Home Grown Outdoor Finishes

Excavation & Heavy Equipment Operator

Seasonal Winter Work | Potential for Long-Term Employment

Location: Middletown, PA | Serving Lancaster, Harrisburg & Surrounding Areas

Pay: $25 - $35 per hour, depending on experience

Employment: Part-Time | Seasonal | Temporary

Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator? Earn $25 - $35 Per Hour 

Home Grown Outdoor Finishes is an established landscaping, hardscaping, and commercial snow removal company serving residential and commercial customers throughout the Lancaster and Harrisburg region. We have built our reputation on dependable service, quality workmanship, and four core values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Quality, and Excellence.

We're looking for experienced Excavation and Heavy Equipment Operators who want to put their equipment operating skills to work during the winter months.

If you have experience operating excavators, skid steers, loaders, backhoes, bulldozers, or other heavy construction equipment, your skills could make you a great fit for our winter operations team.

This is a seasonal position focused on snow removal and winter property maintenance. While previous snowplowing experience is an advantage, we are also interested in operators with strong excavation, earthmoving, sitework, or general heavy equipment backgrounds who are confident handling machinery in demanding conditions.

Winter work requires flexibility. Snowstorms don't always arrive during normal working hours, so we're looking for dependable operators who can respond when needed, including early mornings, overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays.

If you're an experienced equipment operator looking to earn additional income during the winter, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Be Responsible For

As part of our winter operations team, you'll use your equipment operating experience to help keep commercial and residential properties safe and accessible throughout the snow season.

The work involves operating snow removal machinery, completing assigned routes, and maintaining high standards of safety and efficiency during winter weather events.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operating snowplows, salt spreaders, and other heavy equipment used in winter maintenance operations
• Clearing snow from commercial parking lots, roads, driveways, and designated access areas
• Using your heavy equipment operating skills to move and manage accumulated snow safely and efficiently
• Performing snow removal services at both commercial and residential properties
• Applying salt and other ice-control materials to help prevent hazardous conditions
• Following assigned routes and ensuring properties are serviced within required timeframes
• Maneuvering equipment safely around buildings, vehicles, curbs, landscaping, and other obstacles
• Conducting pre-operation and post-operation inspections to ensure equipment is in safe working condition
• Identifying mechanical issues, equipment damage, or maintenance concerns and reporting them promptly
• Maintaining clear communication with supervisors and other members of the winter operations team
• Using smartphone applications to record completed work, track hours, and submit required documentation
• Following established safety procedures when operating machinery in freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and low-visibility conditions
• Remaining available for extended shifts when necessary during major winter storms

We need operators who understand how to handle equipment responsibly, work efficiently without sacrificing safety, and take ownership of their assigned work.

Qualifications and Experience

We're interested in hearing from experienced operators who have worked in excavation, construction, site development, earthmoving, landscaping, or other equipment-intensive environments.

You don't necessarily need to come from a snow removal background. Strong heavy equipment operating experience and a willingness to work in winter conditions are what we're looking for.

What we're looking for:

• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record (required)
• Previous experience operating heavy equipment in excavation, construction, sitework, earthmoving, or similar industries
• Experience operating machinery such as excavators, skid steers, wheel loaders, backhoes, bulldozers, or comparable construction equipment
• Previous commercial snowplowing or snow removal experience is preferred but not strictly required
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) preferred but not required
• Strong understanding of equipment safety, proper operating procedures, and jobsite awareness
• Confidence maneuvering equipment in confined spaces, around obstacles, and in challenging conditions
• Ability to follow directions, complete assigned routes, and work independently when necessary
• Ability to perform basic equipment inspections and recognize potential mechanical problems
• Comfortable using smartphone applications for communication, paperwork, and time tracking
• Strong attention to detail when recording work completed and reporting hours
• Availability throughout the winter season, typically December through April
• Willingness to work early mornings, overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays as weather conditions require
• Ability to respond to on-call assignments, including shifts starting at 3:00 AM or earlier
• Physical ability to perform outdoor duties in freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and severe winter weather
• Willingness to work extended shifts during significant snow events
• Dependable transportation, punctuality, and a strong work ethic

Experience in excavation, grading, land clearing, utility construction, roadwork, or commercial site development is particularly relevant. Operators who are accustomed to working with heavy machinery, managing changing jobsite conditions, and completing time-sensitive work are encouraged to apply.

Compensation and Work Schedule

We offer competitive hourly pay and the opportunity for experienced heavy equipment operators to earn additional income during the winter season.

Pay and employment

• $25 - $35 per hour, depending on experience and equipment operating capabilities
• Part-time, temporary, seasonal employment
• Potential for long-term employment opportunities
• Work availability determined by snowfall, ice conditions, and operational requirements
• Potential for extended shifts and overtime during major winter storms
• Field-based work throughout Lancaster, Harrisburg, and surrounding areas

Seasonal availability

• Winter operations generally run from December through April
• On-call availability is required 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the snow season
• Operators typically receive several days' advance notice of expected snow events when weather forecasts allow
• Shifts may begin at 3:00 AM or earlier, depending on weather conditions
• Work may take place during weekdays, weekends, holidays, evenings, and overnight hours
• Major winter storms may require extended shifts until assigned properties have been serviced
• Weekly hours will vary based on snowfall, weather conditions, and customer requirements

Please note: This is a weather-dependent position, not a guaranteed 40-hour-per-week job. Candidates must be comfortable with an on-call schedule and prepared to work when winter weather creates a need for snow removal services.

Put Your Heavy Equipment Experience to Work This Winter

Whether your background is in excavation, commercial construction, site development, or general heavy equipment operation, Home Grown Outdoor Finishes offers an opportunity to put your experience to use and earn competitive hourly pay during the winter months.

We're looking for skilled, dependable operators who take pride in their work, respect the equipment they operate, and understand the importance of showing up when they're needed.

If you're an experienced equipment operator looking for seasonal winter work with potential for longer-term opportunities, we encourage you to apply.

Apply today through Indeed or contact Home Grown Outdoor Finishes at 717-367-7284 to learn more about joining our winter operations team.

Home Grown Outdoor Finishes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.