About this opportunity
City of Sunrise FL lists this Canal Maintenance Operator opportunity in sunrise, Florida. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Salary : $48,166.65 - $68,059.37 Annually
Location : 10500 NW 55th St. Sunrise, FL, FL
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: UTILITIES
Division: PUBLIC WORKS STORMWATER OPERATIONS
Opening Date: 09/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/17/ :59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit: FOPA
Description
ABOUT OUR CITY
The City of Sunrise is more than a workplace - it's a community built on our Three Pillars: Customer Service, Collaboration, and Transparency. We're committed to creating an environment where innovation thrives, teamwork is celebrated, and every employee has the opportunity to grow and make a lasting impact.
As a full-service municipality and one of South Florida's premier cities, Sunrise offers competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a strong culture of recognition. Whether you're helping residents, shaping policy, or improving city operations, you'll be part of a team that's passionate about service excellence and community pride.
We take pride in being home to the back-to-back NHL Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers , a vibrant arts and entertainment district, and a diverse community that truly embodies what it means to Live, Work, and Play in Sunrise.
Effective January 2026, the City is has launched an Alternative Work Schedule designed to further support employee work-life balance - providing eligible staff with two three-day weekends per month through an every-other-Friday-off model. This initiative reflects our continued focus on flexibility and employee well-being.
NATURE OF WORK
This classification involves spraying and removing vegetation and other litter from City canals and ditches. An employee in this position handles required chemical and herbicides following safety guidelines; sprays and removes weeds, noxious water vegetation, litters, and dead animals; and operates boats, harvesting equipment, pumps, and other related equipment. This position also maintains records/inventory and orders replenishing of supplies.
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Sprays and removes weeds, hyacinths, and other noxious water vegetation from canals, ditches, and canal banks. Mixes chemicals to be used in spraying operation; places emulsified chemicals on or near the bottom of the canal.
Operates spray boat and other equipment used in the controlling of aquatic weeds.
Operates harvesting equipment used in the controlling of aquatic weeds.
Prepares and maintains reports of activities and crew operations; maintains records of equipment and chemicals used.
Contacts property owner and other persons in reference to spraying and treating noxious aquatic plant life.
Conducts on-the-job training of new employees assigned to spray crew; instructs in the use of spray equipment and the proper handling of chemicals.
Removes litter, dead animals, materials, and debris from canal heads, culverts, and catch basins.
Helps operators to locate and clean drains throughout the City.
Helps cut trees on the canal banks.
Maintains inventory of chemicals used.
Maintains records of vehicle and spray equipment maintenance.
Keeps logs on daily chemical usage; and orders more as needed.
Assists pump station mechanic with pump station maintenance as needed.
Performs related work as required.
Requirements
EDUCATION High school or vocational school diploma or GED.
EXPERIENCE Basic work experience in the operation of pumps, motors, or spray equipment in the application of herbicides and canal maintenance operations.
License required: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Category 5A (Aquatic). (Or obtain with six months of hire).
Certification preferred: FSA Stormwater Operator - Level 1.
License Preferred: FDACS - Category 6 (Right-of-Way Pest control)
Must possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Must obtain a valid Florida driver's license prior to hire.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through personal contact, the use of the telephone and/or other City-issued technology devices.
Physical capability to effectively use and operate City assigned motorized vehicles, manual or power tools.
Ability to climb, balance, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push and/or pull, twist and make repetitive hand movements.
Ability to walk, stand and sit for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work outdoors under varying temperatures, inclement weather and/or other adverse conditions.
Ability to load, carry, lift, push and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to climb and descend stairways and ship ladders at unusual heights of up to 40 feet.
Ability to hear within normal audio range, with or without correction.
Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to withstand exposure to the following conditions without stress: excessive noise, unpleasant odors, chemicals/other environmental substances, blood borne pathogens.
Perform work at locations with exposure over, in and around water, which may not be accessible to the physically handicapped.
Must have the ability to swim
Supplemental Information
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Knowledge of the various types of chemicals used in the spraying of aquatic weeds and other noxious water vegetation.
Knowledge of the equipment used in the spraying of aquatic weeds and other related vegetation.
Knowledge of the occupational hazards and necessary safety precautions applicable to spray work.
Knowledge of boat towing and trailering
Skill in using department software.
Ability to keep simple records and make reports.
Ability to recognize various types of aquatic weeds and related vegetation.
Ability to make arithmetic computations accurately.
Ability to understand and transmit oral and written instructions.
Ability to generate strength and agility sufficient to work long hours out-of-doors and under adverse weather conditions.
Support the culture of safety within the Department.
Follow safe work practices to eliminate & mitigate hazardous conditions & behaviors at the work environment.
BENEFITS PACKAGE SUMMARY
GENERAL EMPLOYEE
HIRED ON OR AFTER 10/01/23
City-Paid Medical Benefits:
• Group Health Insurance: The City pays for 100% of the cost for single coverage for full-time employees and 66.66% of cost for Dependent/Family Coverage. Upon retirement and separation from City employment, employee receives a monthly stipend of $350 per month, applicable toward retiree health coverage.
