Highway Operations Technician 3 (Incident Response Unit)

State of Arizona; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Arizona is seeking a Highway Operations Technician 3 in Phoenix to patrol freeway corridors, respond to crashes and lane blockages, manage incident scenes, and support traffic control for special events and emergencies.

After-hours responses, rotating holidays/weekends, and occasional in-state travel are required. You will coordinate with TOC, law enforcement, and TIM stakeholders to restore traffic safely.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of TIM principles, quick-clearance practices, and applicable laws.
• Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command principles as applied to roadway incidents.
• Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) concepts, devices, and MUTCD standards.
• Roadway types, lane designations, roadway geometry, traffic patterns, and traffic-flow principles.
• ADOT policies, procedures, highway operations, maintenance practices, materials, and equipment.
• Methods to protect roadway infrastructure and reduce damage to vehicles.
• Communication equipment, including radios, cellular phones and related systems.
• Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Proactively patrols freeway corridors and responds to TOC and law enforcement calls for service.
• Provides traffic control and scene protection at collisions, road hazards and incidents.
• Applies TIM principles and coordinates with TOC, responders, towing providers, and partners.

Skills

TIM principles

ICS & Unified Command

TTC concepts

Roadway design & traffic flow

ADOT policies & maintenance

Protect roadway infrastructure

Communication equipment

Google Workspace

Job description

DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

Be a part of an innovative and collaborative team driving a safer transportation system for Arizona.

Highway Operations Technician 3

Incident Response Unit 2302 W. Durango Phoenix, AZ 85009

Salary: $24.4464/HR

Grade: 19

Closing Date: 10/26/2026

Job Summary

This position patrols assigned areas and responds to traffic incidents such as crashes, lane blockages, and hazardous material spills that obstruct traffic flow. Additional duties include supporting traffic control operations for special events and emergency incidents in coordination with the first responders, law enforcement agencies and other disciplines related to Traffic Incident Management Principles. After hours response will be required for incidents creating hazardous roadway conditions, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Rotational holiday and weekend assignments, along with occasional in-state travel, are also required.

Job Duties

Proactively patrols assigned freeway corridors and responds to calls for service from the Transportation Operations Center (TOC), law enforcement, and other authorized personnel. Removes roadway debris, disabled vehicles, and other obstructions to restore traffic flow and reduce the risk of secondary collisions.

Provides traffic control and scene protection at collisions, disabled vehicles, roadway hazards, emergency closures, and other incidents using approved vehicles, warning equipment, signs, cones, and traffic-control devices. Frequently lift, carry, bend, and handle equipment weighing up to 75 pounds and work outdoors in extreme heat, cold, severe weather, traffic, noise, and other roadway conditions.

Applies Traffic Incident Management (TIM) principles consistent with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), agency procedures, and responder-safety practices. Coordinates with TOC operators, emergency responders, towing providers, maintenance personnel, contractors, and partner agencies to support safe and timely incident clearance.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge of:

• Traffic Incident Management (TIM) principles, quick-clearance practices, and applicable laws.
• Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command principles as applied to roadway incidents.
• Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) concepts, devices, and applicable Manual on uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards.
• Roadway types, lane designations, roadway geometry, traffic patterns, and traffic-flow principles.
• ADOT policies, procedures, highway operations, maintenance practices, materials, and equipment.
• Methods used to protect roadway infrastructure and reduce damage to private and commercial vehicles.
• Communication equipment, including mobile and portable radios, cellular phones and related systems.
• Google Workspace.

Skills in:

• Establishing tapers, tangent sections, lane closures, and other TTC configurations consistent with MUTCD standards.
• Conducting an initial incident size-up based on roadway conditions, lane designations, traffic flow, hazards, and incident severity.
• Implementing and adjusting traffic-control measures to protect responders, motorists, and the incident scene.
• Identifying and coordinating the personnel, equipment, and other resources needed to stabilize and clear an incident.
• Communicating clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with the public, TOC personnel, emergency responders, partner agencies, and other TIM stakeholders.
• Managing difficult interactions, changing roadway conditions, competing priorities, and safety hazards.

Ability to:

• Identify the potential presence of hazardous materials, secure the area, make required notifications, and take defensive actions within the employee’s training and authority.
• Safely operate an incident-response vehicle under routine and emergency roadway conditions while using authorized communications equipment.
• Establish lane closures and other TTC measures with limited direct supervision.
• Monitor and adjust TTC measures based on traffic conditions, incident needs, roadway hazards, and direction provided throughICS or Unified Command.
• Identify and document roadway or infrastructure damage and accurately complete work orders, incident reports, and damage documentation.
• Properly use communication devices, tools, traffic-control equipment, and approved personal protective equipment.

Selective Preference(s)

• Traffic Incident Management Training
• Traffic Control
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Pre-Employment Requirements

Obtain Arizona Criminal justice Information System (ACJIS) Certification within 3 weeks of employment.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

Retirement

Mandatory participation in the Arizona Retirement System (ASRS) is required.

Contact Us

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact ADOT Human Resources Recruitment via email at [e-mail] or phone call at [phone] option 2.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling [phone] option 3. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. ADOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.