Heavy Equipment Operator II (Anticipated Vacancy)

Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management

Job Class Code: 8122 
Grade: 12 - Operations/Maintenance
Salary: $32,136 - $43,825
Location: Northern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery - Caribou

Opening Date: September 24, 2024

Closing Date:  October 8, 2024

The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is excited to hire a Heavy Equipment Operator II at our Northern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Caribou. This position is vital to maintenance and upkeep of the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System. The duties associated with the Heavy Equipment Operator II position include maintaining the grounds and equipment, gaining state certification for applying pesticides and herbicides, and preparing grounds for burials.

Primary responsibilities include: 

• Operates light and medium-duty trucks to haul freight, gravel, snow, and other material.
• Operates truck-mounted winches and cranes to load and unload material.
• Fills fuel tanks, adds lubricating oils, and completes various other tasks to maintain equipment in good order.
• Repairs or assists in repairing assigned equipment to restore it to service as quickly as possible.
• Operates heavy equipment for opening/closing of gravesite.
• Applies herbicides and pesticides throughout cemetery grounds.
• Assists in the maintenance of gravesite layout and mapping

Skills or knowledge required:

• Knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and use of assigned heavy motor equipment and attached devices.
• Knowledge of state laws pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles on the highway.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions necessary to operate assigned heavy motor-driven equipment.
• Ability to perform routine maintenance and repair on assigned equipment.
• Ability to supervise a small crew in maintenance and operational activities.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment in adverse weather conditions.

Minimum qualifications:

Possession of the above knowledges and abilities.

Preference will be given to those applicants:

Preference will be given to those with a Class A and/or B License

Preference will be given to those with a valid pesticide application license
Applicants with a pesticide license will receive a $2.00/hour stipend for applying material, continuing education, and inventory and maintenance of pesticide material. 
Applicants who obtain such a license upon acceptance of the position will also receive this stipend.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Daniel Preston at Daniel.j.preston@maine.gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period.  Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you require a paper application, please download and print one here https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process or contact our office at 207-623-6700.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Security & Employment Service Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-287-2018.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.41% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.21% for Confidential employees. 

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.