Vegetation Specialist (Equipment Operator I or II) - Houston District Headquarters

Join the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston District Maintenance Office and play a key role in district maintenance operations. We're seeking a dedicated professional to perform vegetation management and planning. As part of the District Maintenance Office, you’ll provide valuable support, guidance, and training to each of our nine maintenance sections, while implementing the district vegetation management program, winter weather brine calibration operations, and other programs covered by the District Maintenance Office. This position will require you to make frequent visits to job sites and maintenance offices for on site trainings and reviews. 

Equipment Operator I and II

Performs highly complex transportation maintenance work operating heavy equipment such as: a tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt distributor, profiling/milling machine, and dump truck. Work requires contact with private entities. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties:

Equipment Operator I

• Assists with traffic control; places and gathers cones, warning signs and barricades; flags traffic.
• Monitors and completes various required reports including time-keeping, equipment forms, inventory, accident forms, Preventative Maintenance Inspection (PMI) checklist, and records work in progress.
• Performs preventive maintenance inspections (PMI), routine servicing and minor repairs on equipment; as required
  uses/moves equipment/tools, materials and products related to these activities to include tires and equipment attachments.
• May serve as a work crew project lead ensuring work performed meets project specifications.
• May train other employees on the operation of equipment and safety procedures.
• Conducts herbicide application operations and oversees the procurement and inventory management of herbicide supplies.
• Sands or cleans bridges and roads, posting warning signs, helping the public and performing other work as directed during
  emergency situations such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms, accidents and hazardous material spills.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Equipment Operator II:

Includes all essential duties listed for Equipment Operator I as well as:

• Trains other employees on equipment operation and safety procedures.
• Assists in providing support to local law enforcement officials at accident sites; assists stranded motorists as required.
• Monitors and completes various required reports including time-keeping, equipment forms, inventory, accident forms, Preventative Maintenance Inspection (PMI) checklist, and records work in progress.
• Operates one or more types of complex heavy equipment such as tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt profiling/milling machine and dump truck.
• Performs preventive maintenance inspections (PMI), routine servicing and minor repairs on equipment; as required uses/moves equipment/tools, materials and products related to these activities to include tires and equipment attachments.
• May serve as a work crew project lead ensuring work performed meets project specifications.
• Operates heavy equipment performing highly complex transportation maintenance and roadway repairs.
• Conducts herbicide application operations and oversees the procurement and inventory management of herbicide supplies.
• Sands or cleans bridges and roads, posting warning signs, helping the public and performing other work as directed during emergency situations such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms, accidents and hazardous material spills.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Equipment Operator I and II:

Education: None required

Equipment Operator I:

Experience: 1 year maintenance and/or construction equipment operation. (Experience can be satisfied by fulltime or prorated parttime equivalent)

Licenses and Certifications: 

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Equipment Operator II: 

Experience: 2 years maintenance and/or construction equipment operation. (Experience can be satisfied by fulltime or prorated parttime equivalent)

Licenses and Certifications: 

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

   

   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have 90 days to get CDL Tanker Endorsement.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes
• Some knowledge of
  • Methods, procedures, equipment, and materials used in intermodal transportation engineering construction and maintenance
  • Basic vehicle mechanics, maintenance and repair procedures
• Proficient skill in
  • Prioritizing and organizing work assignments
  • Operating light and heavy highway equipment
  • Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others
• Some skill in
  • Training in a classroom, office, or field environment
• Ability to
  • Communicate effectively
  • Follow verbal and written instructions
  • Drive and ride in a vehicle for extended periods

Includes all competencies listed for Equipment Operator I as well as:

• Considerable knowledge of
  • Methods, procedures, equipment, and materials used in intermodal transportation engineering construction and maintenance work
  • Basic vehicle mechanics, maintenance and repair procedures
  • Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes
  • Methods and procedures involving storage & transport of hazardous material
• Proficeient skill in
  • Training in a classroom, office, or field environment
  • Coordinating labor, materials, and equipment
  • Prioritizing and organizing work assignments
  • Operating light and heavy highway equipment
  • Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others

• Ability to

  • Communicate effectively

   

• Subject to environmental conditions; protection from weather but not temperature changes
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Subject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
• Medium work: Lift up to 50 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs
• Balancing-walking, standing, crouching on various surfaces without falling
• Walking-moving on foot to accomplish tasks: long distance/from one work site to another
• Talking-expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
• Visual Acuity-operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment
• Visual Acuity-determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures

Conditions of Employment:

• Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.
• Must be able to report for duty to the district office to assist with EOC operations during weather response events.