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! 

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’ll 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!

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. 

In addition to a fantastic place to work, CDOT offers all temporary employees paid sick leave. Temporary employees accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, capped at forty-eight 48 hours.

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

Minimum Qualifications
Qualified candidates must be either:

• Any college senior or graduate student enrolled in an accredited college or university seeking a Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. degree.

OR
 

• A recent college graduate. Recently graduated means the individual should have attended an accredited college or university and have graduated with an Associates, Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. degree within three calendar years.

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. More information in the supplemental information section.
• A current valid driver 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 senior undergraduate or graduate college/university student, or recent graduate as defined above, with proven accomplishments in the following:

• Enrolled in or completed a degree with a major related to one of the specialty areas.
• Knowledge or interest in the transportation industry and a desire to learn more.
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, principles, and best practices of one of the targeted specialty technical areas.
• A collaborative spirit with excellent follow-up and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, an ability to prioritize tasks in a fast moving environment, self-direct, and take initiative with minimum supervision.  
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem solving ability. 
• Strong communicator including interpersonal, written, and speaking skills.
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Passion for safety.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access), Gmail, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Applicant Checklist 

Complete Applications must include the following documents:

1. A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)

2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)

3. A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. 

4. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application and will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.  

5. A copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing completed coursework (and degree conferral if applicable) and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.

Notifications

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email. Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website.

 

Employment Screening

If an applicant reaches the finalist stage of the hiring process, the Colorado Department of Transportation may procure a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report on the applicant in connection with his/her application for employment purposes, as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  These reports may be obtained at any time after receipt of the applicant's authorization.  As part of the employment screening an applicant will be requested to disclose any deferred judgments and convictions as well an explanation of the circumstances around any arrest or conviction.  In the event that a screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or she will have an opportunity to dispute the information with “Info Cubic”.

Info Cubic, a consumer reporting agency, will obtain the report for CDOT. Further information regarding Info Cubic, a Division of Orange Tree, including its privacy policy, may be found online at www.InfoCubic.com and www.OrangeTreeScreening.com. Info Cubic is located at 7275 Ohms Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55439.

The report may contain information bearing on the applicant's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living.  The information that may be included in the report includes: social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records checks, educational records, and driving records checks.  CDOT will only request credit reports insofar as they relate to the position for which the applicant is applying.  The information contained in the report will be obtained from private and/or public record sources.  The applicant will have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after receipt of a notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report.

 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

 

Discrimination and/or harassment against any person is prohibited because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran’s status, marital status, gender identity or any other protected class recognized under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). This applies to all employment decisions.

ADAAA Accommodations 

CDOT is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Madelyn Katz madelyn.katz@state.co.us.

Former State Employees

Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application.

MK (June2025Fellow)

Salary : $21 - $28