Highway Maintenance Specialist (Seasonal)

Transportation Maintenance Specialist 2 – Highway Maintenance Specialist with the Oregon Department of Transportation, Delivery & Operations Division – Region 5 in Richland.

About the role

Join our hardworking Richland maintenance crew as a Winter seasonal employee and help keep Oregon’s roads and travelers safe. As part of our team, you will operate equipment necessary to maintain and repair roadways, highways, bridges, and structures. You will also assist with emergency cleanup and traffic control after storms, spills, incidents, and more.

This is a seasonal position expected to last approximately 5 months from date of hire (November 2026). Seasonal positions are regular status, benefits-eligible positions that occur, terminate, and recur periodically or regularly.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of heavy and light equipment and tools to maintain and repair various surfaces.
• Assist with weather-related emergencies and operate snowplows, deicer trucks, and other equipment to clear snow from roadways.
• Perform minor surface repairs including pothole and concrete patching and small inlay work.
• Clear debris, clear brush, mow grass, and spray roadside vegetation.
• Maintain and repair fences, guardrails, concrete barriers, and milepost markers.
• Maintain drainage systems, dig and clean ditches, and repair culverts, inlets, and erosion.
• Maintain wooded areas, including replanting, pruning, thinning, or trimming trees, shrubs, and groundcover.
• Service and repair tools and motorized equipment.
• Perform minor maintenance including janitorial work, landscaping, painting, and light carpentry.
• Respond to emergency call-outs with a maximum 30-minute response time to 115 1st St., Richland, OR, 97870.

Exposure to noise, extreme heights, all weather conditions, heavy equipment, pesticides, and hazardous waste materials is expected. Must be able to move around rough terrain, bend and stoop for extended periods, and may need to lift up to 60 pounds. May need to be available after hours, on weekends, and holidays for emergency, on-call, and weather-related purposes.

Requirements

• One year of experience performing basic highway maintenance work; OR
• Two years of general landscaping, maintenance, mechanical, farming, logging, and/or construction experience or training.
• Must possess a current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL-A) with a tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions, no 5th wheel restrictions, and no manual transmission restrictions, OR have the ability to acquire a class A commercial learner permit within 60 days of hire and a CDL-A with a tanker endorsement and restrictions removed within six months of hire (ODOT will cover training costs).
• A valid driver license and an acceptable driving record are required for this position. Pre-employment driving records checks, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse registration and full query check, will be conducted.

Qualifications

We’d like to see the following attributes in your application materials:

• Experience in road maintenance, construction, or in a maintenance training program such as ODOT High School to Highway program, ODOT/ODF Fire and Ice program, Job Corps, etc.
• A current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL-A) is preferred.
• Winter maintenance experience such as sanding, deicing, or using snow blowers or snowplows.
• Experience using hand tools and operating light and heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators, loaders, or dump trucks.
• Experience completing basic mechanical repairs on light and heavy vehicles or equipment.
• Experience working on a team and safe work practices while operating equipment.
• Experience with changing road conditions, weather challenges, and emergency situations.

Benefits

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and paid leave.
• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range, determined through an equal pay assessment.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity.
• Representation by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Pay

Monthly salary range: $4,312 – $5,988 (non-PERS). If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

Initial posting date: 08/17/2026. Application deadline: 08/31/2026.