Posting number: FY2026-01552
Department: Waste Management
Job classification: Equipment Operator Assistant (PT)
Posting type: Open
Categories: Trades, Waste Management, Miscellaneous, Construction Maintenance, Grounds & Landscaping, Construction Trades
Under direct supervision, this position works as part of a crew responsible performing manual work for waste management. Reports to Equipment Operator Supervisor.
Provides assistance with trash and debris removal, performs manual work as a part of a crew, using a variety of tools and equipment; assists crews by obtaining, carrying or loading supplies and materials; ensures supplies and equipment are properly stored; performs routine checks and preventive maintenance on equipment; and identifies and reports equipment malfunctions and cleans meters and equipment as needed.
Ensures the safety of city equipment, private property, and others by following proper safety procedures, watching for pedestrians, private property, overhead utility lines and other utilities or obstructions.
Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.
Knowledge of Job: Some knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures used in solid waste collection, disposal, landfill and compost activities. Some knowledge of methods, material, tools and equipment used in maintaining and servicing solid waste collection and disposal activities. Has physical strength and agility to perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions.
Safety: Knowledge of occupational hazards, safety precautions, and safety regulations related to equipment operation, hazardous materials, traffic patterns and conditions, and other work-related precautions.
Interpersonal Relationships/Customer Service: Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees, representatives from other departments and organizations, and the public.
Judgement/Decision Making: Uses logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate situations and exercise good judgment to make appropriate decisions.
Time Management: Ability to plan and organize daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.
Communication: Ability to communicate ideas effectively. Ability to listen and understand directions, information and ideas presented verbally and in writing.
Requires completion of 10th grade in high school and related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience necessary to perform the essential job functions of this position. One to two years of experience performing manual labor using a variety of tools and equipment is preferred.
An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.
This position requires pre-employment medical evaluation and substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.
This job is considered essential personnel and will require attendance and work during and following natural disasters and/or emergency situations.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 25 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Heavy Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and directions from supervisor.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read route assignment sheets. Require the ability to complete route assignments and completion sheets, leave slips and time sheets using prescribed format. Requires the ability to communicate effectively in standard English
.Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one-or two-step instructions; to deal with standardized situations with occasional or no variables in or from these situations encountered on the job.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English, and recreational terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add, subtract
.Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of hand and small power tools and equipment
.Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as hand and small power tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of colors.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situation).
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking –expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing-perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The City of Portsmouth was founded in 1752 and incorporated by the Virginia General Assembly in 1858. Over 250 years old, the city is home to one of the world's greatest natural harbors, situated on the James and Elizabeth Rivers, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Portsmouth, with a land area of approximately 33 square miles and a population of 96,066, is located in the heart of the Hampton Roads Region. It is bordered by Chesapeake and Suffolk, respectively, to the south and west and the City of Norfolk to the east.
The City of Portsmouth boasts 75.8 miles of shoreline and is home to Mile Marker Zero of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway, which stretches from Maine to Florida. Part of one of the world’s largest natural harbors, Portsmouth is just 18 miles from the open sea. Portsmouth's location on navigable waterways has been a dominant force in the City’s rich maritime history and economy. Its location on the over 40-feet-deep Hampton Roads shipping channel and the presence of both the CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroads allows Portsmouth to support national and international port commerce activities and the military presence in the region.
Portsmouth derives its governing authority from a charter granted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The City's governing body is the City Council, which formulates policies for the administration of the City. The City's charter provides for a Council-Manager form of government.
