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Job Description
JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM
At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. Our guiding principles-Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchor our approach in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austin residents. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.
What Makes the City of Austin Special?- Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
- Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.
- Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
- Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
- Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
- Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
- Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
- Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.
By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.
Under close supervision, this position performs tasks of general labor in the collection and disposal of trash and recyclables and the recovery and processing of recovered resources or in the support of the operations in the collection or disposal process.
Job Description:
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.- Picks up, processes, or disposes of trash, brush, litter, recyclables, bulky items, re-use items, or compostable items by operating trash collection equipment as appropriate.
- Pre-trips all equipment as required by management and maintains detailed vehicle and equipment records.
- Constructs and maintains operational equipment including carts.
- Performs basic vehicle inspections, maintenance, and repairs including trash carts.
- Learns and follows routes, reads street maps and micro routes to locate route destinations.
- Completes paperwork, forms, and other reports related to collection activities.
- Uses hand tools such as backpack blower, rake, shovel, and sweep to stack, load, and unload smaller debris and litter.
- Cleans up illegal dump sites parkland, targeted encampment sites, and other sites with high volume of trash-related complaints or concerns throughout the City of Austin.
- Provides information to customers, when appropriate, and responds to routine customer questions about work being performed. Places customer notices, door hangers, and public information literature.
- Follows all safety rules. Observes and reports accidents, burglaries, and hazardous situations.
- Assists other Austin Resource Recovery ( ARR ) crews, as directed, and performs other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:- None.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.- Knowledge of equipment and vehicles used in waste services.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with others.
- Skill in learning simple tasks.
- Skill in using small hand tools.
- Skill in lifting and carrying equipment or materials applicable to the assigned work.
- Skill in lifting and carrying equipment or material applicable to work being performed.
- Skill in reading and writing English necessary to the level of tasks performed.
- Ability to understand oral and written instructions in English.
- Ability to operate required vehicles safely.
- Ability to read, understand, and follow maps and mapping directions.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:- Six (6) months of experience performing general labor.
Licenses and Certifications Required:- Valid Texas Class C Driver license, as required by position.
- To be considered for employment in this position applicants must comply with Department of Transportation Federal Regulations and the City of Austin Drug Policy.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:- Experience in the waste management industry, construction, and other general labor fields.
- Experience working in a manual labor job outdoors in extreme heat, cold and other inclement weather.
- Experience operating heavy equipment
Notes to Candidate:
Position Overview for Operational:
This position(s) will be driver helper and may require some or all of the following:- Servicing approximately 700-1500 homes utilizing a commercial waste management vehicle. Boarding and exiting the cab of a collection truck, as well as stepping on and off the rear step using hand and foot holds. The position will be retrieving carts and bags from house to house with continual stretching, bending and stooping and will require pulling your own body weight.
- Delivering, exchanging and maintaining ARR Carts and preparing inventory for deliveries as well as repairing and cleaning and/or disassembling non-usable carts that are picked up from customers throughout the city.
- All positions are very physically demanding and may manually collect bags, branch bundles, personal containers and 96-gallon carts from curbside. Depending on the position, they may transport collected materials via a rear-loader and unload them at processing site.
- All positions work in all types of inclement weather (i.e. cold, wet, hot, etc.) and will be on their feet, walking, bending, stooping and picking up heavy items for most of their workday.
Worksite Location:
4108 Todd Lane. Austin, Texas 78744
Days and Hours:
Operational: Monday - Friday, 5:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. All positions will require extended hours and to work holidays, weekends and seasonal shift changes as needed.
Pay Range:
Temporary - Austin Resource Recovery Associate: $21.63 - $22.33 Per Hour
Additional Information:
Benefits : Working with the City of Austin at Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) provides a number of health benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, and training opportunities and more! Click HERE for more information- A competency assessment may be required to verify your skill set.
- This posting may be used to fill other similar
- Positions within Austin Resource Recovery outside of the division listed above.
- A detailed and complete job application is required and helps us to better evaluate your qualifications. In completing your job application, please be sure to provide a COMPLETE employment history regarding any and all relevant work experience that you would like for us to consider. Please be thorough in completing the employment application and list all experience and education that is relevant to this position. For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications. This information will also be used to determine salary in the event that you are selected for this position. You will not be given the opportunity to provide additional work experience once you complete and submit your job application. Furthermore, if selected as the top candidate, you will not be permitted to present additional work experience for salary calculation purposes.
- Veteran candidates will be required to provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of interview.
- Each individual who submits an Application as provided in the Municipal Civil Service Rules and meet the Minimum Qualifications for a Competitive Position shall be considered a Candidate for that Position. Employees, in Good Standing, who are Candidates within the Department or division that the Position resides in and who meet the Minimum and Preferred Qualifications (if any) of the Position will be included in the initial interview.