• Life Insurance: $30,000
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Cigna Behavioral
Retirement:
• Employee Contribution = 8%
• Vesting = 10 Years
• Normal Retirement Benefit = 2.5% of pensionable earnings for each year of creditable service
• Average Final Compensation (AFC) = 3 best consecutive earning years
• Maximum Benefit = 80% of AFC, not to exceed $80,000.
• Normal Retirement = Age 62 and ten (10) years of creditable service
• Early Retirement = Age 57 and ten (10) years of creditable service, 3% annual reduction for each year prior to normal retirement age
• 13th check based on monthly retirement, payable if the pension plan funding status is equal to or greater than 100%. Paid in December each year following retirement
• Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) = 4 years/48 months maximum
• DROP Interest Rate = 4%, compounded annually
Longevity:
Based on successful completion of full-time, continuous service with the City, employee shall receive the following:
Years of Creditable Service Longevity Benefit*
10 Years 2.5%
15 Years 2.5%
20 Years 5.0%
* Longevity Benefit calculated on employee's base rate of pay
Paid Holidays:
Employees receive the following City-paid holidays:
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• 4th of July, Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
Annual Leave:
Annual leave may be taken as earned after completion of (90) calendar days. Maximum accumulation each fiscal year is 290 hours. At time of resignation or retirement, employee is paid for all annual leave accrued at their current rate of pay. Annual leave is accrued based on continuous, full-time service with the City, as follows:
Completed Months of Service Total Hours Accrued Annually
Up to and including first 60 months 96 hours/12 Days
Greater than 60 months through 120 months 136 hours/17 Days
Greater than 120 months through 204 months 176 hours/22 Days
Greater than 204 months 216 hours/27 Days
Annual Leave Cash Out:
Employee can opt to receive a non-pensionable cash payment twice per year for up to forty (40) hours of annual leave, provided accrued annual leave bank does not fall below eighty (80) hours.
Floating Holidays:
Upon completion of (26) weeks of full-time employment with the City, employee shall be entitled to utilize up to five (5) floating holidays per fiscal year. Floating holidays shall not carry over to the next fiscal year.
Perfect Attendance:
For every six (6) months period (April 1 - September 30) and (October 1 - March 31) in which, no sick or unpaid leave is utilized, an employee shall receive ten (10) hours of annual leave credited. Employees who qualify for a consecutive Perfect Attendance benefit shall receive fourteen (14) hours of annual leave credited for each applicable consecutive earning period.
Sick Leave:
Each employee earns (96) hours (12 days) of sick leave annually with no waiting period for use and unlimited accrual. Upon separation of City employment due to resignation, employee shall receive payment of all accrued sick leave at a rate of twenty-five percent (25%) of the employee's current rate of pay at time of resignation. Upon separation of employment due to retirement, employee shall receive payment of all accrued sick leave at a rate of fifty percent (50%) of the employee's current rate of pay at the time of retirement.
Sick Leave Conversion:
After completion of one (1) year of continuous, full-time employment with the City, an employee may convert their unused portion of their first six (6) days (maximum of forty-eight (48) hours) of accrued sick leave into annual leave. Conversions are subject to the following: A minimum of 96 unused sick leave hours accrued prior to hours being converted, total eligible sick leave hours to be converted shall be reduced hour-for-hour by any sick leave hours utilized during the eligible benefit period, and conversion subject to annual leave accrual cap.
Bereavement:
Qualifying City-paid Bereavement Leave as follows:
• In State = Up to 3 Days
• Out of State = Up to 5 Days
Tuition Reimbursement:
After one (1) year of full-time employment
• 100% reimbursement for a grade of A or B
• 50% reimbursement for a grade of C
• $250 books/lab reimbursement per semester
Credit Union:
We Florida Financial Bank & Credit Union - 8890 NW 44th Street, Sunrise, FL. 33351
Optional Voluntary Benefits (paid by the employee):
• Single or Family Dental Insurance Coverage
• Single or Family Vision Insurance Coverage
• Accident Advantage
• Life Insurance Coverage
• AD&D
• Short Term Disability
• Critical Care Protection
• Cancer Protection Assurance
• MissionSquare Retirement Compensation Programs
o 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
o 401(a) Governmental Purchase Plan: Newly hired
01
Please describe your highest level of education completed. PROOF OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPLETED EDUCATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AS AN ATTACHMENT WITH APPLICATION. (Applications without attached proof of education will not be processed for consideration.) No High School/GED
High School/GED
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctoral Degree
02
How much work experience do you have performing canal, ditch, drainage, stormwater, or waterway maintenance? No Experience
Inexperienced (Less than 6 months)
Basic (6 months - 1 year)
Reasonable (1 - 3 years)
Considerable (4 - 6 years)
Extensive (7 - 9 years)
Broad (10+ years)
03
Do you currently possess a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Category 5A - Aquatic license? Yes
No
04
Do you have a valid Florida's Driver's License? Yes
No
05
If yes, please provide Driver's License number and Date of Issue:
Required Question
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.