Highway Maintenance Specialist - Public Works

Job Summary

Clark County Public Works has multiple Highway Maintenance Specialist positions available.

Public Works Road Maintenance & Operations is responsible for maintaining infrastructure that our community uses every day. Staff can be proud of the difference they make in the lives of the traveling public. This position is vital to the emergency response of the county. Not only is there day-to-day work of maintaining our county roads, but there’s also inclement weather events such as snow and flooding that bring the staff together to work as a team to keep the roads open.

Highway Maintenance Specialists perform skilled labor in maintaining and repairing roads and drainage and controlling vegetation of the County roadways. Employees operate hand tools, vehicles, and equipment to accomplish assigned work tasks, which are entered into a maintenance software program under the supervision of a Highway Maintenance Crew Chief. Work performed is generally of a routine nature and is performed as a part of a team or crew. Working outdoors in all types of inclement weather is required.
During the first six months of employment, new hires will rotate between each work of the six geographic sections of the county and five specialty crews of the division spending two weeks in each section. This provides new employees a broad foundational understanding of what role each crew plays in the success of the division. New hires should expect they will report to varying parts of the county during this rotation.

These positions are represented by Local 307CO - Washington State Council of County and City Employees.

Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until all vacancies are filled.
Posting to fill several vacancies.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Experience in highway maintenance, highway or building construction, farming, forestry or landscaping or any other labor intensive work experience that directly involves the skills necessary to operate machinery, small tools, power tools, vehicles or equipment.

Must possess or obtain within six (6) months of hire a Commercial Driver’s License Class A with ‘N’ tanker endorsement. Clark County will incur the cost of sending new hires to a Commercial Driver’s License training school within their probationary period for those that do not have this license when hired. The candidate selected will be required to pay back the County a percentage of the cost if employment is not maintained for a minimum of three years.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

Knowledge of:   Function and use of tools and equipment identified above; safety practices required in maintenance functions.

Ability to:  Perform labor intensive tasks for extended periods under unfavorable weather conditions such as extreme heat or cold in a safe and efficient manner; safely use and operate tools and equipment; perform physically demanding work requiring lifting, bending, stooping, standing and turning as job duties require; work cooperatively as a crew member; read and interpret written instructions and documents, and to follow oral instructions; must be able to work varying schedules and work overtime as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbents typically work in an outdoor setting in varied weather conditions operating industrial equipment, with some time spent inside the cab of the equipment away from adverse weather conditions.  Must have the ability to navigate on uneven terrain, bend, crouch, reach, and lift up to 50 lbs. on a regular basis. Weights up to 100 lbs may be encountered, requiring proper lifting techniques.  Adverse conditions include frequent noise and occasional exposure to temperature extremes, exposure to industrial equipment, chemicals, and noxious odors/fumes.

Selection Process:

Resume and other documents must be attached together in the 'Resume Upload' section of the application.  Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application.

Application Review (Pass/ Fail) - An online application is required.  Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Practical Exam (Pass/Fail) - This recruitment may require a practical exam which will be job related and may include, but not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview - The interview will be job related and may include, not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment references will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

Please note: the candidate(s) selected must pass a drug screen and driver's abstract.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Use various hand tools in maintaining roads and drainage, and in controlling vegetation.  Operate equipment including but not limited to the following: Trucks (3 and 5 yard, ladder, pickup, flatbed), sander, chipper, movers, water wagon, snow plow, rotary broom, rock spreader box, loaders and rubber and steel tired rollers (up to 10 tons).

Contribute to road maintenance by performing the following activities:

-Set out traffic control signs and flag traffic.

-Grind asphalt or other surfaces to prepare for patching.

-Patch holes using cold mix.

-Repair roadway shoulders with rocks and shovel.

-Operate loader to load patching materials onto truck.

-Rake rock to even surface of roadway.

-Compact sealing and patch material by operating a roller.

-Use rotary broom to clean repaired road surfaces.
-Dead animal pick up

Clear county roads of hazards during winter season.  May include:

-Hook plow attachments to five (5) and ten (10) yard trucks and plow snow from roadways.

-Operate power sanders or anti-icing equipment when roadways are icy.

-Repair and install chains.

Maintain and repair roadway drainage systems including the following duties:

-Clear culverts and catch basins and unplug pipes using shovels, prybars, rakes or other tools

-Clean culvert or pipe ends.

-Hand place riprap around culvert ends.

-Position new pipes in trenches and act as pipe layer.

-Clean ditches using shovels, heavy equipment, and 5 and 10 yard trucks.

-Remove materials and debris cleared from ditches and culverts.

-Clean and maintain retention, detention, and similar clean water facilities.

Control roadside vegetation by performing the following activities:

-Cut vegetation above and beside the roadway to improve vehicular visibility using chain saws, pole saws, bucket truck, chipper and other tools.

-Use 5 and 10 yard trucks to haul away brush and other debris.

-Seek permission of property owners to trim vegetation encroaching on County right-of-way and impeding visibility.

-Replace, repair and install mailboxes, fences, signs or other fixtures damaged or moved during work performance.

-Perform other work as assigned, as necessary, and as may be required for training or other purposes.

Salary Grade

Local 307.6A

Salary Range

$25.85 - $33.61- per hour

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services. Clark County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Employee Benefits and additional compensation

Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation.  Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation.More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits. Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Retirement Information

All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF).Employee contributions begin the first day of work.Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice. 
 

For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site here: http://www.drs.wa.gov/

If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at (564) 397-2456; Relay (800) 833-6388.