Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator

Salary

$48,123.00 - $64,965.00 Annually

Location

Chesterfield, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

27-00304

Department

Utilities

Opening Date

10/19/2026

Closing Date

11/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Minimum Qualifications

Who We Are

The Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is a public water and wastewater utility that uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver the highest quality service to its approximately 121,000 water customers and 103,000 wastewater customers. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference in the community by meeting or exceeding water quality standards while also protecting the James River and the Chesapeake Bay. We pride ourselves in being fiscally fit as one of only a handful of water and wastewater utilities nationwide to have achieved AAA ratings on its revenue bonds from each of the three top rating services.

What You Do and How You Do It

This Heavy Equipment Operator will serve as a member of a repair and maintenance crew within the Operations and Maintenance section of the Department of Utilities along with a crew chief and utility workers. The position is responsible for being a dependable and supportive member of their team by assisting in the maintenance and repair of the county's underground water distribution system infrastructure and meeting overall Utilities Department goals. This includes wearing appropriate PPE (provided by the county) and following county and OSHA safety rules and regulations for General Industry and Construction.

Our typical work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. Our work schedules are not impacted by inclement weather. We work through rain, snow, and shine. While we do not routinely operate 24 hours a day, we do, however, frequently work outside of normal work hours in response to emergencies, including weekends and holidays. In some cases, this means that a work shift may exceed the regularly scheduled eight hours per day. Working overtime, beyond the regularly scheduled 40 hours per week, is frequent and required. The employee will be compensated for overtime under FLSA guidelines. For coverage on weekends and holidays, there is a rotating "on-call" schedule with four crews on the rotation, so you can expect to be on-call once every four weeks. The employee will be compensated for being on-call, plus time worked, if any.

In this position, you will:

• Operate heavy equipment to expose water lines for repair
• Maintain heavy equipment
• Use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, spades, etc.
• Use powered hand tools such as jackhammers, pipe saws, chain saws, etc.
• Drive tandem axle dump trucks with trailers to transport materials and equipment
• Perform other work as required

You will assist the crew in:

• Repair, replace, and install water service lines ¾" - 2"
• Repair, replace, and install water mains up to 48"
• Repair, replace, and install fire hydrants, in-line valves, blow-offs, and other related appurtenances

Here's What You Need

High school diploma or GED and three years of experience operating heavy motorized equipment such as rubber tire backhoes, excavators, loaders, trenchers, crane trucks and dump trucks with emphasis on excavator operation; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Some computer skills are preferred. Good communication and customer relations skills are required; heavy lifting required; ability to perform maintenance tasks using hand tools such as shovels and picks, tampers, and pavement breakers.

Current valid driver's license and good driving record are required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, your record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out-of-state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at the time of the interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of the interview date.

This position requires a Class A CDL. If the employee does not have a Class A CDL at the time of hire, the county will provide the required training and testing during business hours.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter, possess a strong mechanical aptitude, and have good verbal communication skills. Additionally, the candidate must be a team player and have the ability to develop positive working relationships.

This position is a federally regulated DOT position and is subject to random drug testing and alcohol testing. The use of medical marijuana for this position is prohibited. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification are required.

Whats In It For You:

If you are passionate about making a difference in the community, join our team. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes the Virginia Retirement System and long and short-term disability. We work hard to achieve our mission, but we also value work-life balance through paid time off (PTO) and the ability to earn compensatory leave time. The candidate will accrue 7 hours of PTO for 24 of the 26 pay periods with the balance, up to the maximum carryover limit, rolling over from year-to-year. The candidate will also be granted 40 hours of PTO on their second paycheck. Additionally, the candidate will also have the option to convert overtime and on-call hours into compensatory time up to a maximum of 50 hours.

This is a uniform required position. The county has a contracted third-party vendor that provides uniform services. The county will outfit you with appropriate cold-weather gear, in addition to all required PPE, including safety footwear and eyewear.

This position is part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications and experience.

The salary range for this position is $48,123-64,965.

Salary offered will be based on qualifications and experience. In addition to CDPs, we support professional development through tuition reimbursement program, our award-winning Learning and Performance Center programs, and opportunities for advancement within the organization. For more information, please visit Chesterfield County Department of Utilities.

We Would Love to Talk with You

Click the "apply" link above to complete and submit an application.

Shift

Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; includes evenings, weekends and holidays

Work Location

Utilities

Chesterfield County is an Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

For information on county benefits, view Employee Benefits Summary.

01

Do you have a high school diploma or GED? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of work experience do you have in a maintenance field? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 - 10 years
• 10 - 15 years
• More than 15 years

03

How many years of professional experience do you have working with computers? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)]

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 - 10 years
• 10 - 15 years
• More than 15 years

04

How many years of experience do you have operating heavy equipment? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 - 10 years
• 10 - 15 years
• More than 15 years

Required Question

Employer Chesterfield County

Address Human Resources Department

9901 Lori Road / P.O. Box 40

Chesterfield, Virginia, 23832

Phone 804-748-1551 (Office)

Website http://www.chesterfield.gov