experience performing any of the following tasks in a gas utility environment? (Check all that apply):

• Plastic pipe fusion
• Gas pipeline tapping and purging
• Gas pipeline pressure testing
• Gas leak investigation using detection equipment
• Bagging and gas flow control
• Operating vacuum excavation or boring equipment
• Installing or maintaining gas meters and regulators
• Reading and interpreting utility plans and blueprints
• None of the above

10

Do you currently hold a plastic pipe fusion certification?

• Yes
• No
• No, but I am willing and able to obtain this certification

11

Do you have experience serving in a lead role or mentoring other crew members in utility construction or maintenance?

• Yes
• No

12

This position may require participation in on-call rotation and a 1-hour emergency response time to the City of Richmond DPU Operations Center (400 Richmond Hwy, Richmond VA 23224). Are you able to meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

13

Are you willing and able to comply with all federal DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements, including pre-employment, random, and post-incident testing?

• Yes
• No

14

Are you willing to work in physically and environmental hazardous conditions?

• Yes
• No

15

Are you able to perform the essential duties of this position classified as heavy work to include lifting 100 lbs. occasionally, 50 lbs. frequently and 20 lbs. constantly?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Richmond

Address 900 East Broad Street

Suite

Richmond, Virginia, 23219

Phone (804) 646-5660

804-646-5660

Website https://www.rva.gov/