Highway Maintenance Specialist - Grand Junction/ I-70 Corridor (CDL Required)

Department Information: Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

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 turning your passions into a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist. This position will spend up to six months out of the year working in the Joint Operation Area along the I-70 mountain corridor from October through April, depending on weather conditions. While working on the corridor, the rotating two-week work schedule will consist of working 12-hour shifts for 6 days, 4-hour shifts for two days (for travel to/from the corridor), and 6 days off. CDOT will arrange for employees to stay in a hotel and receive per diem during this period. The remainder of the year, the position will be located in Grand Junction, CO.

Pay

Total annual compensation for this position is $53,940 ($53,940 base pay). Base pay is $2,074.62 biweekly ($53,940 - $54,000 annually) across 26 biweekly pay periods. The annualized hourly rate is $25.93/hour, with an overtime rate of $38.90/hour.

Benefits

The State of Colorado offers:

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

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Responsibilities

• 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)
• Removing debris from culverts and tunnels
• 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
• Being on-call on a rotating basis and responding to weather and other emergencies

Impact

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado’s roadways open and safe, positively impacting the quality of life for Coloradans and visitors while supporting economic growth.

What CDOT Provides

• Personal protective equipment (e.g., uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, 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 through September)
• Opportunities to learn new equipment
• Opportunities for advancement

Work Environment

• Exposure to loud noise, fumes, odors, gasses, and dusts that may affect breathing, eyes, and skin
• Required use of appropriate personal protective equipment
• Work with chemicals and cleaning products, some requiring respirators
• 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
• Willingness and ability to 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
• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License Class A or B with no restriction on air brakes for operation within Colorado
• If relocating to Colorado, must transfer CDL to Colorado within 30 days of relocation
• Must pass pre-employment screening (e.g., criminal records, driving records, educational records checks)
• 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 for emergencies
• May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to respond timely
• New employees must complete two weeks of maintenance training; veteran employees complete one week annually (via computer or in Aurora, CO)
• May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year
• Must provide a telephone number for emergency contact

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
• Likes solving problems and improving processes
• Experience operating equipment (e.g., dump trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes)
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software/equipment