EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (State)
In New Jersey, Equipment Operator is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Qualifying takes 1 year of relevant experience and a valid NJ driver's license. The FY 2027 range lands between $43,934 and $63,341.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
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See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Equipment Operator is used at 3 independent authorities.
Independent authorities
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| South Jersey Port Corporation | 9 |
| New Jersey Turnpike Authority | 4 |
| New Jersey Water Supply Authority | 3 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a Crew Supervisor or other supervisor in a state department, either working alone or as one of a small group, operates, checks, services, and, with assistance, makes emergency and minor repairs to mechanized highway and other construction and maintenance equipment; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Operates trucks, tractors, pumps, compressors, small cranes, rollers, graders, small concrete mixers, front end loaders, small backhoes, truck mounted core drills and other mechanized highway and construction equipment as required.
- Checks, services and assists in making minor and emergency adjustments and repairs in the field and in the repair shop.
- Mixes, pours, and samples concrete, bituminous concrete and concrete slabs.
- Assists Masons, Carpenters, Blacksmiths and Painters performing construction and maintenance work and shop repairs as may be required.
- Moves equipment from one location to another.
- Pulls cables; lifts steel poles and posts; drills under hard highway surfaces for pipe and cable installations and, when not so engaged, loads and unloads trucks and freight cars.
- Operates various types of snow removal equipment and helps to keep roads clear; assists in the repair of snow removal equipment; assists in the installation of snow plow attachments to trucks and loads, unloads and delivers snow plow equipment to various locations within the state as may be required.
- As required, may function as the lead worker within a small group of employees, inmates, or seasonal workers.
- Does other work as assigned when not engaged in operating equipment including highway or other road and landscape construction, maintenance and repair work, building construction, service, maintenance, repair and groundskeeping work.
- Maintains simple records.
- In the Department of Human Services, may be required to undergo fire training classes.
- May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in the operation, adjustment and maintenance of mechanized highway and/or other construction and maintenance equipment.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.
Appointees may be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) only if it is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the skilled and safe operation of mechanized highway and other construction and maintenance equipment.
- Knowledge of construction operations and procedures and of the proper use of mechanized equipment, including cleaning, greasing, servicing, and making minor adjustments and repairs to equipment.
- Ability to analyze problems involving the operation of mechanized highway and other construction equipment.
- Ability to organize and carry out fairly complex work projects involving the use of mechanized equipment.
- Ability to understand, remember and carry out oral and written directions of some complexity and to learn quickly from explanations and demonstrations.
- Ability to operate mechanized equipment in a skilled and safe manner.
- Ability to check, clean, service and assist in making minor and emergency repairs to mechanized equipment.
- Ability to load, unload, and deliver equipment and materials and to transfer mechanized equipment from one location to another.
- Ability to maintain simple records.
- Ability to lead workers in the performance of maintenance and related functions.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their know limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.