PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TREE MAINTENANCE

Job Description

Description

Here in Huntington Beach, we believe passionately that the key to becoming the best beach City in the world starts and ends with finding the right people to join our team. At this time, we have an outstanding career opportunity available, as we're looking for the right person to serve as Public Works Equipment Operator within the Tree Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department.

The Position
With general supervision, operates a variety of maintenance vehicles and equipment to maintain City beaches, landscape, streets, trees, or other City property and performs other duties as required within the scope of the classification. The Public Works Equipment Operator differs from Senior Public Works Maintenance Worker in that the Public Works Equipment Operator has primary responsibility for operating heavy-duty vehicles and equipment in the maintenance and repair of the City’s beaches, landscape, right-of-way/streets, or trees while the Senior Public Works Maintenance Worker serves as a member of the crew performing maintenance and repair of City maintenance projects.

Examples of Essential Duties

• Receives work orders and project assignments from lead worker or crew leader
• Assembles and prepares equipment and tools necessary to complete assignments
• Establishes a safe work area and coordinates activities with employees, contractors or the general public as necessary
• Depending on assignment, operates a variety of maintenance equipment including but not limited to: dump trucks, ten wheelers, backhoes, graders, loaders, rollers, asphalt spreaders, BOBCAT or equivalent, street sweepers, sand sweepers and sanitizers, can dumpers, reciprocating or concrete saws, water trucks, aerial lifts and trimmers, root cutters, stump grinders, pruners, and/or mowers
• Performs duties associated with equipment such as landscape and tree maintenance (water trucks for watering, tractors, loaders, and backhoes to move and remove materials, aerial lifts to trim trees)
• Depending on assignment, removes roots and dirt; performs rough and fine grading repairs or replaces utility line and backfills soils in excavated areas
• Operates front end bobcat loads to carry sand and materials to and from dump trucks and dump sites
• Operates forklift to move and store materials
• May operate patch trucks and paver equipment in support of streets maintenance crews, depending on assignment
• Operates dump trucks and flatbed trucks
• Operates jackhammers and power hand tools
• Responds to emergency calls for service on a call-out basis, and works outside of normal business hours as needed
• Observes standard operating procedures and safety practices
• Attends training; supports and actively promotes the City’s safety programs assists with periodic safety inspections; identifies and corrects safety hazards
• May assume work of Leadworker during absence

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Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes :

Education: High school diploma or equivalent certificate.

Experience: Two (2)years of experience operating field maintenance or heavy equipment. Previous experience in area of assignment preferred.

Licenses/Certifications: Possession of a valid California Class A or B driver's license and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and throughout employment. A California Class A driver's license must be obtained within twelve (12) months of appointment and maintained during course of employment.

Certified I.S.A. Arborist or equivalent certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Positions in this classification are deemed safety sensitive under Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and subject to drug and alcohol testing.

Employees regularly assigned/required to drive a city or personal vehicle in the course and scope of work shall be required to participate in the DMV Employer Pull Notice program.

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

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APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

• An online application must be completed in full.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they meet the minimum education, experience, license and/or certification requirements to be considered. Applicants whose qualifications best meet the City’s needs will be invited to participate in a virtual oral examination (weighted 100%) , tentatively scheduled for October 14, 2026.
• Eligible List
• Selection Interview
• Background
• Appointment

The City of Huntington Beach offers a comprehensive benefit package to Huntington Beach Municipal Teamsters (formerly MEA) members, including:

The SALARY RANGE is composed of seven steps. Merit step increases are based on satisfactory performance.

PROMOTIONS within the City are based upon the merit system principles emphasizing individual ability and utilizing competitive examinations.

TWELVE PAID HOLIDAYS provided per year.

GENERAL LEAVE with pay of 176 hours is granted to regular full-time employees. After four years' service additional general leave hours are earned, up to 256 hours after fifteen years' service.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PLANS are available for eligible employees to develop their knowledge and abilities.

GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAMS are available to eligible City employees. These programs include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS are available where employees use pre-tax salary to pay for regular child care, adult dependent care and/or medical expenses.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS are provided by the California Public Employee's Retirement System. Every regular employee becomes a member immediately upon employment. Effective January 1, 2013, the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act will apply to new members of CalPERS. A new member is defined as a new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after 1/1/13 and has no prior membership in a California public retirement system; is not eligible for reciprocity with another California public retirement system; or is rehired by a different CalPERS employer after a break in service of greater than six (6) months. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 will be subject to CalPERS membership review for applicability of PEPRA. Employees enrolled in CalPERS prior to January 1, 2013 are considered classic members.

The benefit formula, final compensation period, and member contribution rate is as represented below:

Classic Miscellaneous Members:
Benefit Formula Miscellaneous 2.5% at age 55
Final Compensation Period 1-year Final Compensation
Member Contribution Rate 9.0% of Reportable Compensation

New Miscellaneous Members under PEPRA:
Benefit Formula Miscellaneous 2% at age 62
Final Compensation Period 3-year Final Compensation
Member Contribution Rate 8.25% of Reportable Compensation (eff. 7/1/23)

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Two voluntary deferred compensation 457 plans are available.

CREDIT UNION membership is available to all City employees and provides access to low interest loans.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES: Employees will have the option of working a 5/40 or 9/80 work schedule with Supervisor and Department Head approval. Employees assigned to the Police Department shall retain the option of working the 4/10 work schedule with Supervisor and Department Head approval. In order to maintain service to the public, departmental effectiveness, productivity and/or efficiency, a Department Head may assign an employee a different work schedule that is in compliance with the requirements of FLSA with City Manager approval.

An Agency Shop Agreement exists between the City of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Municipal Teamsters (HBMT). As a result, employees in classifications represented by the HBMT are required, no later than 30 days after commencing employment, to either opt out or become a dues paying HBMT member. All dues are collected via payroll deduction and distributed directly to HBMT for processing.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.

For a more detailed overview of the benefits, review the Memorandum of Understanding and Side Letters at: MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDINGS Click on the links under "Huntington Beach Municipal Teamsters" or "Municipal Employees' Association".

Closing Date/Time: 9/28/2026 5:00 PM Pacific