Highway Maintenance Worker 1 | Rest Area Attendant

State of Washington; Colfax (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a dependable Highway Maintenance Worker 1 to join the Colfax maintenance team, supporting year-round rest area upkeep at Dusty and Horn School Rest Areas. Responsibilities include janitorial, grounds, and facility maintenance, vehicle operation, and routine repairs to keep facilities safe and welcoming for travelers.

The ideal candidate is safety-minded, with a valid driver's license, able to perform physically demanding

Qualifications

• Safety procedures and hazards recognition with PPE use.
• Routine cleaning, sanitation, waste removal, and supplies.
• Operate hand tools, power tools, and grounds equipment safely.
• Communicate respectfully with coworkers and the public.
• Collaborate effectively within a maintenance team.
• Demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth.
• Willingness to meet others' needs and provide service.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate state vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Maintain rest area facilities, grounds, and amenities to ensure clean, safe, and functional spaces.
• Clean and disinfect restrooms; replenish supplies and manage waste.
• Maintain floors, vacuum, and wax surfaces as needed.
• Collect monthly water samples as required.
• Keep sidewalks and entrances clean; remove snow and ice.
• Remove weeds, litter, and debris; perform routine upkeep.
• Service lawn and grounds equipment; operate power tools safely.
• Support routine highway and right-of-way maintenance activities.

Skills

Safety awareness

Facilities and custodial maintenance

Equipment operation

Customer service

Teamwork and collaboration

Growth mindset

Service-oriented

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 dependable and safety-minded Highway Maintenance Worker 1 to join our maintenance team in Colfax, WA, responsible for year-round maintenance and operational support at the Dusty and Horn School Rest Areas. In this role, you will help ensure the rest area remains safe, clean, and welcoming for the traveling public by performing janitorial, facility, grounds, and highway/right-of-way maintenance activities. This position also performs routine maintenance and minor repairs using hand tools, power equipment, cleaning equipment, and other assigned equipment. By maintaining rest areas and responding to assigned highway maintenance needs, this rest area attendant supports the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across Washington’s transportation system.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Highway Maintenance Worker 1 will:

• Maintain and perform routine repairs to assigned rest area facilities, grounds, and related amenities to provide clean, sanitary, safe, and functional facilities for the traveling public.
• Clean and disinfect restrooms and related surfaces, including toilets, sinks, urinals, partitions, floors, and walls; replenish soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and seat-cover dispensers; collect litter and empty waste containers; dust and clean furniture, windows, ledges, and other surfaces.
• Maintain floors (sweep and mop tile floor), vacuum carpet, and wax tile floor as necessary.
• Collect monthly water samples.
• Maintain sidewalks and entrances, to include cleaning, sweeping, and washing, in addition to removing snow and ice.
• Remove weeds, litter, and debris; and perform other routine facility maintenance as assigned.
• Service and maintain lawnmower, gas trimmer, leaf blower, and other power tools and equipment.
• Perform routine highway and right-of-way maintenance activities to support the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.

Qualifications

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

• Safety Awareness and Hazard Recognition: Demonstrated ability to follow established safety procedures, identify hazards, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and take appropriate action to maintain a safe work environment for self, coworkers, and the traveling public.
• Facilities and Custodial Maintenance: Demonstrated ability to perform routine cleaning, sanitation, waste removal, supply replenishment, and facility maintenance activities using appropriate tools, equipment, cleaning products, and established procedures.
• Equipment and Tool Operation: Demonstrated ability to safely operate and perform routine maintenance on hand tools, power tools, lawn and grounds-maintenance equipment, and other assigned equipment in accordance with established procedures.
• Customer Service and Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and members of the traveling public, including responding appropriately to questions, concerns, or difficult interactions.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Works effectively as a member of a team by communicating openly, supporting coworkers, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the successful completion of maintenance operations.
• 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:

• A valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles.
• Ability to obtain a First Aid Certificate within 12 months of hire.
• Ability to perform physically demanding maintenance activities, including maneuvering and transporting various materials, bending, kneeling, standing, walking, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions and on uneven surfaces.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Maintenance and Janitorial Experience: Experience performing custodial, janitorial, grounds maintenance, facility maintenance, or other related maintenance work demonstrating the ability to safely perform routine cleaning, maintenance, and repair activities.
• Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Experience safely operating and performing routine maintenance on lawn and grounds-maintenance equipment, power tools, hand tools, or similar equipment.
• Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance: Experience performing mowing, trimming, pruning, weeding, irrigation maintenance, or other landscaping and grounds-maintenance activities.
• Customer Service: Experience providing customer service or assistance to members of the public in a professional and respectful manner. Experience performing maintenance/janitorial activities in a related field of work.

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.
• 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 are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Paid Leave - In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn 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 their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-ER-60259 in the subject line.