Yard Waste Maintenance Worker II

Our Yard Waste Maintenance Workers take pride in doing their part in maintaining the appearance, vitality, and livability of our community. They make a visible and tangible impact on a daily basis. Does this sound like you? Then apply today and join the City of Champaign Public Works Department

Responsibilities of Position

As members of the City's Forestry Section, Yard Waste Maintenance Workers provide primary support to the yard waste collection program. During collection periods, they are on the streets daily picking up and collecting a multitude of bags, bundles, and brush. Outside of collection periods, they perform a variety of Forestry Section support tasks such as plant, water, fertilize, and spread mulch around trees, shrubs, and plants; seed and install sod; clean sidewalks and hardscapes; and assist with stump grinding and tree inventories. Additionally, this position participates in the City's snow & ice removal efforts and responds to other emergencies and call-outs that may require working 12- to 16-hour shifts at all hours with little to no advance notice.

Maintenance Worker positions may be filled at the I or II level. Level II positions require the ability to operate Public Works equipment on a regular basis without supervision. Newly hired or current employees who are promoted, transferred, or voluntarily demoted to Maintenance Worker positions will be paid at the Maintenance Worker I level until successfully demonstrating equipment operation competency through proficiency testing or completion of the Public Works Department training program.

Required Qualifications

• Education equivalent to a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to perform essential functions that require physical agility as noted in the job description, with or without accommodation.
• Ability to work outdoors in extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Possession of, or the ability to successfully obtain, a Class B CDL with tanker endorsement and without air brake restriction issued by the State of Illinois.
• Possession of, or the ability to successfully obtain, forklift certification.
• Possession of, or the ability to successfully obtain, a Public Operator Pesticide License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a yard waste or similar collection program.
• Experience with snow and ice removal.
• Ground support experience in tree care operations.
• Experience with landscape or turf maintenance.

Pre-employment drug screening, driving record review, criminal background check and ongoing random drug testing will be required. The base salary range is $ $ per hour, not including longevity and depending on current rate of pay. Applications must be submitted online no later than Sunday, October 25, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Other Information

The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Contact the Human Resources Department at Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process.

The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch, and the Illinois WorkNet Center.

Our mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community.

These values guide our work:

Personal Integrity

We act in the best interests of the City

We behave in an ethical and legal manner

We are open and honest

We follow through on commitments

We are loyal to the City

Responsibility

We anticipate issues, problems, and opportunities

We take initiative

We act to prevent and solve problems

We take responsibility for the outcome of our actions and decisions

We hold ourselves and others accountable

Respect

We treat others in a fair, courteous, and equitable manner

We actively listen and seek understanding

We provide a direct response

We embrace ethnic and cultural diversity in the community and our workplace

We are positive and cooperative

We are willing to apologize

Teamwork

We know and respect our roles and responsibilities

We ask who needs to be involved and we involve others appropriately

We define and agree upon the goals

We collaborate to achieve organizational goals

We help others accomplish their goals

We share authority, responsibility, and credit

Results

We take pride in our work

We complete assignments and projects on time and within budget

We evaluate outcomes and seek feedback on our performance

We learn from our mistakes

We innovate

Employer

City of Champaign

Address

102 North Neil St.

Floor 1

Champaign, Illinois, 61820

Phone

Website

This position is covered under the City of Champaign American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Bargaining Unit labor agreement.

HEALTH INSURANCE

The City of Champaign offers a robust PPO Select Network plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

The City of Champaign pays up to $606.10 of the employee (single) health insurance premium and 50 percent of the dependent premium for continuous full-time employees. Premiums for single employee coverage above $606.10 per month are shared by the employee and the City. For the 2025/2026 plan year, AFSCME employees contribute percent of their salary for the plan. Premiums may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Health insurance coverage begins on the date of hire and ends on the employee's last day of work at the City.

Rates are available under the Fringe Benefit Summaries section on the City's website at

DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE

Employees may purchase dental and/or vision insurance through payroll deduction. Employees pay 100 percent of the monthly premium for this coverage. Premiums for dental and vision insurance may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Dental and vision insurance begins after waiting for one complete calendar month (e.g., if hire date is in the month of January, coverage begins on March 1st).

