Highway Maintenance Specialist - Fort Collins

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is hiring a Highway Maintenance Specialist in Fort Collins, Colorado. This hands-on role helps keep Colorado roadways open and safe. Daily work varies with project needs, weather, the environment, and road conditions. The position typically works as part of a maintenance team and is on-call on a rotating basis, including responding to weather and other emergencies. The job is designated as an essential service and may require living within 30 minutes’ driving time in normal weather conditions to respond promptly. The base pay is $2,074.62 biweekly ($53,940 annually), equivalent to $25.93 per hour, with an overtime rate of $38.90 per hour. The usual schedule is 40 hours per week; during summer months, typically May through September, the schedule is four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday. Overtime may occur during weather emergencies and may include weekends and holidays. CDOT provides personal protective equipment and tools, CPR and first-aid training, opportunities for career training and advancement, and opportunities to learn new equipment. After the first year with CDOT, the agency pays for the employee’s CDL physical and partially reimburses CDL renewal costs, up to 50%. New employees complete two weeks of maintenance training; veteran CDOT employees complete one week of training each year. The position requires outdoor, physically demanding work in varying weather and temperatures, at elevations up to 12,000 feet, and around traffic, noise, fumes, dust, chemicals, and cleaning products. It may involve respirator use, driving CDOT vehicles, and using ladders and scissor lifts at heights of approximately 10–20 feet.

Requirements

At least two years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience.
Possess and maintain a valid Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License with no air-brake restriction that allows operation in Colorado. Applicants with a non-Colorado CDL must be eligible to drive in Colorado with that license at hire; those relocating to Colorado must transfer their CDL within 30 days of relocation.
Pass pre-employment screening, which may include social security number trace, criminal and public court records, educational records, and driving records checks.
May be required to pass a controlled substance test and a DOT physical through CDOT’s medical provider.
Be available for rotating on-call work and shift work, respond to emergencies outside regular hours, and work overtime, including weekends and holidays.
Report without delay or interruption when required to provide essential or emergency services; may be required to live within 30 minutes’ driving time in normal weather conditions.
Complete required maintenance training: two weeks for new employees and one week each year for veteran CDOT employees.
May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year as a condition of appointment.
Provide the supervisor with a telephone number where the employee can be reached for emergency response.
Be willing and physically able to work in extreme hot and cold temperatures, variable weather, and at elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment and work with chemicals and cleaning products; some equipment requires respirator use.

Nice To Haves

Strong commitment to working safely.
Desire to learn.
Interest in outdoor and physically demanding work.
Pride in doing a job well.
Ability to adapt efficiently to changing conditions and priorities.
Ability to work effectively in a team and look out for team members.
Effective communication, especially in safety-critical situations.
Strong commitment to good customer service.
Ability to solve problems and find better ways to do things.
Experience operating equipment such as single- and tandem-axle dump trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, and backhoes.
Experience using hand tools.
Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software and equipment.
State service experience related to the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

Plow snow.
Operate heavy equipment, including tandem dump trucks, loaders, and tractor mowers.
Mow grass and weeds.
Remove roadway debris, including rocks, mud, and deceased animals.
Remove debris from culverts, tunnels, and similar structures.
Shovel gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt.
Dig ditches.
Install and repair guardrails, highway markers and signs, warning signs, and lighting.
Fill potholes and roadway cracks.
Set out signs and cones for traffic control.
Stop or slow traffic in emergency situations.
Install pavement markings and striping.
Maintain equipment and perform minor repairs.
Follow safety guidance and wear appropriate safety equipment.
Respond to weather and other emergencies, including outside regular work hours, as required.

Benefits

Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Life and disability insurance.
Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
PERA retirement and optional PERA plans such as 401(k).
Paid annual, sick, and holiday leave, and other leave.
Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
Colorado Employee Assistance Program counseling, wellness resources, credit union membership, and employee discount program.
Personal protective equipment, including uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and tools.
Full payment for the CDL physical after the first year with CDOT.
Partial reimbursement of up to 50% for CDL renewal after the first year with CDOT.
CPR and first-aid training.
Career training opportunities and opportunities for advancement.
Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.