Highway Maintenance Specialist (Seasonal) (Multiple Positions)

Initial posting: August 19, 2026 • Closes: September 3, 2026 • Oregon Department of Transportation, Delivery & Operations Division, Region 2 – Santiam Junction Maintenance Crew

About the role

Join our hardworking Santiam Junction maintenance crew in this seasonal role to 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 six months from the date of hire. Seasonal positions are regular-status, benefits-eligible roles that occur, terminate, and recur periodically or regularly.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of heavy and light equipment and tools to maintain and repair road 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, 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.
• Work in conditions involving noise, extreme heights, all weather, heavy equipment, pesticides, and hazardous waste materials.
• Move around rough terrain, bend and stoop for extended periods, and lift up to 60 pounds.

Benefits

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible work schedules, and paid leave.
• Comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range, determined through an equal pay assessment.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity.

If you are already a participating PERS member or become PERS-eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

Pay

$4,312 – $5,988 per month (non-PERS).

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.

Special Qualifications

• This position requires living in state housing at the Santiam Junction. If no on-site housing is available, a maximum 45-minute response time to 13000 Highway 20, Sisters, OR 97759 is required for emergency call-outs.
• Sheltered RV pad space is available.
• 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 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. Pre-employment driving records checks, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse registration and full query check, will be conducted for final candidate(s) and annually for current employees.

As of September 29, 2025, individuals who hold a lawful employment authorization document (EAD) are no longer eligible to obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or commercial driver’s license (CDL) due to federal policy changes. More information.

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following attributes may strengthen your application:

• Experience in road maintenance, construction, or a maintenance training program (e.g., ODOT High School to Highway program, ODOT/ODF Fire and Ice program, Job Corps).
• A current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL-A).
• Winter maintenance experience, such as sanding, deicing, or using snowplows or snow blowers.
• Experience using hand tools and operating light and heavy equipment (e.g., tractors, excavators, loaders, dump trucks).
• Experience working in hazardous conditions.