Highway Maintenance Technician

Summary Under supervision performs a wide variety of semi-skilled tasks involved in the maintenance and construction of roads, highways, bridges, and associated rights-of-way.  Performs related duties as required. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Performs snow and ice clearance by plowing and by applying chlorides, salt, and brine.

Performs highway maintenance tasks and construction and repair work including, but not limited to: winter maintenance activities, operating asphalt maintenance equipment, hauling materials by truck, grading shoulders, filling cracks, signing, sweeping, mowing, concrete repair, patching holes and asphalt patches, center line painting, erecting and dismantling snow fence, painting and maintaining guard rails; clearing roadways and rights-of-ways of brush, vegetation, trash and dead animals; clearing drainage ditches and culverts of debris and sediments; culvert replacements, landscaping, and bridge repair.

Performs duties associated with traffic problems, which include erecting signs, barricades or other traffic control devices and flagging.

Performs some mechanical work and routine maintenance and minor equipment repair on equipment and vehicles involved in the performance of the above duties.

Performs maintenance and custodial duties in and around the facilities, and offices.

May be assigned to operate or maintain heavy equipment.

Subject to call at all times for winter snow and ice removal, and other emergency and non-emergency situations.

Maintains records, coordinates materials, and makes reports as required.

It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties that an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive.

Oversee the Sign Inventory and make appropriate changes.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience 

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); two (2) to three (3) year's experience operating heavy vehicles and power tools; some experience performing manual outdoor maintenance tasks; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, public, and other employees of the County.

Ability to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with co-workers, county officials and officers, and the general public.

Ability to read gauges and dials.

Mathematical Skills 

Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s.

Reasoning Ability 

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Ability to work semi-independently making sound decisions using good judgment.

Computer Skills 

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have the ability to operate or learn to operate a computer and computerized controls.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

Possession of a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and Commercial Driver’s License Class A, B, C, D and endorsements N, and Air Brakes.

Other Skills and Abilities 

Ability to operate, or learn to operate, heavy equipment such as those used for plowing snow, grading, and rolling surfaces including, but not limited to:  large trucks, small and large graders, snowplows and sanders, sweepers, loaders, center striping machine, rollers, mowers, tar kettles, backhoes, other related maintenance equipment and a variety hand and power tools. 

Ability to learn and perform all aspects of Highway maintenance work and Highway operations; and knowledge of and demonstrated ability to conform to goals, policies, procedures, and appropriate safety regulations of the Highway Department.

Good knowledge of traffic laws, ordinances, and regulations involving highway equipment operation and EPA Regulations with respect to general functions performed.

Ability to perform heavy manual work in all types of weather conditions and ability to service and make minor mechanical repairs/adjustments and routine preventative maintenance to equipment. 

Ability to organize and maintain accurate and complete records and reports.

Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with co-workers and supervisors.

Demonstrate reliability in attendance and flexibility to work long hours, especially in adverse weather conditions.

While performing the responsibilities of Center Striping Machine Operator: Thorough knowledge of painting methods, practices, tools, and equipment; ability to learn the utilize the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices”, and ability to engineer passing and no passing zones, comprehend, no-passing zone log, read blueprints, operate a distance measuring device, and hand operated paint equipment.

Other Qualifications

Ability to travel to and work in other counties as work demands dictate.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties, nearly 85% of work activity is performed out of doors where the remaining duties are done inside the facilities.  Employees are subject to cold, heat, wet, dust, noise, moving mechanical parts, and vibration.  Employees are subject to hazards, which include fast moving vehicles, radiant exposure (sunburn), occasionally to chemicals, and fumes or airborne particles.  Injury from hazards can be avoided by following described safety measures. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.