Highway Maintenance Specialist (Seasonal) (On-site Housing Available)

About the role

Join the Lake of the Woods maintenance crew to help keep Oregon’s roads and travelers safe by operating equipment to maintain and repair roadways, highways, bridges, and structures, and assisting with emergency cleanup and traffic control after storms, spills, and incidents.

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 which includes 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.
• 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 on 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.

Qualifications

• Current, valid commercial driver’s license A (CDL‑A) with no air brake, 5th wheel, or manual transmission restrictions.
• Ability to obtain a tanker endorsement within 30 days of hire.
• Valid U.S. driver license and an acceptable driving record.
• Maximum 45‑minute response time to emergency call‑outs at 37851 Hwy 140, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Option to live in state housing at the Lake of the Woods Maintenance Station, if available.

Skills

• Experience in road maintenance, construction, or maintenance training programs (e.g., ODOT High School to Highway, ODOT/ODF Fire and Ice, Job Corps).
• Experience using hand tools and operating light and heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators, loaders, or dump trucks.
• Experience working on a team.
• Experience working with minimal supervision.
• Experience making decisions during stressful situations.

Benefits

• Work/life balance.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Paid leave.
• On‑site housing option (Lake of the Woods Maintenance Station).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity.
• Eligible for benefits as a regular status seasonal position.

Pay

Salary range: $4,312 – $5,988 per month (non‑PERS). If you are or become a PERS member, the range increases by 6.95%.

Schedule

Seasonal position expected to last approximately 6 months from date of hire. May require after‑hours, weekend, holiday, and on‑call availability for emergency, weather‑related, or snow‑plow duties.