Highway Maintenance Specialist - Kim (CDL Training w/ Permit)

Department Information: Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. This position requires a valid CDL Permit and obtaining a CDL Class A or B within 6 months of hire as a condition of continued employment. A DOT drug test is required as a pre-employment step.

About the role

As a Highway Maintenance Specialist at CDOT, you will engage in hands-on repair and improvements to ensure safety and connectivity on Colorado’s roadways. This role offers training to obtain your CDL and involves dynamic daily activities influenced by project needs, weather, and road conditions. You will work in a team environment and be on-call for emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment (e.g., tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower)
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways, culverts, and tunnels (e.g., rock, mud, deceased animals)
• 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

Impact

Your work will keep Colorado’s roadways open, safe, and functional, positively impacting the quality of life for residents and visitors while supporting economic growth.

What CDOT Provides

• Personal protective equipment (uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and 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 and advance in your career

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, including high-speed traffic
• Use of ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10’–20’
• Driving CDOT vehicles
• Frequent response to emergencies outside regular work hours, including 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 extended periods

Requirements

• At least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A or B with no restriction on air brakes within 6 months of hire
• Must pass a pre-employment screening, including criminal records, driving records, and educational records checks
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test (drug test) and DOT physical
• On-call work on a rotating basis and subject to call for emergencies
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay to provide essential services ensuring health, safety, and welfare
• May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to respond timely to emergencies
• New employees must complete two weeks of maintenance training; veteran CDOT employees complete one week annually (training may be via computer or in Aurora)
• May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year
• Must provide a telephone number for emergency contact and be willing to work overtime, including weekends and holidays

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 and looks out for team members
• Communicates effectively, especially in safety-critical situations
• Strong commitment to providing good customer service
• Likes solving problems and improving processes
• Experience operating equipment (e.g., single and tandem axle dump trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes)
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software/equipment
• State service experience related to the duties of this position

Benefits

CDOT offers competitive benefits, including:

• 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)
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development
• Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling
• Wellness programs, credit union membership, and employee discount program
• Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Pay

• Total annual compensation: $53,940 ($53,940 base pay)
• Biweekly pay: $2,074.62 (26 pay periods per year)
• Hourly rate: $25.93/hour
• Overtime rate: $38.90/hour

Schedule

• 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)