Highway Maintenance Supervisor

State of Washington; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Paid Leave

Tuition Assistance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks a Highway Maintenance Supervisor to lead outdoor maintenance crews and ensure safe, reliable transportation statewide. The role oversees budgeted operations, scheduling, and staff development while maintaining strong safety and regulatory compliance.

You will coordinate vegetation programs, respond to emergencies, and manage public inquiries, with a focus on teamwork and continuous improvement in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

• Highway maintenance and operations on state highways.
• 1
• Unrestricted Class A CDL with N endorsement and medical card.
• Experience in emergent/high-stress situations with professional conduct.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships with internal and external customers.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of safety standards and heavy equipment operation.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• ICS 100/200/700/800 training understood.
• Proficiency with Windows, MS Office, cloud tools, MS Teams, and data systems.
• Ability to transport 50 pounds.
• Growth mindset and service orientation.
• Valid medical card and CDL with N endorsement without restrictions.
• Ability to operate Class A,B, and/or C equipment with current technology.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, budget, and coordinate highway maintenance operations for assigned sections.
• Supervise and develop Highway Maintenance Workers and provide guidance and training.
• Develop vegetation management programs including pesticide recommendations and landscaping plans.
• Promote a safe work environment per safety programs and training.
• Inspect highway sections for maintenance needs and ensure permit compliance by utilities.
• Respond to customer concerns, coordinate with contractors, agencies, and communities.
• Respond to 24-hour emergencies and coordinate traffic control per MUTCD.
• Prepare budgets, work plans, and reports; maintain computerized records in HATS, WZDB, TSMS.

Skills

Highway maintenance operations

Commercial vehicle operation

Crisis communication

Collaborative partnerships

Independent task management

Safety compliance

Communication skills

Emergency management

Digital proficiency

Physical capability

Growth mindset

Service-oriented

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

TSMS

HATS/WZDB

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world’s longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking a dedicated Highway Maintenance Supervisor to lead highway maintenance crews in maintaining a safe, reliable, and operational transportation system for the traveling public. In this leadership role, you will oversee maintenance activities that support the safe and efficient movement of people and commerce while ensuring critical highway infrastructure and facilities remain in good working condition. You will also foster a respectful, inclusive, and healthy work environment that values teamwork, professional development, and employee growth. Your leadership and commitment to safety will help ensure WSDOT delivers dependable transportation services that support communities and economic vitality throughout Washington.

What to Expect

This position works primarily outdoors in all weather conditions, during both daylight and nighttime hours, and may involve steep or uneven terrain, heights, confined spaces, high-traffic areas, and exposure to hazardous materials. The work is physically demanding and requires maneuvering up to 50 pounds, maintaining balance, and maneuvering around equipment, vehicles, and highway structures. The typical schedule is four 10-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, with required rotational standby, emergency callouts, and occasional nights, weekends, holidays, and additional hours. Employees must be able to report to their assigned duty station within 45 minutes of an after-hours call. Local travel is required, with occasional regional and statewide travel for meetings and training.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Highway Maintenance Supervisor will:

• Plan, schedule, budget, and coordinate highway maintenance operations for assigned highway sections and/or specialty groups, including determining maintenance needs and allocating personnel, equipment, and materials for routine and special projects.
• Supervise, guide, coach, and develop Highway Maintenance Workers; assess training needs, provide employee feedback and guidance, communicate WSDOT policies and procedures, and ensure staff have the necessary tools and equipment to perform assigned duties.
• Develop, implement, and monitor annual vegetation management programs, including pesticide application recommendations, purchasing, inventory, application records, and landscaping plans for assigned highways.
• Promote a safe work environment by ensuring compliance with WSDOT safety programs, policies, procedures, and protocols; identify safety improvement opportunities and maintain current safety training.
• Patrol and inspect assigned highway sections to identify maintenance needs, including surface and drainage maintenance, slide removal, snow and ice control, right-of-way encroachments, highway safety, and signing; inspect permitted work by utilities and property owners for compliance with permit requirements.
• Respond to customer concerns, complaints, and public inquiries; coordinate with contractors, property owners, public agencies, and community organizations to resolve issues and maintain positive working relationships.
• Respond to 24-hour emergencies, accidents, spills, and other incidents; design, coordinate, and oversee traffic control in accordance with WSDOT standards and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); coordinate with law enforcement and other agencies to manage incidents and safely address unlawful encampments and hazardous materials.
• Prepare, review, and maintain budgets, work plans, schedules, overtime records, and reports related to personnel, equipment, materials, and maintenance activities; maintain accurate computerized records using systems such as HATS, WZDB, and TSMS, and prepare environmental compliance documentation for NPDES, JARPA, SEPA, and ESA requirements.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Highway Maintenance Operations: Skills, knowledge, and experience performing highway maintenance and operations activities on state highways, including roadway, drainage, vegetation, sign, and right-of-way maintenance in active traffic environments.
• Commercial Vehicle Operation: Possession of an unrestricted Class A CDL with N endorsement and without air brakes restriction to legally operate vehicles in Washington State and a valid medical card.
• Crisis Communication and Situational Awareness: Demonstrated experience working and communicating in emergent/high stress situations while remaining professional, calm, composed, focused, aware of larger issues and concerns.
• Collaborative Partnership Building: Demonstrated ability to cultivate and practice collaborative partnerships with internal and external customers to support the accomplishment of agency goals.
• Independent Task Management: Demonstrated ability to work independently and prioritize workload, with the ability to handle multiple assignments.
• Safety Compliance and Equipment Operation: Demonstrated knowledge of safety standards, construction industry standards, and heavy equipment operation.
• Communication Skills: Written, verbal, and presentation skills to effectively communicate information to diverse audiences, including those with non-technical backgrounds, in a professional and respectful manner.
• Emergency Management: Completion of ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 training with demonstrated understanding of incident command and emergency management principles.
• Digital Proficiency: Proficient in operating Windows based computers and software, such as Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, and Outlook; Cloud computing; virtual meeting software, such as MS Teams; and various system databases utilized for project tracking, and information and asset management.
• Physical Capability: Ability to transport 50 pounds.

• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service‑Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Must maintain a valid medical card and Class A CDL with endorsement “N” and without air brakes restriction and no transmission restrictions throughout employment.
• Ability to operate Class A, B, and/or C equipment w/current technology in highway maintenance operations.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Flagging Certification: Washington State Flagging Card.
• Leadership and Workforce Development: Experience leading or supervising a diverse workforce, with demonstrated leadership abilities to work across boundaries; build and maintain effective teams; coach, mentor, and train a diverse workforce; and encourage employee engagement.
• Local Area & Operational Familiarity: Knowledge of the surrounding geographic area, roadway network, traffic patterns, and maintenance features to support efficient routing, emergency response, and coordination with local partners.
• Road Maintenance, Construction, and Asphalt Paving: Demonstrated experience performing or overseeing road maintenance and construction activities, including asphalt paving operations and related practices

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position is not eligible for remote work.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357‑28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• This position is subject to the drug and alcohol testing requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For more information, please go to DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees mayearn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have a choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference Highway Maintenance Supervisor #10838e in the subject line.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov