Senior Solid Waste Operator

Job Description:

Senior Solid Waste Operator

Description

Position Description

RECRUITMENT OVERVIEW - Join Our Team: Drive Your Career Forward as a Senior Solid Waste Operator!

Are you an experienced driver and equipment operator looking for a stable, impactful career with excellent stability? Do you take pride in keeping communities clean, safe, and running smoothly? If you have a passion for mechanical work, operating heavy machinery, and delivering top-tier service, we want you on our team. We are currently recruiting to fill two positions.

As a Senior Solid Waste Operator, you will play a vital role in our city's daily health and infrastructure. This journey-level position offers the perfect balance of independent route operations, hands-on fleet maintenance, and community interaction.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Job Security & Stability: Work for a reliable municipality dedicated to community safety and cleanliness.
• Skill Advancement: Operate a diverse, modern fleet of commercial vehicles and specialized heavy equipment.
• Independence & Leadership: Manage your own routes autonomously while helping mentor and train junior staff.

What You Will Do

• Master the Fleet: Safely operate a wide range of commercial vehicles and equipment, including side/clam shell loaders, roll-off trucks, front loaders, skiploaders, and forklifts.
• Manage Commercial Routes: Efficiently collect and dispose of waste along residential and commercial routes, ensuring bins are properly positioned, packed, and maintained.
• Hands-On Maintenance: Conduct pre- and post-trip inspections, perform preventative maintenance, and keep vehicles in top operating condition.
• Community Ambassadorship: Provide high-level customer service to residents, resolve routine inquiries, and help maintain clean city alleys and roadways.
• Ensure Safety & Records: Keep accurate daily activity logs, report equipment issues, and strictly adhere to safe work methods and hazardous waste handling guidelines.

The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 70,693 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The organization, staffed with 402 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.

We are currently recruiting to fill two immediate vacancies and an eligible list will also be established to fill future vacancies in this classification for a period of up to six months.

To be considered for this outstanding career opportunity applicants must submit a detailed application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills. In addition to submitting a detailed application, applicants are required to respond to the supplemental questions associated with the application. Responses to the supplemental questions will be used to help us evaluate applicants’ qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application or in lieu of detailed responses to the supplemental questions.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Under general supervision, performs routine to complex solid waste collection and disposal work of commercial routes; maintains and repairs sanitation vehicles and equipment; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives technical and functional direction and training from the Solid Waste Crew Leader and general supervision from the Solid Waste Supervisor. No supervision of staff is exercised.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the journey-level class in the solid waste operator series that performs the full range of duties required to ensure that City is maintained in a safe and clean condition and provides the highest level of safety for public use. Responsibilities include solid waste collection and disposal work on assigned commercial routes in a timely manner, and performing a wide variety of tasks in the maintenance and repair of vehicles, tools, and equipment. This class is distinguished from Solid Waste Crew Leader in that the latter is responsible for technical and functional direction over lower-level solid waste operations staff and is capable of performing the most complex duties assigned to the division.

WORK SCHEDULE*

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 4:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

*These positions will be flexibly staffed. As such, drivers may be assigned to work on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays on a relief basis as needed.

PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT
If you meet the minimum qualifications for the position, you will be invited to take a PRE-TRIP & DRIVING ASSESSMENT on WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026.

For planning purposes, we are including reference to the testing element which will include a Pre-Trip Inspection and Driving Assessment. Additional details regarding the testing element will be sent via email, to qualified applicants once our screening process is complete.

Examples of Essential Functions

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only) Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Performs routine to complex solid waste collection and disposal of prescribed residential and/or commercial routes, including cleaning waste around bins and truck, running compactor to pack loads to appropriate weight, and positioning dumpsters for hoisting and replacing in assigned area.
• Drives commercial sanitation vehicles on assigned routes and to pointes, scales, and transfer sites.
• Operates a variety of solid waste vehicles, tools, and equipment, including side and clam shell loaders, roll off disposal trucks, front loaders, skiploaders, forklifts, and dump trucks in a safe and accurate manner.
• Inspects and reviews condition of sanitation vehicles and equipment before and after routes; performs preventative maintenance of vehicles and equipment, including checking oil and water levels, brakes, and lights, changing tires, and draining air tanks; washes and cleans vehicles; fills and greases vehicles.
• Observes and reports overweight, unsafe, or broken dumpsters to crew leader or supervisor, maintains bins on route; greases and tightens bolts as necessary.
• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required.
• Operates a variety of tools and equipment related to work assignment as instructed.
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including cleaning alleys of illegal dumping, trimming trees to ensure safe passage of vehicles, and securing vehicles and equipment at the close of the workday.
• Delivers and picks up containers for non-payment or new constructions; exchanges damaged containers.
• Issues notice to residential customers regarding sanitation violations; responds to complaints and answers questions from public or escalates to crew leader or supervisor, as necessary.
• Responds to operations, maintenance, and repair emergency situations as required.
• Maintains records and logs of daily activities; prepares reports as necessary.
• May provide training to lower-level staff or new employees.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Solid waste collection and disposal principles, practices, vehicles, tools, and equipment for maintaining sanitation and cleanliness of a City, including residential and commercial solid waste collection.
• The operation and minor maintenance of a variety of tools, vehicles, and equipment.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Safety equipment and practices related to the work, including the handling of hazardous solid waste.
• Safe driving rules and practices.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Participate in solid waste collection and disposal operations and related projects.
• Safely and effectively use, operate, and maintain the full range of equipment and tools required for the work.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance.
• Work with heavy automotive equipment requiring good motor coordination and physical strength.
• Perform heavy manual labor for extended periods of time in all types of weather.
• Troubleshoot maintenance problems and determine materials and supplies required for repair.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic reports of work performed.
• Follow department policies and procedures related to assigned duties.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Communicate effectively in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

EDUCATION &EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and one (1) year of experience in solid waste collection and disposal including equipment maintenance and repair work.
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:

• Possession of a valid Class BCalifornia driver's license with air brake endorsement.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in the field; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work in confining spaces, around machines and to climb and descend vehicles, and to operate varied vehicles, tools, and equipment; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 75 pounds and heavier weights with the use of proper equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives, and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

• Members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). In accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the City of Tulare will offer the following retirement benefit (2.0% at 62) to new PERS members beginning January 1, 2013 with three (3) years final compensation. Existing PERS members with no break in service will receive the 2.5% at 55 formula with single highest year.
• City pays a portion of the employee and dependent coverage costs of group medical, dental and vision insurance. An opt-out plan is also available.
• Life insurance - $20,000 coverage.
• 10 working days vacation per year. Additional days based on years of service.
• 12 days sick leave per year.
• 15 holidays annually: 12 city observed holidays, plus birthday credit and 2 in-lieu holidays.
• Flexible benefit program - IRS Section 125 Plan.
• Deferred compensation plan - 457 Plans available.
• City sponsored employee health care clinic - Services include: general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.

Closing Date/Time: 7/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$56,403.12 - $68,557.92 Annually