Fire Heavy Equipment Operator Job at County of Marin in San Rafael

Fire Heavy Equipment Operator

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About Us

At County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling that their work is meaningful, that they enjoy the work they do, and that they are proud to tell people “I work for the County of Marin.” Discover more about our values and culture on the Department of Human Resources website. Read on to learn about this opportunity.

Marin County Fire Department

Our employees are important assets in achieving our mission. They each play a vital role and carry the responsibility of expressing our department values in their daily work. Click the MCFD link to learn more about our department and the people who make our organization a great place to work.

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief Officer or assigned Company Officer, the Fire Heavy Equipment Operator will operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, graders, transports, trucks, excavators, loaders and other types of equipment used in fire control and for maintaining fire roads, fuel breaks, and trails. This position will perform repair work and maintenance of heavy equipment, including on‑field servicing. The operator will supervise, instruct and work with seasonal firefighters in road maintenance and equipment servicing, and may instruct others in the use of heavy equipment. When not assigned to heavy equipment, the operator will also perform firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS) duties. Incumbents may be assigned to a 56‑hour or 40‑hour schedule at the discretion of the Fire Chief.

There is currently one (1) full‑time regular hire vacancy within the Marin County Fire Department.

About You

The ideal candidate is a skilled professional who can safely and calmly operate heavy fire equipment in challenging wildland fire environments. They demonstrate sound, independent judgment, remain composed under pressure, and exhibit strong integrity, initiative, and excellent communication skills—both written and verbal. The candidate brings substantial firefighting experience and proven proficiency operating D‑5 or larger dozers in wildland fire suppression. Experience in vegetation management such as mowing and mulching is also highly desirable. The candidate thrives working independently under general direction, adapting seamlessly between routine operations and emergency situations, is highly organized, can manage multiple assignments simultaneously, and makes effective decisions with minimal supervision while upholding the department’s values.

Qualifications

• Road grading methods, materials and tools.
• Methods of operating gasoline and diesel powered heavy equipment.
• Equipment used in maintenance and repair of heavy equipment.
• Safety practices used in heavy equipment operations and safety standards established by OSHA and the Department of Transportation.

Ability To

• Operate heavy equipment such as a D‑6 dozer.
• Drive transport trucks hauling wide load heavy equipment safely.
• Make routine repairs and minor overhauls to equipment; perform maintenance of heavy equipment.
• Communicate effectively in English both verbally and in written form.
• Analyze emergency conditions and adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action.
• Perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Read and interpret complex technical documents such as maps, diagrams, and textbooks.
• Keep accurate records.
• Supervise and instruct others in heavy equipment maintenance.
• Deal effectively with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work and live harmoniously with co‑workers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) years’ experience operating a D‑5 or larger dozer with tracks and operating and driving a wide load transport while performing pioneer heavy equipment operation for forestry services, logging companies, or industries where construction work involves pioneer excavation and trail blazing.
• OR One (1) year experience in fire prevention or suppression activities for a firefighting agency which included operating grading equipment including a D‑5 or larger dozer with tracks and operating and driving a wide load transport. Firefighting experience is highly desired.

Certificates And Licenses

• Possession of a valid Class A California Driver’s license and a satisfactory driving history as obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Possession of a certificate as an Emergency Medical Technician – 1 (EMT‑1) OR the ability to obtain one within the first year of hire.
• Possession of California State Firefighter I certification OR the ability to obtain one within the first year of hire.

Failure to obtain EMT‑1 and California State Firefighter I certifications within the first year after being hired and/or failure to retain such licenses during employment will result in termination of employment.

Special Requirements

Incumbent may be required to work 24‑hour shifts, overtime, evenings and weekends, on‑call and holidays; work at any station in the Marin County Fire Department on short notice; perform routine and repetitive work; attend meetings and classes both on and off duty; work under various adverse and hazardous conditions; wear a uniform; assist in training other employees; and maintain a clean and neat appearance.

Background Check

Successful candidates are subject to background check and/or psychological assessment prior to appointment.

Driver’s License

Possession of a valid California Class A driver’s license is essential. Successful candidates must submit a satisfactory driving history obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles within the last six months during the selection interview.

Important Information

For any questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Linda Kline at linda.kline@marincounty.gov.

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415‑473‑2095.

Benefits

Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information can be found on the Marin County Benefits Homepage.

• Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals.
• Health Plan: Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). The County contributes toward the premiums.
• Retirement: Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937.
• IRS 457 Plan: Choice of pre‑tax or post‑tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
• Retiree Medical: The County provides access to a group health plan for eligible retirees.

Please note: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Benefits do not apply to temporary or part‑time employees that work less than 50%.

Qualifying Education / Experience

Detail how you meet the minimum qualifications, including dates of employment and names of employers. For education, list your degree in the education section of the standard application.

Qualifying Licences / Certificates

Candidates invited to a selection interview must submit copies of all certificates and licenses. Include a satisfactory driving history printout, and certifications as required above.

Additional Narrative Questions

Provide detailed responses to the following questions: experiences in firefighting, experience operating D‑5 or larger bulldozers, total hours operated, experience with semi‑tractor trailers, and more. This information will be used to determine placement on the eligible list.

Seniority Level

Entry level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Government Administration

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