Maintenance Worker – I or II

Position Summary

The Maintenance Worker I position is the entry-level maintenance classification within the Wallowa County Public Works Road Department. This position performs general semi-skilled manual tasks related to road construction and maintenance and is responsible for operating medium road maintenance equipment. Duties include moderately complex equipment operation and manual labor related to road, bridge, vegetation, traffic control, sign maintenance, and nuisance control activities.

The Maintenance Worker II position is the journey-level maintenance classification within the Public Works Department. This position performs skilled manual tasks related to road construction and maintenance. The Maintenance Worker II is responsible for operating the heaviest, most complex road and bridge maintenance equipment. This position also operates any equipment and performs any tasks of lower-level classifications within the job series.

Essential Duties of Maintenance Worker I

• Performs heavy manual labor, including digging ditches; cleaning and installing culverts or drain tiles; cutting and chipping brush; removing obstacles from roadways and adjacent areas; and handloading and unloading materials.
• Performs traffic control duties, including flagging and directing traffic around hazards or crews in roadways and placing temporary road signs, traffic cones, and barricades at work sites.
• Operates cars, pickups, trucks, including commercial motor vehicles, forklifts, medium equipment, and tools such as chainsaws, jackhammers, weed eaters, grinding machines, pavement cutters, and other related equipment.
• Performs tasks associated with preparing and repairing potholes and road surfaces, including removing loose material, applying tack, raking, shoveling, and spreading materials.
• May participate in chemical hazard clean-up activities according to training provided for incidents occurring on roads and road-related properties.
• Operates pilot vehicles.
• Works on brush removal crews; trims trees, shrubs, and other vegetation; and chips and hauls brush and other debris.
• Participates in snow and ice removal operations; loads and applies sand, gravel, and deicer to roads; plows snow from roadways; and installs vehicle chains.
• Operates loaders, tractors, mowers, sweepers, and related maintenance equipment and may perform supporting functions for heavy equipment operations.
• Installs and maintains traffic signs, pavement markings, and traffic control devices.
• Helps maintain Road Department equipment, tools, work areas, and facilities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned based on operational needs.

Essential Duties of Maintenance Worker II

• Performs heavy manual labor, including digging ditches; cleaning and installing culverts and drain tiles; cutting and chipping brush; removing obstacles from roadways and adjacent areas; and handloading and unloading all types of materials.
• Operates cars, pickups, trucks, including commercial motor vehicles, forklifts, medium equipment, and tools such as chainsaws, jackhammers, weed eaters, grinding machines, pavement cutters, and related equipment.
• Operates trucks, trailers, and related equipment; hauls and dumps road maintenance and repair materials; loads dump trucks, pavers, and distributors; feeds rock into a pug mill; sweeps and scrapes road surfaces; moves and removes dirt, rocks, and other debris; and cleans ditches and catch basins.
• Performs tasks in preparing and repairing potholes and road surfaces, such as removing loose material and tacking, raking, and shoveling materials.
• May take part in chemical hazard clean-ups according to training given for incidents on roads and road-related properties.
• Works on brush removal crews; trims trees, shrubs, and other plants; and chips and hauls brush and other debris.
• Participates in snow and ice removal; loads and applies sand, gravel, and deicer to roads; plows snow from roadways; and installs vehicle chains.
• Operates loaders, tractors, mowers, sweepers, and related maintenance equipment.
• Helps maintain Road Department shop and equipment.
• Participates in cross-training and performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Public Works Superintendent or assigned supervisor.

Work Schedule

40 hours per week.

Working Conditions

Typical working conditions may include:

• Work is performed primarily outdoors with frequent exposure to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, dust, and uneven terrain.
• Regular exposure to heavy equipment, moving vehicles, machinery, noise, dirt, odors, waste materials, and other environmental conditions associated with solid waste operations.
• Position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling throughout the workday.
• Regularly lifts and moves materials weighing up to 100 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Operates varying levels of machinery, power tools, and other equipment while maintaining strict adherence to safety procedures.
• Requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and compliance with all County safety policies, OSHA standards, and environmental regulations.
• May be required to work occasional overtime or weekends, or respond to emergency situations as operational needs dictate.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is dependable, safety-conscious, and enjoys working outdoors in a physically active environment. They are committed to providing excellent public service and take pride in maintaining safe public roadways in Wallowa County. This individual works well both independently and as part of a team, communicates professionally with the public and coworkers, and demonstrates sound judgment in carrying out daily responsibilities.

Successful candidates are adaptable, willing to perform a variety of maintenance and operational tasks, and committed to following established safety procedures and environmental regulations. They take initiative, maintain a positive attitude, and contribute to the Public Works Department's mission of providing reliable, high-quality services to the residents of Wallowa County.

Minimum Qualifications: Maintenance Worker I

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Three (3) years' experience in controlling or directing traffic at road construction sites, semi-skilled road maintenance work, construction work, or other closely related areas.
• Any satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods in adverse weather conditions; operate a variety of machinery; and understand and follow directions.
• Ability to perform simple math functions.
• Skill in effective oral communication, reading comprehension, basic computer operations, and conflict resolution.

Licenses and Certifications

Required

• Valid Oregon driver license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Driver License (CDL) within six (6) months of hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Ability to successfully complete required County safety training, including:
  
  • Defensive Driving
  • Right-to-Know (Hazard Communication)
  • Fire Extinguisher Training
  • Lockout/Tagout Procedures
  • Flagger Training

Employees required to operate a personal vehicle on County business must maintain liability insurance in accordance with ORS 806.070.

Minimum Qualifications: Maintenance Worker II

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Five (5) years' experience in road maintenance work, construction work, or other closely related areas.
• Any satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods in adverse weather conditions; operate a variety of machinery; and understand and follow directions.
• Ability to perform simple math functions.
• Skill in effective oral communication, reading comprehension, basic computer operations, and conflict resolution.

Licenses and Certifications

Required

• Valid Oregon driver license with an acceptable driving record.
• Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Ability to successfully complete required County safety training, including:
  
  • Defensive Driving
  • Right-to-Know (Hazard Communication)
  • Fire Extinguisher Training
  • Lockout/Tagout Procedures
  • Flagger Training

Employees required to operate a personal vehicle on County business must maintain liability insurance in accordance with ORS 806.070.

Compensation and Benefits

Maintenance Worker I

• $24.06 to $26.67 hourly, four steps
• Classification: MW-I, non-exempt
• SEIU Union, Local 503

Maintenance Worker II

• $26.11 to $28.95 hourly, four steps
• Classification: MW-II, non-exempt
• SEIU Union, Local 503

Benefits Summary

• Payday is the last working day of the month.
• 15 paid holidays.
• One personal day after the first anniversary, forfeited if not used.
• Step increase per contract effective July 1, provided the employee is PTE/FTE and has met the one-year anniversary date.
• Vacation accrual:
  
  • 0 to 5 years: 8 hours per month
  • 5 to 10 years: 10 hours per month

Employees can accrue up to twice the annual accrual at the end of the fiscal year. Excess is forfeited. Vacation is paid out at termination.

Sick leave accrual

• 8 hours per month, unlimited.
• Payment at termination: one-half of up to 240 hours.

Life insurance

• $10,000 life, accidental death, and dismemberment coverage, County paid.
• Life Flight air and ground coverage for eligible household dependents under IRS tax laws, County paid.

Retirement

• Enrollment dates are January 1 and July 1. Employees must have been employed for a full six months before the enrollment date.
• The County contributes 8%, and employees make a mandatory 6% contribution. Employees may also elect a voluntary 457 plan.

Wallowa County is an EEOC with Veterans preference