Heavy Equipment Operator

Job Description

About McGill Environmental Systems

At McGill Environmental Systems, our core purpose is to restore and rebuild the vital soils that sustain life on our planet. We achieve this by transforming biodegradable waste into premium-quality compost, which in turn helps rejuvenate depleted soils and contributes to a cleaner, greener future. Utilizing advanced composting technology, we expertly manage a diverse range of organic materials—safely, reliably, and with profound purpose. We firmly believe that authentic environmental change should yield benefits for people, the planet, and the economy. We take immense pride in our integral role within the communities we serve, consistently making positive contributions to foster a cleaner, healthier, and truly sustainable environment.

Driven by our foundational values of Excellence, Integrity, Accountability, and Collaboration, we are deeply committed to cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. We strive diligently to create a rewarding, safe, and empowering workplace where every team member can thrive.

Joining McGill means becoming part of a team that champions hard work, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right—for our colleagues, our valued customers, our communities, and the Earth itself. Whether your work involves machinery operation, logistics, or sales, your efforts directly contribute to the realization of a greener, healthier future.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Purpose of the Role

As a Heavy Equipment Operator at McGill, you will play a pivotal role in our mission to transform organic waste into high-quality compost, directly contributing to soil restoration and planetary protection. You will expertly operate essential machinery, including loaders, excavators, grinders, and screeners, ensuring the safe and efficient maintenance of production standards for our premium compost, mulch, and soil products derived from biosolids and various organic materials. This hands-on, steady role is crucial for efficient material movement, precise blending, careful loading, and meticulous equipment upkeep, all while rigorously upholding strict environmental and safety compliance standards. You’ll be part of a close-knit team that values safety, takes immense pride in their craft, and makes a tangible, real-world impact.

How You Make An Impact

You approach your work with care and precision, knowing that every bucket load, every turn of a windrow, and every screened batch directly contributes to creating high-quality compost, mulch, and soil. You arrive focused and prepared—ready to move materials safely, identify potential issues proactively, and ensure seamless operational flow. You possess a keen awareness of your machine’s sounds, feel, and performance, understanding that attention to small details prevents major breakdowns. You are eager to master the correct methods for blending materials, managing biosolids safely, and adeptly adapting to different machines and attachments. Whether you’re conducting routine maintenance on your loader, fine-tuning a screener, or assisting a teammate with an attachment, you understand that your role is fundamental to maintaining site efficiency and safety. You are a dependable individual who takes ownership of tasks, consistently backing up your crew as someone they can absolutely count on. You’re not merely operating heavy equipment—you are powerfully driving the process that transforms waste into an invaluable resource.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the safe and technically proficient operation of heavy equipment such as heavy trucks, front-end loaders, excavators, grinders, screeners, and backhoes.
• Performs daily safety and maintenance checks on equipment and complies with all safety rules and procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Participates actively in safety training sessions as needed.
• Safely loads trucks and ensures the secure transportation of materials.
• Performs either primary or final screening operations according to skill level.
• Runs various screening equipment according to skill level.
• Performs precise blending operations, including material mixing via heavy equipment to achieve desired consistency, according to skill level.
• Able to work independently and is expected to maintain a productive work schedule.
• Performs additional duties or projects as assigned by the Team Lead and/or Management.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach, and use hands and arms to handle or operate tools, equipment, and materials. The employee frequently climbs stairs, bends, stoops, and moves about the facility, which includes navigating outdoor and uneven terrain. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance and may be required to push, pull, or maneuver heavy objects and equipment as part of daily operations. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

Work is conducted in both indoor and outdoor areas of the facility. Employees may be exposed to dust, dirt, mud, loud noise, strong odors, heavy machinery in proximity, and potentially extreme weather conditions. Terrain may be uneven, soft, or shifting. Low/variable lighting and slip, trip, or fall hazards should be expected. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including a safety harness, hard hat, high-visibility apparel, safety footwear, gloves, safety glasses, and issued lighting devices, will be provided and must be worn as required when on site. When applicable, employees required to wear a respirator must successfully complete a company-provided medical evaluation and fit test prior to use and maintain ongoing compliance with all applicable training and certification requirements.

Success Profile

To thrive and excel in this role, the Heavy Equipment Operator will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Operational Efficiency: Operate heavy machinery—including front-end loaders, excavators, grinders, and backhoes—with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency to ensure the smooth and continuous processing of organic materials into compost.
• Safety and Compliance: Adhere to all company and regulatory safety protocols, diligently perform daily equipment inspections, and proactively address maintenance needs to promote a safe work environment and minimize downtime.
• Quality Control: Monitor and meticulously adjust operations such as screening and blending to maintain consistent product quality standards, aligning precisely with McGill’s composting specifications.
• Team Collaboration: Contribute actively to a culture of mutual support by communicating clearly and effectively with team members, assisting others as needed, and participating enthusiastically in safety meetings and training sessions.
• Work Schedule Reliability: Demonstrate consistent attendance and punctuality, manage time effectively, and maintain productivity levels that consistently meet or exceed shift expectations.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and report operational inefficiencies or potential hazards, and actively contribute ideas for process enhancements that support both productivity and product quality.
• Environmental Stewardship: Support McGill’s sustainability mission by managing materials with utmost care and minimizing waste or spillage during handling and transport.