Highway Maintenance Worker

About the role

Highway Maintenance Workers are responsible for ensuring the state highways are kept safe and drivable for the traveling public at all times. This position involves working as a member of a crew.

Responsibilities

• Performing roadway maintenance activities
• Performing roadside activities
• Installing and replacing signs, permanent traffic control devices, and pavement markings
• Maintaining and repairing guardrail systems
• Performing structure maintenance and repair activities
• Performing winter maintenance
• Maintaining and repairing department facilities and properties
• Performing preventative maintenance and equipment repair
• Responding to emergencies and other incidents
• Providing on-the-job training and work direction
• Providing temporary traffic control through and around work zones and emergency/hazardous sites
• Maintaining documentation
• Operating and using a variety of equipment and tools
• Promoting a safe work environment and participating in public safety awareness activities

Schedule

From approximately May 1 to September 30, the anticipated work schedule is 10-hour days, 4 days per week, from Monday through Thursday each week. From approximately October 1 - April 30, the anticipated work schedule is eight-hour days, Monday through Friday. Night and shift work will be required, including working weekend hours and holidays during emergencies and inclement weather. Work assignments are frequently performed outside in all weather conditions and around highway traffic.

Pay

$22.74 - $24.25 per hour, depending on experience. Incumbent is eligible to receive $5.00 per hour winter maintenance premium pay when responding to and performing winter maintenance duties during a weekend and/or holiday. The total compensation of Hourly Wage + State/Federal Benefits for a typical year for entry level Highway Maintenance Worker is approximately $67,003.00 annually.

Benefits

• Health insurance (zero-cost premium plan, low and high-deductible plans, and single and family plans)
• Well-being program
• Employee assistance program
• Dental, Vision and Health Savings Account
• Free basic life insurance policy
• Membership in the South Dakota Retirement System with partial state match
• Paid leave (15 vacation days per year)
• Sick leave (14 days per year)
• Paid family leave (12 weeks for birth and adoption of child, equivalent to 40 hours per week)
• Military leave (15 days per year)
• 11 paid holidays
• Longevity pay
• Semimonthly pay periods
• Eligibility for meal per diems
• Paid overtime (if applicable)

Requirements

• Must have a valid driver license and must have or obtain a valid commercial driver license (CDL) within 120 days of hire date to retain employment
• Must have a Class A CDL with the tanker endorsement and no restrictions in order to operate any Class A vehicle that is a truck-tractor/semi-trailer, with manual transmission
• CDL must include an N endorsement (tank vehicle) for specific positions and must have no transmission restrictions
• Will be subject to pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow up, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing
• Must authorize the Department of Transportation to obtain a complete driving record (applicants living outside South Dakota may be asked to provide a motor vehicle record from their state of residence)
• Must be willing and able to report to work for inclement weather conditions and other highway emergencies
• Must be able to report to their home station within 30 minutes, under normal driving conditions, from the time of notification

Qualifications

Ideal candidate will have: Experience in the operation of heavy equipment/farming or ranching equipment and/or experience in heavy construction is preferred.

Knowledge of (desirable but not required):

• Methods, materials, and techniques used to perform road maintenance activities
• Preventive maintenance methods such as changing oil, rotating tires, and lubricating parts
• Basic math to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
• Basic computer operation

Skill to:

• Use and maintain a variety of hand and power tools
• Operate, maintain, and repair various equipment and attachments (desirable but not required)
• Drive and operate a manual transmission

Ability to:

• Display high standards of ethical conduct
• Treat customers courteously and be responsive to their needs
• Work cooperatively with others and promote a friendly work climate in order to achieve shared goals
• Display a high level of effort and commitment towards completing assignments and goals
• Attend to all details of assignments and complete work properly, accurately, and thoroughly
• Lift 35 pounds routinely, up to 60 pounds occasionally (without assistance), and 90 or more pounds infrequently (with assistance)
• Routinely reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

What you bring to the SDDOT: positive attitude; willingness to learn; self-motivated and determined mindset.

Hiring Incentive

$2,500 Hiring Incentive available. Current Department of Transportation Employees and those from other state agencies do not qualify. Former Department of Transportation employees must have a minimum of 1-year break in employment to be eligible.