Maintenance Chief-Lewistown

Montana Department of Transportation; Lewistown (MT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid remote work

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

State retirement plan

Job summary

Montana Department of Transportation in Lewistown seeks a Maintenance Chief to provide executive guidance and oversight of maintenance activities across the Area, including long-range planning, program management, and implementing new technologies.

You will administer roadway improvement, repair, seasonal duties, incident response, and environmental programs while supervising 67.29 FTE and 130–150 personnel. The role requires travel statewide and may offer hybrid remote arrangements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of highway maintenance and construction experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervision.
• Experience with maintenance, materials, bridge and road construction, and contract management.
• Alternative qualifications include related work experience and education.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive guidance and oversight of maintenance activities in the Area.
• Oversee long-range planning, program management, and new technologies.
• Administer roadway improvement, repair, and maintenance; regulatory/permitting; emergency response.
• Manage staffing: 67.29 FTE and 130–150 personnel seasonally.

Skills

Highway maintenance concepts

Public administration

Program planning

Communication

Project implementation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology

Bachelor's Degree in Construction Technology

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

Related field degree

Job description

Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is recruiting for a Maintenance Chief for the Lewistown Maintenance Division. The position is responsible for providing executive guidance and oversight of maintenance activities in the Area including long-range planning, program management, and developing and implementing new technologies and methods. The position is responsible for administering roadway improvement, repair, and maintenance; regulatory/permitting; automated road monitoring; winter maintenance; facilities management; equipment; disaster and emergency response; homeland security; secondary road acquisition and management; federal cost-sharing; inspection; hazardous materials; public involvement; engineering project planning and review; land acquisition and management; contract administration; and environmental programs and activities in the assigned district. The position reports to the Maintenance Division Administrator and is responsible for management of 67.29 FTE in the Area and the oversight of between 130 –150 personnel at any given time based upon seasonal requirements to provide for the safety of the traveling public.

Benefits of working for MDT and the State of Montana include:

• Culture of public service and a commitment to work/life balance
• Potential hybrid remote work arrangement available
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Access to Montana Health Centers, low-cost clinics for state employees and their families
• State Retirement plan and additional savings opportunities (deferred compensation)
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
• Benefits apply on first day of employment

Required Application Materials

• A resume detailing your qualifications and work history.
• A cover letter of no more than two pages addressing your qualifications for the position.

Required Education And Experience

• The required knowledge and skills are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Technology, Business Administration or related field.
• This position requires a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the highway maintenance and construction including experience with maintenance, materials, bridge and road construction, construction project and contract management.
• This position requires a minimum of three (3) years of supervision.
• Alternative qualifications include: Any combination of additional related work experience and education equivalent to the minimum qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• The position requires extensive knowledge of the concepts and theories of highway maintenance including construction and civil engineering concepts related to the maintenance and construction of highways and bridges, public administration, and program planning. The position also requires knowledge of the concepts and theories of materials engineering, mathematics, and the physical sciences including geology, chemistry, soils, and construction; traffic patterns and socioeconomic factors in the assigned district and their effect on transportation demand and road life; county, state and federal regulations, policies and specifications including state, federal, AASHTO, FHWA, and ASTM standards and project specifications; the Montana Materials manual; bridge and structural Revision Date: 12/2020 8
• surveillance and threat assessment; incident command; and a variety of area specific circumstances and their impacts. The position requires extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of contract administration; public relations; personnel training, organizational theory, collective bargaining and union contract agreements, state and federal employment law, and State Personnel and MDT policies; civil rights and disadvantaged business enterprise laws, regulations, and programs; environmental law and related processes; right-of-way programs and policies; safety regulations and OSHA and state workplace safety standards.
• The position requires skill in communication in order to translate highly technical and extensive engineering data into practical terms that are understandable to a variety of audiences, skill in project implementation, skill in extending existing and accepted highway and structural maintenance practices in the assigned district, and skill in developing and administering a variety of functions.

Special Requirements

• Predominant work involves extensive travel throughout the state (in excess of 25,000 miles annually) to attend meetings, provide project oversight, and perform related fieldwork as required. Travel demands often involve overnight stays up to several nights in duration. The position may require significant time outside of normal business hours to accomplish the goals and objectives of the agency.
• Predominant duties related to on-site direction of maintenance engineering, and emergency response activities are performed at construction sites and emergency/disaster incidents. This work requires knowledge of safety protocols and special precautions including the use of personal protection clothing and devices, and close attention to construction site safety practices and requirements.
• These duties involve exposure to extreme weather conditions, extended periods of walking and standing, harsh or caustic fumes, dust, extreme temperatures, wind, rain, and snow; traffic passing the work site; work around heavy machinery such as plow trucks, front end loaders, pavers, scrapers, rollers, etc.; and exposure to natural disasters (e.g., wildfire, avalanches) and other hazards (e.g., chemical spills and train wrecks). The work also involves risks associated with working with hazardous materials such as hot asphalt, lime, acids, and other chemicals. Due to the nature of work elements (hot asphalt, heavy equipment, etc.) and hazardous tasks, extensive training in safety practices and procedures is required.
• The position also involves conditions and demands associated with mediating conflicts between irate and often hostile parties such as contractors, the public, and employees; and with making significant decisions which affect public health and safety, often in critical situations (e.g., natural disasters).

Other Information

• Driver’s record will be verified. Successful applicants will be required to sign a release form which authorizes the Department to obtain the applicant’s permanent driving records. Compliance with Mont. Admin. R. 2.6.201, "State Vehicle Use," and MDT Policy #6.03.001, "State Vehicle Use Policy" are conditions of employment.
• The Montana Department of Transportation is an equal opportunity employer. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans and disabled veterans are encouraged to apply. People with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may call the Human Resources and Occupational Safety Division, at 406.444.6054.
• The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is committed to continuous improvement of our employee safety program and our safety and health processes, and to achieving an injury-free workplace.
• This position is covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Benefit Association). The successful applicant for this position will be required to participate in the VEBA group. The VEBA group can take part in an annual election. Any questions regarding the VEBA can be addressed to Laurie Edwards, MDT People Operations Bureau 444-6053.
• Effective 5/26/2026, MDT is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov.