Fellowship Opportunity for College Seniors, Grad Students & Recent Grads

This is a paid temporary position limited to a maximum of 9 months from the date of hire. 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and this announcement will be closed when the position is filled. It is in your best interest to apply early. 

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

CDOT has several prestigious paid fellowship opportunities for college seniors, graduate students and recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in any of the following areas:

• Maintenance and Operations
• Innovative Mobility 
• Clean Transit Enterprise

These positions offer the opportunity to work on important research and assignments that support critical programs at our headquarters in Denver.  This is your chance to apply what you've learned to make a positive impact on transportation in Colorado! 

Description of Job

These fellowship positions support programs based out of CDOT’s headquarters in Denver. The purpose is to provide meaningful professional experience for college seniors, graduate students and recent graduates with proven academic performance and a strong desire to learn and contribute. 

What You will be Doing 
Work assignments will vary by specialty area:

• Maintenance and Operations - This is not your grandparent's DOT - It is a complex amalgamation of transportation operations, highway maintainer programs, traffic operations, specialty departments, hardware and systems, technologies, and processes for performing an array of functions designed to ensure CDOT's road network is viable and safe.  Based on a candidate's interests and experience, they will have the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience by working closely with staff within one of our program areas – Intelligence Transportations Systems (ITS) - Integrating Innovative Technologies -  through the integration of advanced communications technologies into the transportation infrastructure and in vehicles, Utilities Management, Winter Weather Management-Operations (Avalanche Mitigation Operations, Weather Forecasting, and Road Weather Management, Asset Management and  Geographic Information System (GIS) Management, Maintenance Engineering (project management), Traffic Management Operations, Training-Academics (course and curriculum development, adult education), Facilities (design, build/improve, project management, planning, and architecture) Emergency Management Operations, and/or Fleet Management (EVs, fleet telematics, fleet maintenance operations, and fleet lifecycle management). 

 

• Innovative Mobility  - The Office of Innovative Mobility is focused on expanding mobility options through the use of traditional and emerging technologies.  A Fellow would contribute to statewide transit planning activities, specifically the finalization and implementation of results from the Transit Connections Study (TCS). The TCS is currently evaluating gaps in the statewide transit network and also performing service planning for CDOT’s Bustang transit service. Results from this study will inform project updates to CDOT’s 10-Year Plan in 2025 and guide service changes to Bustang’s existing routes, both of which would be coordinated and supported by a Fellow. An ideal candidate would demonstrate proficiency in transportation planning, transit planning, or transit operations.

 

• Clean Transit Enterprise - The Clean Transit Enterprise invests in public transit by providing grants to public transit agencies that allow them to increase transit ridership and transition to electric vehicles.  A Fellow would contribute to research and policy development efforts as the enterprise implements the new Oil and Gas Production Fee enacted by SB24-230 including defining program eligibility requirements, establishing and applying a funding distribution formula, conducting stakeholder and public engagement, developing and administering formula and discretionary grant processes, and reporting on program outcomes and impacts.  An ideal candidate would have the following skills, experience, and/or qualities:

  • Ability to conduct policy research and analysis on a broad range of transportation, environmental and economic topics;

  • Familiarity with data collection, data analysis and spreadsheet modeling ;

  • Communication skills including public speaking, creating  presentation slides and graphics, meeting coordination and note taking; and 

  • Capacity to draft policy memos, grants opportunity notices, and policy/planning reports. 

 
Work Environment: 

• Most positions are based at CDOT's Headquarters located at 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver, CO 80204, although the Maintenance and Operations role may be based out of Golden.  
• You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.
• Expected work schedule is between Monday through Friday.
• The number of hours worked will depend on business need and candidate availability and may vary part/full-time.
• Use of a computer to accomplish everyday work duties