Yard Waste Maintenance Workers

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.

The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, Results.  The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion.

Application Deadline: Apply at the City’s Jobs Page at ChampaignIL.gov/jobs by Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Salary and Benefits

•                    Starting salary: $28.8101 per hour.

•                    Full-time, on-site, FLSA non-exempt, AFSCME bargaining unit position.

•                    The City of Champaign offers excellent fringe benefits including:

·                     Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave and 11 paid City holidays each year

·                     Health, life, dental, and vision insurance

·                     Flexible spending plans

·                     Retirement benefits through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)

View the Salary Schedule and AFSCME Bargaining Unit Fringe Benefit Summary at: ChampaignIL.gov/Salaries. View the full AFSCME contract at

ChampaignIL.gov/hr/jobs/bargaining-units/.

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.