Highway Maintenance Specialist - Durango

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. This announcement is open until the position is filled, and applications will be reviewed as they are received.

About the role

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, consider a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist with CDOT in Durango, CO.

Total annual compensation for this position is $59,594, which includes a $53,934 base pay and a $6,000 housing stipend. Base pay is $2,074.62 biweekly ($53,934–$54,000 annually) across 26 pay periods per year. This location is also eligible for an additional $500/month housing stipend. The hourly rate is $25.93, with an overtime rate of $38.89.

About CDOT

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public while keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• PERA retirement plans, including optional 401K
• Generous paid time off (annual, sick, holiday, and other leave)
• Career growth opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and professional development
• Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling
• Wellness programs, credit union membership, and employee discounts

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. CDOT is committed to creating a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

Responsibilities

No two days are the same in CDOT highway maintenance. Your work varies based on project needs, weather, environment, and road conditions. You will be on-call on a rotating basis and may be called to respond to weather or other emergencies. You will typically work in a team environment.

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment (e.g., tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower)
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways (e.g., rock, mud, deceased animals)
• Clearing debris from culverts, tunnels, etc.
• Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Digging ditches
• Installing and repairing guardrails, highway markers, 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, positively impacting quality of life for residents and visitors while supporting the economy.

What CDOT Provides

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

Work Environment

• Exposure to loud noise, fumes, odors, gases, dust, and chemicals
• Required use of personal protective equipment
• Work near traffic, sometimes high-speed
• Use of ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10’–20’
• Driving CDOT vehicles
• Frequent response to emergencies outside regular work hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays
• Work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather conditions, and elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods

Requirements

• At least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience
• Possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A or B with no air brake restrictions, allowing operation within Colorado
• Pass a pre-employment screening (e.g., criminal records check, driving records check)
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test and DOT physical
• On-call work (rotating basis and subject to call for emergencies)
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay to provide essential services
• May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to respond timely to emergencies
• Complete two weeks of maintenance training for new employees (one week annually for veteran CDOT employees)
• May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year
• Willingness to respond to emergencies outside regular work hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays
• Provide a telephone number where you can be reached for emergencies

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commitment to working safely
• Desire to learn and work outdoors
• Enjoys physically demanding work
• Takes pride in a job well done
• Adapts efficiently to changing conditions and priorities
• Works effectively in a team environment
• Communicates effectively, especially in safety-critical situations
• Strong commitment to customer service
• Problem-solving skills and interest in improving processes
• Experience operating equipment (e.g., dump trucks, loaders, bulldozers, backhoes)
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software/equipment
• Years of state service experience related to the duties of this position