Highway Maintenance Worker

the South Dakota State Government•Salem, SD

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The South Dakota Department of Transportation is hiring a full-time Highway Maintenance Worker in Salem. This position works as a member of a crew to keep state highways safe and drivable for the traveling public. Duties include roadway and roadside maintenance; installing and replacing signs, traffic-control devices, and pavement markings; maintaining guardrails and structures; winter maintenance; maintaining department facilities and properties; preventative maintenance and equipment repair; responding to emergencies and incidents; providing work direction and on-the-job training; setting up temporary traffic control; maintaining documentation; using a variety of equipment and tools; and promoting workplace and public safety. The anticipated schedule is four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, from approximately May 1 to September 30, and eight-hour days, Monday through Friday, from approximately October 1 to April 30. Night and shift work is required, and weekend and holiday hours may be required during emergencies and inclement weather. Work is frequently performed outdoors in all weather conditions and around highway traffic. The employee must be able to respond to inclement weather and highway emergencies and report to the home station within 30 minutes of notification under normal driving conditions. A valid driver's license is required. The employee must obtain a valid CDL within 120 days of hire to retain employment. Operating certain vehicles requires a Class A CDL with tanker endorsement and no restrictions, including no manual-transmission restriction. Drug and alcohol testing applies before employment and on a random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow-up, and return-to-duty basis. Applicants must authorize a complete driving-record check. Weekend or holiday winter-maintenance work may qualify for a $5.00-per-hour premium. The advertised wage is $22.74 to $24.25 per hour, depending on experience. The posting estimates total annual compensation of approximately $67,003 for a typical entry-level worker, including hourly wages and state and federal benefits. A $2,500 hiring incentive is available to eligible applicants; current Department of Transportation employees and employees of other state agencies are not eligible, and former Department of Transportation employees must have at least a one-year break in employment to qualify.

Requirements

Have a valid driver's license.
Obtain a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) within 120 days of hire to retain employment.
Have a Class A CDL with tanker endorsement and no restrictions to operate specified Class A truck-tractor/semi-trailer vehicles with manual transmission; an N endorsement and no transmission restrictions are required for applicable positions.
Authorize the Department of Transportation to obtain a complete driving record; applicants residing outside South Dakota may be asked to provide a motor vehicle record from their state of residence.
Be willing and able to work nights and shifts, including weekends and holidays during emergencies and inclement weather.
Be willing and able to report for inclement weather conditions and highway emergencies and reach the home station within 30 minutes of notification under normal driving conditions.
Meet pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow-up, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing requirements.
Demonstrate a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and a self-motivated and determined mindset.
Use and maintain a variety of hand and power tools.
Drive and operate a manual-transmission vehicle.
Demonstrate ethical conduct, courteous customer service, responsiveness, cooperation, commitment, attention to detail, and accuracy in completing assignments.
Routinely lift 35 pounds, lift up to 60 pounds occasionally without assistance, and lift 90 or more pounds infrequently with assistance.
Routinely reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating heavy equipment or farming or ranching equipment, and/or experience in heavy construction.
Knowledge of methods, materials, and techniques used to perform road maintenance activities.
Knowledge of preventative maintenance methods such as changing oil, rotating tires, and lubricating parts.
Basic computer operation.
Ability to operate, maintain, and repair various equipment and attachments.
A National Career Readiness Certificate may be submitted with the application but is not necessary for consideration.

Responsibilities

Perform roadway and roadside maintenance activities.
Install and replace signs, permanent traffic-control devices, and pavement markings.
Maintain and repair guardrail systems.
Perform structure maintenance and repair activities.
Perform winter maintenance.
Maintain and repair department facilities and properties.
Perform preventative maintenance and equipment repairs.
Respond to emergencies and other incidents.
Provide on-the-job training and work direction.
Provide temporary traffic control through and around work zones and emergency or hazardous sites.
Maintain documentation.
Operate and use a variety of equipment and tools.
Promote a safe work environment and participate in public safety awareness activities.
Respond to inclement weather and highway emergencies and report to the home station within 30 minutes of notification under normal driving conditions.

Benefits

$2,500 hiring incentive for eligible applicants.
Health insurance options, including a zero-cost premium plan and low- and high-deductible plans, with single and family coverage.
Well-being program.
Employee assistance program.
Dental and vision insurance.
Health savings account.
Free basic life insurance policy.
Membership in the South Dakota Retirement System with partial state match; this position is Class A retirement under SDRS.
15 vacation days per year.
14 days of sick leave per year.
12 weeks of paid family leave for birth or adoption of a child, equivalent to 40 hours per week.
15 days of military leave per year.
11 paid holidays.
Longevity pay.
Semimonthly pay periods.
Eligibility for meal per diems.
Paid overtime, if applicable.
$5.00-per-hour winter-maintenance premium when responding to and performing winter maintenance duties during a weekend and/or holiday.