Rest Area Crew Lead – Highway Maintenance Worker 3

State of Washington • Whatcom County – Bellingham, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Highway Maintenance Crew Leader to lead crews maintaining and repairing Area 1 safety rest areas. The role helps keep facilities safe, clean, and operational for the traveling public while supporting the safe and reliable movement of people and commerce. Through hands-on leadership, the position promotes efficient maintenance, safe work practices, and an inclusive team environment.

The position may lead a crew responsible for four safety rest areas and/or an area-wide crew performing highway, roadside, infrastructure, and right-of-way maintenance. Work includes planning and coordinating personnel, equipment, and resources; maintaining highways and related features; snow and ice control; emergency and incident response; equipment operation and care; staff training; safety leadership; and maintaining computerized records and reports. The position may coordinate with WSDOT staff, partner agencies, contractors, law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, and the traveling public, and may act in the absence of the Highway Maintenance Supervisor.

Work takes place outdoors in all weather, during day and night, and may involve high-traffic areas, uneven terrain, heights, confined spaces, hot asphalt, and hazardous materials. The schedule is typically four 10-hour shifts, with possible overtime, weekends, holidays, and emergency callouts requiring a 60-minute response. Local travel is required, with occasional regional or statewide travel. The position is not eligible for remote work.

Requirements

• Experience, knowledge, and skills performing highway maintenance and operations on state highways, including roadway, drainage, vegetation, sign, and right-of-way maintenance in active traffic environments.
• Ability to establish, implement, and lead traffic control operations in accordance with MUTCD and departmental standards.
• Experience and ability operating highway maintenance equipment and commercial vehicles.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work in all weather conditions and safely transport up to 50 pounds.
• Effective communication with crews, supervisors, internal partners, external agencies, and the public; professional customer service and coordination of work and emergency responses.
• Ability and experience maintaining accurate records, tracking inventory and maintenance activities, and using computerized systems and mobile devices for reports and documentation.
• Washington State Class A Commercial Driver’s License with N endorsement, no air brake restrictions, and no transmission restrictions.
• Valid Traffic Control/Flagging card or ability to obtain one within six months of hire.
• Pesticide license within one year of hire.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and growth.
• Willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading and/or supervising highway maintenance crews, providing clear direction, coordinating work, and exercising sound judgment in dynamic, high-stress operational and emergency environments.
• Experience operating, transporting, and maintaining TEF highway maintenance equipment, including cranes, and commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or greater.
• Experience serving as a traffic control lead during emergency and planned operations.
• Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License.
• Backflow Prevention Tester Certification.
• Crane Certification.
• Knowledge of the surrounding geographic area, roadway network, traffic patterns, and maintenance features.

Responsibilities

• Lead a crew maintaining and cleaning four safety rest areas and/or an area-wide crew performing highway, roadside, infrastructure, and right-of-way maintenance and repair.
• Prioritize, plan, schedule, and budget highway maintenance work; coordinate personnel, equipment, and resources to complete work safely and efficiently.
• Maintain, inspect, and repair state highways and features, including pavement, drainage, signs, guardrails, fences, impact attenuators, vegetation, landscaped areas, and erosion or slide damage; remove litter, dead animals, and debris.
• Lead and perform snow and ice control, apply anti-icing compounds, haul materials, operate spreader boxes, and maintain stockpile sites to keep roadways open.
• Respond to emergencies, accidents, spills, hazardous conditions, and other incidents; coordinate with staff and external agencies, establish traffic control and road closures under departmental standards and MUTCD, and recommend additional resources as needed.
• Operate designated highway maintenance equipment; conduct daily equipment inspections, minor repairs, tool maintenance, and facility cleaning; arrange repairs, replacement parts, and rental or lease of privately owned equipment.
• Train personnel in equipment operation, safety, highway maintenance, and public relations; lead safety meetings and Pre-Activity Safety Plans; establish safe work zones and ensure compliance with safety and hazardous-material handling requirements.
• Maintain maintenance records, inventories, and computerized reports, including HATS, WZDB, TSMS, MAPS, and SIIRS; document activities, equipment and material use, hazardous conditions, injuries, equipment damage, reimbursement paperwork, and LEMO project estimates.
• Coordinate safe cleanup and removal of unlawful dwellings with appropriate law enforcement and Department of Corrections contacts.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and may act in the absence of the Highway Maintenance Supervisor.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules.
• 12 paid holidays.
• A minimum of 14 paid vacation days per year for full-time employees.
• Tuition assistance options for permanent employees, including tuition reimbursement programs and government discounts at participating colleges.
• Eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Comprehensive benefits package with healthcare options.
• Choice of state retirement programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed