Job Description

Position Summary:

A Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Lead position is available at Fort Stewart, Georgia, with Colorado State University (CSU) and the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML). This position will support the Fort Stewart Fish and Wildlife Branch with endangered species management and hardwood midstory control.  

The HEO Lead will provide daily HEO support and supervisory oversight for all subordinate CSU/CEMML HEO staff supporting the Fish and Wildlife Branch at Fort Stewart. This position will execute and oversee the operation of heavy equipment such as forestry shredders, dump trucks, skid steers, bull dozers, excavators, motor graders, agricultural tractors, utility trailers, heavy-duty trailers, and semi-trucks. Support will involve equipment maintenance, heavy duty mowing/shredding of forest midstory vegetation, mulching midstory hardwoods, road maintenance, reforestation, wiregrass seed harvesting, and planting native vegetation in the training lands.

Fort Stewart is a United States Army installation located near Hinesville, Georgia, approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah. The 280,000-acre installation hosts a variety of diverse training habitats including forest and woodland ecosystems. The installation supports year-round military training from all branches of the armed services in a variety of realistic training scenarios.

Essential Job Duties:

Heavy Equipment Operation – Habitat Restoration

Operate and transport a variety of heavy equipment (e.g., forestry shredders, dozers, excavators, graders, skid steers, tractors, dump trucks, and trailers) to support habitat restoration at Fort Stewart, GA. Determine appropriate equipment use, transport methods, and job site deployment. Perform duties such as vegetation management, land clearing, road maintenance, soil stabilization, native seeding, and habitat preservation. Identify sites using GIS/maps or instructions and ensure safe, efficient equipment delivery and operation.

Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Repairs

Conduct routine maintenance and complex repairs on gasoline/diesel-powered equipment and support vehicles. Diagnose issues, troubleshoot, and adapt repair methods as needed; fabricate in-house solutions to reduce downtime and costs. Perform and document inspections (including DOT/airbrake checks), and safely use tools and equipment (e.g., welders, hydraulic lifts). Follow manufacturer guidance and safety standards; adjust work based on field conditions and priorities. Utilize basic computer systems for documentation and communication.

Supervision

Oversee and coordinate daily activities of HEO staff, including task assignments, training, and safety compliance. Review and approve timesheets and ensure work aligns with project objectives (SOO) and timelines. Adapt plans based on operational needs and environmental conditions.

Reporting

Complete required administrative tasks, including training, time entry, and deliverables. Maintain accurate tracking of labor, equipment, materials, and project progress. Prepare and submit reports (daily through quarterly) to support communication with leadership and government representatives.

Conditions of Employment:

• Ability to work in-person at Fort Stewart, GA.

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires).

• Must have a valid Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL), with no manual transmission restrictions, at the time of employment and meet CSU standards for driving throughout the course of employment.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain the Georgia Level 1A Erosion and Sedimentation Certification required for moving/disturbing soil.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.

• Be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly without assistance. Able to work outdoors and perform strenuous labor under all hazardous working conditions (e.g., intense heat, cold, high humidity, noxious plants and animals).

• Must be able to comply with all applicable regulations to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) and public trust clearance. Furthermore, candidates are required at a minimum to complete a NACI/SF85 and successfully pass a federal background check to remain eligible for employment by CSU.

• The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by the proposed start date; CEMML will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Supervision:

This position will provide daily supervisory oversight for all subordinate CSU/CEMML HEO staff at the Fish and Wildlife Branch at Fort Stewart, GA.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A High School Diploma, General Education Development (GED), or equivalent.

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience operating heavy equipment in land management, restoration, rehabilitation, or another similar capacity utilizing equipment such as forestry shredders, bulldozers, dump trucks, excavators, front-end loaders/backhoes, skid steers, agricultural tractors, motor-graders, light and heavy-duty trailers, and semi-trucks.

• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience supervising field crews. 

• Experience performing operational, routine, and operator maintenance and inspections on all equipment to maintain operational readiness/safety and to keep machinery, equipment, and tools in good working condition.

• Able to properly load, secure, and transport all heavy equipment with a range of trailers on both paved and dirt roads.

• Experience in facilitating planting operations, land clearing, site preparations, soil stabilization, grading, and road maintenance.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to follow directions and work collaboratively with others as part of a team.

• Proficient use of computers, spreadsheets, and email programs for documenting work completion, communication, task tracking and other administrative tasks. Experience documenting and maintaining detailed records and creating electronic reports using the Microsoft Office suite of products.

Preferred Qualifications

• More than five (5) years professional experience operating heavy equipment in a land restoration, rehabilitation, management, or a similar capacity. 

• More than two (2) years professional experience supervising field crews.

• Experience working on military lands.

• Experience collecting and planting native grass seeds.

• Pesticide/herbicide application experience and experience in invasive species management.

• Experience with land rehabilitation, horizontal construction techniques, and erosion control practices specific to State and/or EPA approved Best Management Practices (BMPs) required to achieve compliance.

• Ability to read and navigate using maps, GIS applications, aerial photographs, compasses, and GPS units.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.