The dental plan has two options: Delta Dental Network Low Plan (PPO) and Delta Dental High Plan.

Vision insurance is provided by EyeMed.

Rates are available under the Fringe Benefit Summaries section on the City's website at

LIFE INSURANCE

The City provides a $20,000 term life insurance policy for continuous full-time AFSCME employees and an $8,000 term life insurance policy for continuous part-time AFSCME employees through The Hartford. Premiums are paid by the City. Employees may elect to purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for themselves up to 5x their annual salary or $500,000 (whichever is lower), through payroll deduction. Employees may also purchase term life for their spouses/dependents.

• Employee voluntary supplemental life insurance coverage can be purchased in $10,000 increments and the price is calculated based on the employee's age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their spouses up to half the amount purchased for themselves in $5,000 increments. Cost is calculated based on the employee's age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their dependent children in the amount of $10,000 for any/all eligible children.
• Employees may purchase Basic Life Insurance for their spouse and eligible dependent children.

o Option #1: $3.60/month for $10,000 for spouse and $5,000 for any/all eligible children.

o Option #2: $1.80/month for $5,000 for spouse and $2,000 for any/all eligible children.

SICK LEAVE

Continuous full-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.69 hours per pay period (approximately 1 day per month), subject to labor contract provisions. The sick leave accrual rate is pro-rated for continuous part-time employees.

VACATION

Vacation accrual rates are based on years of service and pro-rated for part-time employees. Employees are eligible to take vacation after six months of employment. Requests for leave to be taken during the initial six months of employment must be approved by the employee's supervisor and may be permitted through a combination of personal leave, unpaid leave, flex time, and/or compensatory time.

PERSONAL LEAVE

At the beginning of each fiscal year, continuous full-time employees are credited with three personal days (24 hours); personal days are pro-rated for continuous part-time employees. Personal leave may not be accumulated and carried over into the next fiscal year (July 1st). Personal leave during the first year of employment varies based on the date of employment.

HOLIDAYS

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Employees may be required to work on holiday(s). Those employees receive additional compensation or time off.

PENSION

Illinois state law requires that eligible municipal employees be covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Employee contributions to IMRF are 4.5 percent of salary and are tax-deferred. For 2024, the City contributes 6.46 percent of eligible employee's salaries to IMRF. In addition, IMRF members are covered by Social Security (FICA). Obtain additional information by contacting IMRF at 1-800-ASK-IMRF. Employees are eligible to contribute additional funds to IMRF through Voluntary Additional Contributions.

RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS)

A retirement health savings plan administered by the Mission Square Retirement Corporation has been established for AFSCME employees. AFSCME employees participate in the plan at separation or retirement of employment by contributing a portion of sick, vacation, and comp time leave balances. Threshold leave balance amounts are applicable. This account is available for use by the employee at retirement or separation of service. Eligible uses of the funds include medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, dental/vision expenses, coinsurance, and co-pays for employees, spouse, and/or dependents.

LONGEVITY PAY

Employees receive longevity pay based upon their years of continuous employment with the City. Longevity pay is an addition to the employees' base wage rate.

CREDIT UNION

Employees may join the Credit Union I. Payroll deduction for savings and credit union loan payments are available as well as a deduction for a savings bond program and Christmas Club. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Credit Union directly at

DEFFERED COMPENSATION PLAN

The City of Champaign offers employees the opportunity to participate in a tax-deferred annuity plan of the Mission Square Retirement Corporation through payroll deduction. This is an optional plan with no City contributions. More information may be obtained by contacting Client Services

RESIDENCY INCENTIVE REIMBURSEMENT

The City offers a Residency Incentive Reimbursement of $2,500 to AFSCME employees who establish residency or relocate within the City of Champaign (or Champaign County for METCAD employees). Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Department.

UNION DUES

The AFSCME union establishes the regularly monthly dues which are collected by the City through payroll deduction on behalf of the union.

CONTRACT

View the current American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Bargaining Unit contract