Heavy Equipment Operator

At Liberty Tire Recycling, we're building a sustainable future - one tire at a time. As North America's leading tire recycler, we offer a unique opportunity to make a real impact on the environment. Join our team of nearly 4,000 dedicated employees across 70+ sites and help us transform billions of pounds of waste tires into valuable resources. We're committed to innovation, a circular economy, and providing a rewarding workplace where you can grow and thrive.

Job Summary:
The Heavy Equipment Operator is responsible for safely operating and maintaining a variety of heavy equipment used in tire recycling operations, including skid steers, loaders, excavators, forklifts, and other mobile equipment as assigned. This role plays a critical part in supporting production activities, loading and unloading materials, moving inventory, maintaining work areas, and ensuring efficient plant operations. The ideal candidate is safety-focused, dependable, and comfortable working in a physically demanding industrial environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Safely operate heavy equipment including skid steers, loaders, excavators, forklifts, and other equipment as assigned.
• Load, unload, sort, stack, and transport tires, recycled rubber products, and other materials throughout the facility.
• Inspect equipment before, during, and after operation and report maintenance needs or safety concerns immediately.
• Perform routine equipment checks including fuel, hydraulic fluids, tires, and other operational components.
• Maintain safe operating practices at all times and comply with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and site-specific procedures.
• Work closely with production and maintenance teams to support daily operational goals.
• Assist with material handling, inventory movement, site cleanup, and general labor duties as needed.
• Ensure work areas remain clean, organized, and free of safety hazards.
• Follow verbal and written instructions and maintain awareness of surroundings while operating equipment.
• Assist with loading and unloading trucks and trailers.
• Support storm cleanup, yard organization, and outdoor material management activities when necessary.
• Accurately complete required inspections, logs, and operational paperwork.
• Perform duties in a manner that supports production efficiency, environmental compliance, and workplace safety.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of skid steer operating experience required.
• Experience operating heavy equipment in an industrial, construction, recycling, manufacturing, or similar environment preferred.
• Excavator experience preferred.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Ability to safely operate equipment in tight spaces and around pedestrians, vehicles, and production equipment.
• Basic mechanical aptitude and ability to identify equipment issues.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow safety procedures and work instructions.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong commitment to workplace safety.
• Ability to operate heavy machinery safely and efficiently.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to remain focused and attentive in a fast-paced environment.
• Dependable, punctual, and self-motivated.
• Ability to use hand and power tools when necessary.
• Flexibility to perform a variety of operational and labor-related tasks.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and awareness of surroundings.
• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and varying schedules when business needs require.

Work Environment:

Work is primarily performed in a tire recycling facility, processing yard, and outdoor industrial environment. Regular exposure to moving machinery, heavy equipment, truck traffic, dust, dirt, odors, vibration, and moderate to high noise levels. Frequent exposure to varying weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, humidity, and wind. May work on uneven surfaces, gravel lots, wet conditions, and around recycled tire materials. Position requires adherence to strict safety standards and constant situational awareness. The work environment is fast-paced, physically demanding, and requires the ability to safely perform duties around heavy industrial equipment and active production operations.

EEO Statement:

Liberty Tire Recycling is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.