Highway Maintenance Apprentice - Las Animas

This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

• This position is covered by the Partnership Agreement between the State of Colorado and Colorado Workers for Innovative and New Solutions (COWins). 

• New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year. 

• Interested in a career in Highway Maintenance? The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is pleased to announce our Highway Maintenance Apprenticeship Program which offers two years of paid mentorship, classroom and hands-on training to prepare you for a meaningful career in public safety.  Full benefits are provided. 
  
  Along the way, apprentices will earn their Commercial Driver’s License and the requirements to qualify for a Highway Maintenance Specialist at one of our many locations across Colorado. Candidates will be eligible for a pay increase upon successful completion of one year of the apprenticeship and CDL licensure.  At the end of two years, candidates are encouraged to apply for our fully-operational Highway Maintenance Specialist positions with another increase in pay upon promotion and opening up additional opportunities for advancement in both our leadership and technical tracks as their career progresses.
  
  An Information Session was held about this program for the general public.  If interested, you're welcome to view the video recording for more details about workforce center support services, the apprentice program itself, and the maintenance career track at CDOT. 
  
  This is a term limited position and employment cannot be guaranteed beyond two years, although at the end of the two year term, apprentices are encouraged to apply for permanent employment as a fully operational Highway Maintenance Specialist.  If selected as an apprentice, you will be required to sign a waiver of retention rights.
  
  

  About CDOT 

  Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans’ lives? Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you will have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Please visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future! Also, check out our excellent benefits package!

  
  

  CDOT for All

  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. 

  
  

  Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ 

  
  

  The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill one or more positions. 

  
  

  #LI-POST

   

  Description of Job

   

  The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is nationally recognized and registered with the United States Department of Labor. This two year program will provide in-depth training (both on the job and classroom) to prepare participants for the fully operational Highway Maintenance Specialist position. Apprentices will be assigned, one on one, to a seasoned maintenance professional as a mentor for the duration of the program. Upon successful completion, participants will receive national certification.  For more information on apprenticeships in Colorado, go to https://apprenticeship.colorado.gov/apprenticeship-for-career-seekers.

   

  What You Will Do

  No two days are exactly the same in CDOT highway maintenance. Your daily work activities change based on project needs and also vary based on weather, environment, and road conditions. You will be on-call on a rotating basis as well as subject to call to respond to weather and other emergencies. You will typically work closely with your mentor in a team environment, as each maintenance patrol location has at least one lead highway maintenance specialist and multiple highway maintenance specialists. Apprentices will learn these skills:

  • Plowing snow

  • Operating heavy equipment, such as tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower, etc.

  • Mowing grass and weeds

  • Removing debris from roadways, including rock, mud, and deceased animals

  • Removing debris from culverts, tunnels, etc.

  • Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt

  • Digging ditches

  • Installing and repairing guardrail, highway markers and signs, warning signs, and lighting

  • Filling potholes and roadway cracks

  • Setting out signs and cones for traffic control

  • Removing and covering graffiti

  • Installing pavement markings/striping

  • Stopping or slowing traffic in emergency situations

  • Maintaining equipment and performing minor repairs

  • Following safety guidance and wearing proper safety equipment

   

  What Impact You Will Have

  Your work is critical to keeping Colorado’s roadways open and safe. Your work also positively impacts quality of life for all Coloradans and visitors and helps our economy to thrive.

  
  

  What CDOT Provides 

  • Full benefits, PERA retirement and paid leave

  • Personal protective equipment, such as uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and tools

  • No cost CDL Entry Level Driver Training and testing using CDOT equipment and tester

  • CDOT pays for the required CDL medical certificate evaluation

  • Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for your CDL renewal, after your first year with CDOT

  • CPR and first-aid training

  • Variety of career training opportunities

  • Guaranteed 40-hour work weeks, with opportunity for overtime during weather emergencies

  • 4-day work schedule (10-hour days Monday-Thursday) during the summer months, typically May through September

  • Opportunities to learn new equipment 

  • Opportunities for advancement in a stable, long-term career

   

  Your Work Environment

  • Exposure to loud noise

  • Exposure to fumes, odors, gasses, dusts, etc. that may affect breathing, eyes, and skin

  • Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment

  • Required to work with chemicals and cleaning products

  • Some equipment requires the use of respirators

  • Work near traffic, sometimes high-speed traffic

  • Use ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10’–20’

  • Required to drive CDOT vehicles

  • Frequently respond to emergencies outside regular work hours and may work overtime including weekends and holidays

  • Must be willing and be physically able to work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather conditions, and at varying elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods of time

   

  Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

   

  Minimum Qualifications

  No previous education or experience is required.

   

  Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section

  • Highest work/personal ethics and integrity

  • Has a strong commitment to working safely 

  • Has a desire to learn

  • Wants to work outdoors

  • Likes physically demanding work

  • Takes pride in a job well done

  • Adapts efficiently to changing conditions and priorities

  • Works effectively in a team environment and looks out for team members

  • Communicates effectively, especially in safety-critical situations

  • Has a strong commitment to providing good customer service

  • Likes to solve problems and figure out better ways to do things

  • Has experience operating equipment, such as single and tandem axle dump trucks, front end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, etc.

  • Has experience using hand tools

  • Has basic computer skills and can learn new software/equipment

  • Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position

   

  Conditions of Employment

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
    

  • Must possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license that allows operation within Colorado.
    

  • Required to obtain a Commercial Driving Permit followed by a Commercial Driver’s License Class A or B, with no restriction on air brakes, that allows operation within Colorado within twelve (12) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.  As part of obtaining your CDL permit, you must pass the DOT drug test and DOT physical.

  • 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. More information in the supplemental information section.

  • May be required to pass a controlled substance test (i.e., drug test), and DOT physical through our medical provider.

  • On-call work (rotating basis as well as subject to call)

  • Shift work

  • Essential Services Designation – Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.

  • May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to be able to respond in a timely manner after being notified to report to work.  Knowledge of an emergency or hazardous condition may be considered to be notification to report to workstation.

  • New employees are required to take two weeks of maintenance training, while veteran CDOT employees are required to take one week of training each year. This training is completed via computer or in our Aurora location. 

  • May be required to obtain a Hazardous Materials endorsement within 6 months to 1 year as a condition of appointment.

  • Must be willing to respond to emergencies outside regular work hours and work overtime including weekends and holidays.

  • Must provide the supervisor with a telephone number where you can be reached for the purposes of responding to an emergency.