Winter Operations Program Manager

Applications will be considered from residents of Colorado. New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.

About CDOT

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public, while also keeping them safe.

The State of Colorado offers competitive medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. The state also offers PERA retirement, great optional PERA plans such as 401K, a generous paid time off package of annual, sick, holiday and other leave, strong career growth, tuition reimbursement and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling, wellness, credit union membership and employee discount program.

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for a period of up to 6 months.

About the Work Unit

The Division of Maintenance and Operations oversees maintenance operations across the state for 1,800 employees. The Division provides leadership and direction by establishing and enforcing standardized best practices for the training, execution, and sustainment of CDOT’s highway maintenance operations. It provides policy and direction for the day-to-day leadership of highway maintenance forces, and it coordinates with Regional Transportation Directors, Superintendents, Traffic Engineers, and Division Directors to implement visionary plans and best practices. The Division includes a Winter Operations Unit that oversees CDOT’s standards for winter operations, avalanche control, and training.

About the Role

The Winter Operations Program Manager reports to the Division of Maintenance and Operations Deputy Director of Operations and serves as the principal strategist for winter and weather operations, avalanche control and forecasting statewide; serving as the program manager and steward of resources for these operations. This position serves as the statewide program owner for winter operations, weather forecasting and response, and avalanche mitigation. The manager regularly assists state agencies—such as the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Division of Aeronautics, Colorado State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources—and works with federal partners like the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army.

This position will supervise employees in the Winter Operations Unit, manage funds, including monitoring accomplishments, comparing costs of snow and ice versus other programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead CDOT in exploring new ideas in the winter maintenance industry and integrate them into agency processes to benefit internal and external stakeholders;
• Manage the Road Weather Technology project which includes both hardware and software specific to the maintenance decision systems contract (~$600,000) on behalf of and in support of the maintenance sections, and the Traffic Operations Center (TOC);
• Improve data and information sharing for sound decision making by the maintenance sections;
• Oversee implementation of material readiness and cost benefit of materials used;
• Partner with the National Weather Service for strategic development of forecasting models and platforms;
• Ensure CDOT is represented on a National level for Clear Roads, Aurora Pooled Fund and TRB Road Weather Committee;
• Provide strategic direction for Winter Operations for the 8 maintenance sections as to the format and content of winter operations plans;
• Drive the strategic transition from legacy explosive methods (e.g., howitzers) to modern Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) and non-explosive mitigation strategies;
• Manage the adoption of cutting-edge detection technologies (e.g., infrasound, radar) to ensure high-consequence corridors remain resilient against natural hazards;
• Oversee enterprise-wide risk management for avalanche hazards by aligning field operations with predictive data from Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and internal forecasting models;
• Translate complex meteorological data into actionable maintenance strategies;
• Oversee the integration of advanced road weather technology (e.g., MDSS, PikAlert, WeatherBell, friction sensing) into daily maintenance operations;
• Champion the ‘Forecasting-to-Operations’ pipeline, ensuring that 72/48/24-hour briefings are utilized by Regional Superintendents to drive proactive, rather than reactive, snow and ice mitigation response;
• Provide outreach and weather education within the organization and to external stakeholders;
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders during all-weather storm events to provide tactical weather information geared towards operational decision-making;
• Administer the performance program for the employees to include regular performance feedback; coach, mentor, and train employees; document and evaluate performance and set an appropriate example. Follow up on corrective action and performance improvement plans when necessary;
• Monitor work for quality control and efficiency;
• Communicate effectively; resolve personnel problems using insight and experience; address personnel issues and mediate conflicts;
• Other duties as required.

Work Environment

• Primarily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday
• Approximately 30% spent in the field, 70% spent in the office
• Travel required during work hours throughout Colorado
• Overnight travel is required
• Required to operate CDOT vehicles
• Required to be in the field during winter storm events
• A current, valid driver's license is required for this position as it requires operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.
• Exposure to hazardous (explosive) materials, inclement weather, high elevations

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Experience Only

• Four (4) years of professional experience in Meteorology, Management or a closely related field.
• Six (6) years of experience in weather forecasting, avalanche forecasting/mitigation, and/or forecasting for winter road operations.

OR Education And Experience

• A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least ten (10) years
• Relevant education from an accredited college or university in Meteorology, Management or a closely related field.
• Experience in weather forecasting, avalanche forecasting/mitigation, and/or forecasting for winter road operations.

Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. “See Resume” statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Conditions of Employment: Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. A current valid driver's license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

The exceptional applicant will be experienced in Meteorology/Program Management and will possess proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Excellent analytic and strategic thinking skills;
• Experience and skill in transportation planning, maintenance or operations is preferred;
• Familiarity with transportation rules and regulations;
• Familiarity with Program, Project, and Budget Management;
• Ability to communicate and coordinate with civilian, government, and military constituents;
• Experience in avalanche mitigation using multiple methods;
• Field experience in artillery usage;
• Leadership and vision across multidisciplinary groups;
• Ability to lead diverse groups to determine policy decisions;
• Skilled in data analysis, including revenue forecasts, program allocations, and performance metrics;
• Ability to effectively interpret and address requests from executive leadership and political entities;
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing conditions and assignments;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems innovatively;
• Ability to partner with public and private organizations, special interest groups, and elected and appointed officials in situations that may be politically sensitive;
• Ability to work with the general public, professionals, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments;
• Ability to negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and build consensus through give and take;
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills;
• Experience demonstrating effective supervision of professional and support staff;
• Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability;
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Passion for safety;
• Ability to work effectively in both independent and team situations;
• Fluency in Gmail and SAP and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.