Materials Lab Specialist

State of Montana•Helena, MT

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is recruiting for an Inspection, Training and Accreditation Specialist. This position serves as a Materials Laboratory Specialist within the Materials Bureau’s Inspection Operations Section. This position is responsible for statewide laboratory inspections and laboratory compliance oversite. This position is responsible for maintaining MDT’s central laboratory federally mandated AASHTO-Resource (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) and CCRL (Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory) accreditation. This includes managing the central laboratory QMS (quality management system). This position manages the statewide Independent Assurance Program. This position manages Materials e-learning/testing system. This position assists in delivery of the WAQTC (Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction) training and certification program. This includes providing WAQTC training courses, remotely and in person, and administering and proctoring written and performance evaluation of internal and external applicants. This position assists in developing testing methods, standards, procedures, and technologies in conjunction with AASHTO, WAQTC, and other regional and national authorities. The position also performs a variety of other duties as assigned. The Materials Laboratory Specialist reports to the Inspection Operations Supervisor. For a full job description, please contact Morgan Stibi at [email protected]. Benefits of working for MDT and the State of Montana include: Culture of public service and a commitment to work/life balance Potential hybrid remote work arrangement available Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Access to Montana Health Centers, low-cost clinics for state employees and their families State Retirement plan and additional savings opportunities (deferred compensation) Employees in this position receive overtime compensation or compensatory time for all time in a pay status over 40 hours in a workweek Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Benefits apply on the first day of employment Relocation assistance may be offered to the successful candidate at the time of offer For information on the Montana Department of Transportation’s mission, vision, and values, please visit our website: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/about.aspx#values

Requirements

The required knowledge and skills are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree in highway construction related field, engineering, physical science, or computer science, or a related field.
This position requires a minimum of 2 years of experience in materials testing or laboratory oversite.
The successful candidate must possess all required WAQTC certifications within 6 months of hiring.
The successful candidate must demonstrate proficiency in training through 80%25 positive feedback received as part of WAQTC program delivery within the first year.
Any combination of additional related work experience and education equivalent to the minimum qualifications.
Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of materials inspection, sampling, testing, and analysis techniques, properties and characteristics of a variety of materials, new and established sampling and laboratory testing protocols and procedures, state, federal, AASHTO, FHWA, ASTM, and WAQTC testing standards, methods and techniques of highway construction.
Extensive knowledge of various site-specific characteristics and their potential effects on construction projects (e.g., soils, temperature, weather conditions, gradations, segregation, stability, flows, additives, absorption rates, etc.), and safety practices and procedures.
Skill in operating a variety of sampling and testing equipment (e.g., gyratory compaction device, nuclear gauges), operations of monitoring devices (e.g., gauges, hydrated lime feed, bin splits, specific gravity, segregation, etc.).
The ability to facilitate trainings that communicate technical information to varied audiences; developing and delivering technical training programs related to materials sampling and testing and laboratory protocols.
The ability to maintain and deploy e-learning curricula in support of the overall materials training program. Be able to effectively provide training both in-person and remotely to external candidates.

Responsibilities

Statewide laboratory inspections and laboratory compliance oversite.
Maintaining MDT’s central laboratory federally mandated AASHTO-Resource (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) and CCRL (Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory) accreditation.
Managing the central laboratory QMS (quality management system).
Managing the statewide Independent Assurance Program.
Managing Materials e-learning/testing system.
Assisting in delivery of the WAQTC (Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction) training and certification program.
Providing WAQTC training courses, remotely and in person, and administering and proctoring written and performance evaluation of internal and external applicants.
Assisting in developing testing methods, standards, procedures, and technologies in conjunction with AASHTO, WAQTC, and other regional and national authorities.
Performing a variety of other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Culture of public service and a commitment to work/life balance
Potential hybrid remote work arrangement available
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Access to Montana Health Centers, low-cost clinics for state employees and their families
State Retirement plan and additional savings opportunities (deferred compensation)
Employees in this position receive overtime compensation or compensatory time for all time in a pay status over 40 hours in a workweek
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Benefits apply on the first day of employment
Relocation assistance may be offered to the successful candidate at the time of offer