Senior Heavy Equipment Operator – Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS)

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

Are you ready to join the team that is “Building Community Through Fun?” Are you ready to make a difference?

The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live and visit. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. ActivateSJ, PRNS’s strategic plan, envisions healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of stewardship, nature, equity & access, identity, and public life.

The Department creates and activates thriving public places, including over 40 community centers, 10 regional parks, over 200 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and over 65 miles of trail. We also offer diverse programming for all ages and abilities. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

For more information, please visit sanjoseca.gov/prns.

Position Duties

The City of San José’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is seeking a Senior Heavy Equipment Operator to join the Capital Improvement Team. Under general supervision, this position performs moderately complex work involving the operation, maintenance, and oversight of heavy and specialized construction equipment. The Senior Heavy Equipment Operator also provides leadership and training to Heavy Equipment Operators and may be required to respond to unusual or emergency conditions.

The primary work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 2:30 pm. Additional assignments may be required after 2:30 pm as well as on weekends and holidays, based on operational needs.

Under general direction, the Senior Heavy Equipment Operator supervises and leads crews engaged in construction and maintenance activities requiring the use of heavy motorized equipment. This position requires a high level of technical knowledge related to construction practices, job layout, and the safe operation of both large and small equipment, including specialized machinery. The incumbent must be able to train staff in proper techniques for grading, compacting soil, excavating, trenching, loading, and hauling materials.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Supervise and participate in projects involving playground repair and installation, backflow repair and installation, irrigation repair, park renovations, demolition, and debris removal to approved waste facilities
•Operate and oversee the operation of motor graders, excavators, skip loaders, bulldozers, loaders, tractors, backhoes, and other specialized equipment
•Ensure work is performed in accordance with established procedures, safety standards, and project specifications
•Plan, schedule, assign, and monitor work activities to meet production goals; continuously evaluate work progress and employee performance
•Train Heavy Equipment Operators in assigned duties, proper equipment use, and skill development; assess and document progress
•Coordinate the purchase of materials, equipment, and services; maintain inventory and control of supplies, spare parts, and equipment
•Promote and enforce safe working practices and conditions for assigned crews
•Work in confined spaces and on varying shifts as required by operational needs

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Completion of high school, or General Educational Development (GED) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience: Four (4) years of experience operating heavy motorized equipment such as that used in the construction trades.

Licenses or Certificates: Possession of a valid State of California Class A driver's license with applicable endorsements is required.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise-Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations; completion of an apprenticeship is desirable.

Computer Skills-Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel

Problem Solving -Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Project Management- Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives

Supervision-Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills-Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict
resolution skills

Analytical Thinking- Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach

Communication Skills-Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form responds to statements and comments of others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and the accompanying emotion; asks clarifying questions to assure understanding of what the speaker intended, ensures consistent communication takes place within area of responsibility.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jaine Davies via email at jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov .

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 2/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

Show more