Heavy Equipment Operator

Working Title: Heavy Equipment Operator

State Role Title: Transportation Operator III

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Business Services

Department: 100258 - Landscape E&G

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $45,000 - $49,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 7/23/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

James Madison University’s Facilities Management is accepting applications for a Heavy Equipment Operator. The regular schedule is Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., with an altered summer schedule and overtime as required to cover special events and inclement weather.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates backhoe, tractors, dump trucks, street sweepers and trailers for landscaping excavation and transporting materials needed for projects.
• Operates safely and properly a variety of heavy equipment such as mowers, highly complex mowing equipment to maintain an attractive campus.
• Uses pesticides safely as directed including proper application, storage and/or disposal to create an attractive environment while using as few chemicals as possible.
• Assists in other landscaping duties as needed to include the following: Maintains post, chain and signs campus wide while understanding the signs and knowing all heights and standards on campus; keeps campus beautified by trimming, edging, weed-eating, mowing, etc.
• Leads summer workers.
• Operates snow removal equipment as needed.
• Employee is required to work all home football games.
• The employee in this position will be considered designated, meaning the work performed is essential to university operations and the employee will be required to work during periods of authorized closings.

Qualifications:

Required:
• Working knowledge of landscaping practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of heavy equipment operations to ensure safe operations.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment in confined and highly populated areas safely.
• Ability to operate a backhoe, dump truck and related equipment such as track hoes, dozers and front-end loaders for excavating and hauling.
• Must be able to perform all landscaping duties and deal with emergency situations.
• Ability to do physically demanding work for extended periods of time in a variety of environmental conditions.
• Must be at least 19 years old and hold a valid CDL Class B with air brake endorsement upon hire.
• Must obtain a CDL Class A Driver's License within one year of hire.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.