Heavy Equipment Operator I

Heavy Equipment Operator I

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

16894

Department

Flood Control District

Opening Date

07/06/2026

Closing Date

9/1/2026 11:59 PM Central

Max Number of Applicants

300

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

About Harris County Flood Control District:

The Flood Control District has the mission to reduce the risk of flooding in Harris County, the third most populated county in the United States, with a population in excess of 4.7 million, including the City of Houston, the nation's fourth largest city. The Flood Control District has jurisdiction over the primary stormwater facilities in the county, which consist of approximately 1,500 channels totaling nearly 2,500 miles in length, as well as more than 60 regional stormwater detention basins, totaling more than 10,000 acres and several wetlands mitigation banks including Greens bayou.

What you will do at Harris County Flood Control District:

The Harris County Flood Control District is seeking qualified candidates for the Heavy Equipment Operator role, responsible for operating various pieces of small-sized construction equipment, small engines, attachments, power tools, and hand tools to construct, repair, and perform maintenance to channels and bayous within Harris County.

Essential Functions and Duties:

• Operate small-sized construction equipment such as excavators, dozers, rubber tire backhoes, skid steers, and other machinery for channel and bayou maintenance.
• Drive and operate county vehicles and equipment on all terrain surfaces.

Concrete & Structural Work

• Construct concrete forms, place rebar, pour, and finish concrete structures such as inlets and manholes.
• Build and repair manholes, inlets, and stormwater infrastructure components.

Installation Work

• Install corrugated metal pipe outfalls, signage, gates, and bollards.

Site & Channel Maintenance

• Clear debris, trees, rocks, and other large obstacles from right-of-way and channel bottoms.

Safety & Traffic Control

• Flag traffic and act as a spotter for other equipment operators during the ingress and egress of work sites.
• Inspect County vehicles and equipment for safety.

Additional Responsibilities and Duties

• Assume additional responsibilities as required, adapting to the Districts evolving demands, responsibilities, needs, and objectives.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent

Experience:

• One (1) year of experience operating small-sized equipment
• One (1) year of experience as a laborer

Licensure:

• Valid Class "C" Texas Driver's License.
• Must have or obtain a Forklift certification within 90 days of employment.

Knowledge Skills, and Abilities:

• Requires good diagnostic and troubleshooting skills to solve unusual work problems.
• Requires good organizational skills and the ability to effectively prioritize and schedule multiple tasks/initiatives.
• Knowledge of construction standards, practices, and techniques.
• Familiar with Microsoft Outlook.
• Ability to speak, read, and comprehend English
• Ability to operate hand levers and foot pedals simultaneously.
• Work independently with limited supervision, relative autonomy, and general review.
• Be a self-starter; assume ownership of organizing work and completing assigned tasks.
• Work well with a team in a field environment.
• Effectively communicate with coworkers and the general public.
• Work well under pressure, adhering to tight deadlines and accuracy/quality standards.
• Read/comprehend written materials, e.g., policies, procedures, operating instructions, and safety notices.
• Write/record legible notes of activity and correctly complete required forms.
• Solve simple mathematical problems that may be required in typical work situations.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of OSHA regulations. (preferred)

Language:

• Bi-lingual skills in English/Spanish (preferred)

General Information

Position Type, Hours and Salary:

• Regular | Full-Time | Non-exempt

• 40 hours per week

• Salary: To be discussed at interview

Locations:

• Fast Action Team | 7522 Prairie Oak Drive Houston, TX 77086

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Frequent walking up and down steep slopes of ditches or on rough and uneven surfaces or ground such as sloping terrain, plowed or furrowed areas, or construction sites.
• Frequent driving of vehicles with automatic or four-wheel drive controls, with the need to enter and exit high-profile vehicles.
• Frequent stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying of items up to 11 pounds and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Prolonged sitting for extended periods of time, occasional ascending and descending stairs.
• Prolonged operation of hand levers and foot pedals simultaneously.
• Occasionally may enter the channel in water up to three feet in depth or from the bank to dislodge and remove large obstacles, drifts, and debris that impede water flow around and under bridges or other areas.
• Approximately 100% of duties are performed outdoors where there will be routine exposure to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind, and dust.
• When at field locations, may be exposed to vegetation retardants, herbicides, fertilizers, petroleum products, including but not limited to gasoline, oil, grease, diesel, and other fuels and lubricants, snakes, wildlife, wasps, bees, and other flying or walking insects.
• When at field locations, may be exposed to aquatic bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, vibration, or noise in excess of 85 decibels.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience operating small sized equipment? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history)

• Less than one (1) year
• One (1) year or more but less than two (2) years
• Two (2) years or more but less than three (3) years
• Three (3) or more years
• I do not have this experience

03

Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience operating small sized equipment. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience. Example: "January 2020 - December 2023" If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.

04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience as a laborer? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history)

• Less than one (1) year
• One (1) year or more but less than two (2) years
• Two (2) years or more but less than three (3) years
• Three (3) or more years
• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience as a laborer. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience. Example: "January 2020 - December 2023" If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.

06

Are you able to obtain a forklift certification within 90 days of employment?

• Yes
• No, I am not interested.

07

Which of the following language(s) are you bilingual and fluent? Select all that apply:

• English and Spanish
• English and Vietnamese
• English and Chinese
• English and Arabic
• English and Urdu
• English and Tagalog
• English and Other Language(s)
• None of the Above

08

Do you have knowledge of OSHA regulations?

• Yes
• No

09

This role requires a Valid Drivers License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Drivers License?

• Yes, I have a Valid Texas Drivers License
• Yes, I have a Valid Drivers License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Drivers License prior to start date
• No, Im not interested

Required Question

Employer Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx