Entry Level Backhoe Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pay Range:

$25.39 - $32.86 Hourly (DOE)

MONTROSE COUNTY BENEFIT INFORMATION:

2026 Montrose County Benefit Information

General Statement of Duties:  Performs unskilled and semi-skilled work as required in maintenance and construction of Montrose County’s Roads and Bridges.

Distinguishing Features: The Equipment Operator I is an entry level position and is distinguished from the Equipment Operator II by the Equipment Operator II’s higher degree of skill required to operate moderately complex heavy equipment.

Supervision Received:  Works under the direct supervision of a Road and Bridge Foreman and the close supervision of the Crew Lead and is assigned duties according to specified procedures and receives detailed instructions. Work is checked frequently.

Supervision Exercised:  This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Functions:  Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. 

• Performs general maintenance (e.g. cutting weeds, fixing fences, sweeping, replacing signs) and general construction work related to Road and Bridge.
• Performs heavy manual labor with and without traditional hand tools (e.g. shovel, rake, wheel barrow). Tasks to include digging ditches and trenches, installing culverts, installing signs, hoisting material, tools, equipment, and any related work with a backhoe, front-end loader, water truck and/or dump truck.
• Operates trucks of various sizes and weights in the loading, hauling and unloading of various equipment, materials and supplies.
• Operates construction or power equipment, which may include mechanized broom, backhoe, dump truck, snowplow, road grader, front-end loader, excavators, water trucks, and skid steers.
• Operates jackhammers, mowers, brush chippers and other small equipment and tools to maintain County roads and bridges.
• Plows snow and sands/salts roads according to departmental policy.
• Performs flagging and traffic control duties.
• Assists with grade setting and checking and/or assists with placement of signs and paint striping.
• Performs routine inspection and preventive maintenance on assigned equipment; cleans equipment.
• Submits various departmental report forms relating to hours, duties and use/maintenance of vehicles.
• Perform after hours work as necessary due to emergency or callout conditions when called or assigned.
• Performs all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.
• May assist in the maintenance of various signs which are posted throughout the County.
• May receive training in a wide variety of areas relating to the Road & Bridge Department as deemed necessary by Crew Leader or Supervisor.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:  A High School graduate or equivalent. 

Experience Equipment Operator I: Some hauling experience required.

Experience Equipment Operator II: A minimum of three (3) years experience as or in a position equivalent to Road & Bridge Operator I.

Required Knowledge Equipment Operator I: Demonstrated proficiency in the operation of a truck or one or more pieces of heavy equipment used by Road and Bridge in addition to small machinery such as mower, chainsaw, etc. Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions common to Road & Bridge operations. 

Required Knowledge Equipment Operator II: Demonstrated proficiency in the operation and maintenance of three or more of the following pieces of equipment used by Road & Bridge: asphalt laydown machine, chip seal machine, distributor truck, dozer, electronic message board, excavator/truck hoe/backhoe/mini-hoe, front-end loader, motor grader, roller/compactor, tractor/mower and handheld GPS unit and associated software.  Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions common to Road & Bridge operations.  Working knowledge of the MUTCD guidelines and regulations.

Language Skills: Must have the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and the skill to organize materials and present information clearly and concisely in verbal and written form. Must understand and follow verbal and written instructions. Must have proficient knowledge of the English language, proper grammar, punctuation and spelling in other oral and written communication and have the ability to write routine reports and correspondences. Must be able to read, comprehend and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and standard operating procedures required for this position, as well as, basic how-to documents and manuals.

Interpersonal Skills:  Must have the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations and members of the community. Must have a strong customer focus orientation and have the ability provide information, answering questions and taking messages. Must be able to accept interruptions in a polite and effective manner. Must have the ability to be an effective team member and maintain sensitive and confidential information. Must maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relationships with customer/clients and the general public.

Mathematical Skills:  Must have the ability to work with basic mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. 

Reasoning Skills: Must be able to apply basic principles of logic and reasoning to a variety of practical problems. Have problem solving and troubleshooting skills. Must have strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and work on multiple tasks. Must be able to exercise some independent judgment and function under pressure. Must be able to accomplish assigned tasks to meet established performance standards and objectives and thinks through the consequences of a decision prior to making it.  

Office Technology/Computer Skills:  Must be able to effectively use modern office technology and equipment, including computers, calculators, telephone, copiers with scanning and faxing capabilities. Must have fundamental experience with word processing, database manipulation, spread sheets, email, and the knowledge to save and retrieve documents from a variety of destinations and sources. Must be able to learn the software and programs related to the position and the County.

Physical Demands:  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 essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and to hear.  The employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste and smell.  This position requires heavy manual tasks and requires work in inclement weather.  Must be able to work in gravel, mud, deep snow and cover substantial distances over all types of terrain.   Frequent lifting up to chest level of 25 pounds and other lifting up to 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts, and is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions and vibration.  The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risks of electric shock.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Special Requirements: Must possess and maintain a valid Class B CDL with tanker and air brake endorsements.  Ongoing drug screening performed according to CDL regulations.  Employee is responsible for wearing steel toed boots. Must complete the following NIMS training within one year of receiving this position: IS 700/100, IS 200.

This position requires the employee to be part of an on-call rotation schedule. An on-call employee is required to remain near a telephone, cell phone or pager and to respond to a call or page as soon as reasonably practicable.  The on-call employee is free to pursue personal pursuits while on-call, but is expected to be reasonably available and within 30 minutes of their work site during the entire on-call period for the purpose of responding to an emergency.  The employee must also be mentally and physically able to perform the required work.

Other Duties:  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.