Rest Area Crew Lead – Highway Maintenance Worker 3

State of Washington; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks a Highway Maintenance Crew Leader to guide crews responsible for four safety rest areas across Area 1. You will ensure facilities are safe, clean, and operational for travelers, while promoting efficient maintenance and safe work practices.

The role demands hands-on leadership, seasonal outdoor work, and coordination with state partners to manage emergencies and daily operations. Local travel and overtime are possible.

Qualifications

• Experience leading highway maintenance crews in active traffic environments.
• Ability to plan, schedule, and budget maintenance activities.
• Experience maintaining records and using reporting systems.
• Valid Washington State Class A CDL with N endorsement or ability to obtain within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead a crew to maintain four safety rest areas and related tasks.
• Coordinate personnel, equipment, and resources for safe operations.
• Perform and supervise equipment inspections and basic repairs.
• Document maintenance activities and safety compliance.
• Respond to emergencies and coordinate with internal staff and external agencies.

Skills

Highway maintenance operations

Traffic control

Equipment operation

Safety leadership

Communication

Record keeping

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 Crew Leader to lead crews responsible for maintaining and repairing Area 1’s safety rest areas. This position plays a vital role in keeping these facilities safe, clean, and operational for the traveling public while supporting the safe and reliable movement of people and commerce. Through hands‑on leadership, this position promotes efficient maintenance operations, safe work practices, and a positive, inclusive team environment. Join WSDOT and help ensure our safety rest areas remain dependable and welcoming resources for travelers across Washington.

What to Expect

This position works outdoors in all weather conditions, during day and night, and may encounter high‑traffic areas, uneven terrain, heights, confined spaces, hot asphalt, and hazardous materials. The schedule is typically four 10‑hour shifts, with possible overtime, weekends, holidays, and emergency callouts requiring a 60‑minute response. Local travel is required, with occasional regional or statewide travel. Duties include operating maintenance vehicles, heavy equipment, tools, and electronic devices while wearing appropriate PPE and communicating with WSDOT staff, partner agencies, contractors, and the traveling public.

Qualifications

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Highway Maintenance Worker 3 Lead will:

• Lead a crew responsible for cleaning and maintaining four safety rest areas, and/or an area‑wide crew that performs highway, roadside, infrastructure, and right‑of‑way maintenance and repair tasks.
• Prioritize, plan, schedule, and budget highway maintenance activities; lead and coordinate personnel, equipment, and resources to complete work safely and efficiently.
• Maintain, inspect, and repair state highways and roadway features, including pavement, drainage systems, signs, guardrails, fences, impact attenuators, vegetation, landscaped areas, and erosion or slide damage; remove litter, dead animals, and debris from roadways and rights‑of‑way.
• Maintain roadways for open travel by leading and performing snow and ice control, applying anti‑icing compounds, hauling materials, operating spreader boxes, and maintaining stockpile sites.
• Respond to emergencies, accidents, spills, hazardous conditions, and other incidents; coordinate with internal staff and external agencies, establish traffic control and road closures in accordance with departmental standards and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and recommend additional resources as needed.
• Operate designated highway maintenance equipment; perform daily equipment inspections, minor repairs, tool maintenance, and facility cleaning. Arrange for repair or replacement parts and rental or lease of privately owned equipment.
• Train personnel in equipment operation, safety, highway maintenance, and public relations; lead safety meetings and Pre‑Activity Safety Plans, establish safe work zones, and ensure compliance with safety policies and hazardous‑material handling requirements.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, inventories, and computerized reports, including HATS, WZDB, TSMS, MAPS, and SIIRS; document work activities, equipment and material usage, hazardous conditions, injuries, equipment damage, and required reimbursement paperwork (K’s) and LEMO project estimates.
• Coordinate the safe cleanup and removal of unlawful dwellings with appropriate law enforcement and Department of Corrections contacts; perform other related duties as assigned and may act in the absence of the Highway Maintenance Supervisor.

• 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.
• Traffic Control & Work Zone Safety: Ability to establish, implement, and lead traffic control operations in accordance with MUTCD and departmental standards.
• Equipment Operation & Physical Abilities: Ability and experience operating highway maintenance equipment and commercial vehicles, performing physically demanding work in all weather conditions, and safely maneuvering and transporting up to 50 pounds.
• Communication, Customer Service & Coordination: Skills communicating effectively with crews, supervisors, internal partners, external agencies, and the public; providing professional customer service; and coordinating work activities and emergency responses.
• Work Documentation & Technology: Ability and experience maintaining accurate records, tracking inventory and maintenance activities, and using computerized systems and mobile devices to complete reports and documentation.
• Physical Ability: Must be able to transport 50 pounds in a safe manner.
• Required Licenses & Certifications:

• Washington State Class A Commercial Driver’s License with N endorsement, no air brake restrictions, and no transmission restrictions.
• Valid Traffic Control/Flagging card or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
• Pesticide license within one (1) year of hire.

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

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Supervisory & Decision‑Making Leadership: Experience leading and/or supervising highway maintenance crews, providing clear direction, coordinating work activities, and exercising sound judgment and decision‑making in dynamic and high‑stress operational and emergency environments.
• Advanced Equipment Operation & Technical Knowledge: Experience operating, transporting, and maintaining TEF highway maintenance equipment, including cranes, and commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or greater.
• Incident, Emergency & Traffic Control Operations: Experience serving as a traffic control lead during emergency and planned operations.
• Possession of specialized certifications: Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License, Backflow Prevention Tester Certification, and Crane Certification.
• 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.

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 (FMSCA). 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 earn a minimum 14 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?