- NOTE : All Austin Resource Recovery locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any ARR worksite - including parking lot or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.
Driving Requirement:
This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) requisite . To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
If required, as a condition of your employment for this position, you will be required to obtain the Commercial Learners Permit ( CLP ), which is required prior to Entry Level Driver Training (theory), which should be completed within the first 30 days of hire. Additionally, you will be required to obtain a State of Texas commercial driver license ( CDL ) within 120 days of hire date. To be considered for employment in this position applicants must comply with Department of Transportation Federal Regulations and the City of Austin Drug Policy.
Physical requirements for Operational Positions:- The employee is required to perform the following tasks during the normal course of an approximately eight (8) to ten (10) hour day, four (4) to six (6) days a week.
- This position involves sitting while driving a commercial refuse vehicle as well as entering or exiting the cab and the rear step of the truck using hand and foot holds pulling body weight about 18-36 inches around 1250 times per day. The employee will apply up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and less force frequently to move objects. The position requires constant standing and grasping of hand holds roughly 32-54 inches from step to handle while riding on the back of the truck with frequent stops. This will involve continuous use of arms, shoulders, legs and feet to operate drive/steering inputs. Additionally, the employee will frequently be expected to perform tasks involving stretching, bending, twisting, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, lifting and stooping while inspecting vehicle, while rolling 50+ pound refuse containers or throwing items into a refuse truck at approximately 5 feet high.
- This position walks from house to house to retrieve carts, brush, bulk, and bags for approximately 8 -10 hours during a normal workday and works in extreme heat, cold, rain and other bad weather. Additional hazards include working close to mechanical parts, oils, fumes/odors/gases, noise, repetitive motions and vibration which expose joints and muscles to vibration and shock produced by the truck as well as walking near traffic, uneven surfaces, mud, snow, ice or rain daily. Employees may come in contact with blood and/or other potentially infectious materials.
- Employees must have sufficiently good eyesight to drive and inspect trucks and other equipment. Additionally, listening while driving is necessary to hear emergency vehicles and other issues with traffic or operational equipment. Employees must also be able to hear and speak to communicate with supervisors, dispatchers, and citizens.
EEO Statement for City of Austin:
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
Closing Date/Time: 2025-10-03 - Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Austin
Show moreThe City of Austin
This vibrant and dynamic city tops many lists for business, entertainment, and quality of life. One of the country’s most popular, high-profile “green” and culturally rich cities, Austin was recently selected the number one Best Place to Live in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report). In 2016, Forbes named Austin the city most likely to prosper over the next decade on their America’s Cities of the Future list, and the City of Austin ranked in the top ten on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for 2017.
Austin continues to lead with its vision of being the Most Livable City in the Country, emerging as a player on the international scene with such events as SXSW, Austin City Limits, Formula 1, and being home to companies such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, and Ascension Seton Healthcare. From the home of state government and the University of Texas to the Live Music Capital of the World and its growth as a film center, Austin has gained worldwide attention as a hub for education, business, health, and sustainability.
The City offers a wide range of events, from music concerts, food festivals, and sports competitions to museum displays, exhibits, and family fun. Austin is also home to a wonderful ballet, world-class museums, one-of-a-kind shopping, and beautiful outdoor spaces. You can just as easily spend your morning paddling the lake as you can strolling through a celebrated history museum.
Located at the edge of the Texas Hill Country—rolling terrain of limestone bluffs, springs, rivers, and lakes—Austin’s temperate climate is ideal for year-round jogging, cycling, hiking on the City’s many trails, or swimming at Barton Springs or one of the area’s many other swimming holes.
There are a number of excellent golf courses in the area as well as recreational opportunities for rowing, kayaking, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, disc golf, mountain biking, fishing, and more. Austin truly has something to offer for everyone.
City Government
The City of Austin is a progressive, full-service municipal organization operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Austin has a 10-1 council system with an at-large Mayor and Council Members that represent ten districts. The Mayor and Council Members may serve in their respective seats for four years with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
The City Council appoints the City Manager who is the chief administrative and executive officer of the City. The City Manager is responsible for guiding and directing day-to-day operations, as well as providing strategic research, recommendations, and management leadership to the City Council on the city budget, programs, policies, and services. The City Manager implements the organization’s administrative responsibilities with a strong team of Assistant City Managers and department executives. Supported by a staff of more than 14,000 and a budget of $4.1 billion, the City Manager and staff deliver a broad range of services to the citizens of Austin.
The City Council and City Manager of Austin are committed to the mission of delivering the highest quality, cost-effective services. Austin is a beacon of sustainability, social equity, and economic opportunity; where diversity and creativity are celebrated; where community needs and values are recognized; where leadership comes from its community members, and where the necessities of life are affordable and accessible to all.
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