Highway Maintenance Specialist

If you have a Colorado Class A or B Commercial Driver's License and are passionate about safety, travel, and hands-on repair and improvements, then consider turning your passions into a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist. CDOT has a vacancy for a Highway Maintenance Specialist in Gunnison, CO. This is a seasonal winter permanent position. This position works full-time typically from October through May each year and does not work June through September each year. Total annual compensation for this position is $59,400 ($53,400 base pay and $6,000 housing stipend). Base pay for this position is $2053.85 /biweekly ($53,400/annually). There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year. This location is also eligible for an additional $500/month housing stipend. The annualized hourly rate for this position is $25.68 hour, with an overtime rate of $38.50/hour.

Description of Job

No two days are exactly the same in CDOT highway maintenance. Your daily work activities change based on project needs and also vary based on weather, environment, and road conditions. You will be on-call on a rotating basis as well as subject to call to respond to weather and other emergencies. You will typically work in a team environment, as each maintenance patrol location has at least one lead highway maintenance specialist and multiple highway maintenance specialists. Your main job activities include:

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment, such as tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower, etc.
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways, including rock, mud, and deceased animals
• Removing debris from culverts, tunnels, etc.
• Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Digging ditches
• Installing and repairing guardrail, highway markers and signs, warning signs, and lighting
• Filling potholes and roadway cracks
• Setting out signs and cones for traffic control
• Removing and covering graffiti
• Installing pavement markings/striping
• Stopping or slowing traffic in emergency situations
• Maintaining equipment and performing minor repairs
• Following safety guidance and wearing proper safety equipment

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado's roadways open and safe. Your work also positively impacts quality of life for all Coloradans and visitors and helps our economy to thrive.

CDOT provides personal protective equipment, such as uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and tools. Full payment for your CDL physical, after your first year with CDOT. Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for your CDL renewal, after your first year with CDOT. CPR and first-aid training. Variety of career training opportunities. 40-hour work weeks, with opportunity for overtime during weather emergencies. 4-day work schedule (10-hour days Monday-Thursday) during the summer months, typically May through September. Opportunities to learn new equipment. Opportunities for advancement.

Your work environment includes exposure to loud noise, fumes, odors, gasses, dusts, etc. that may affect breathing, eyes, and skin. Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment. Required to work with chemicals and cleaning products. Some equipment requires the use of respirators. Work near traffic, sometimes high-speed traffic. Use ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10'–20'. Required to drive CDOT vehicles. Frequently respond to emergencies outside regular work hours and may work overtime including weekends and holidays. Must be willing and be physically able to work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather conditions, and at varying elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods of time.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Must have at least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience.

• Has a strong commitment to working safely
• Has a desire to learn
• Wants to work outdoors
• Likes physically demanding work
• Takes pride in a job well done
• Adapts efficiently to changing conditions and priorities
• Works effectively in a team environment and looks out for team members
• Communicates effectively, especially in safety-critical situations
• Has a strong commitment to providing good customer service
• Likes to solve problems and figure out better ways to do things
• Has experience operating equipment, such as single and tandem axle dump trucks, front end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, etc.
• Has experience using hand tools
• Has basic computer skills and can learn new software/equipment
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position

Conditions of employment include:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License Class A or B with no restriction on air brakes that allows operation within Colorado.
• If you have a non-Colorado Commercial Driver's License, you must be eligible to drive in Colorado with your CDL at time of hire. If you currently live outside of Colorado and relocate to reside in Colorado, you must transfer your CDL to Colorado within 30 days of relocation.
• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test (i.e., drug test), and DOT physical through our medical provider.
• On-call work (rotating basis as well as subject to call)
• Shift work
• Essential Services Designation – Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to be able to respond in a timely manner after being notified to report to work. Knowledge of an emergency or hazardous condition may be considered to be notification to report to workstation.
• New employees are required to take two weeks of maintenance training, while veteran CDOT employees are required to take one week of training each year. This training is completed via computer or in our Aurora location.
• May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year as a condition of appointment.
• Must be willing to respond to emergencies outside regular work hours and work overtime including weekends and holidays.
• Must provide the supervisor with a telephone number where you can be reached for the purposes of responding to an emergency.