Transportation Specialist

Transportation Specialist

Positions in this job family are responsible for planning, supervising, and performing technical and professional level transportation work. Responsibilities may be assigned in any area of transportation work, including research, planning and design, survey, environmental studies, bid lettings, construction, maintenance, or project management. Responsibilities may include all phases of highway and bridge construction, field management of utilities or property appraisal and acquisition, relocation assistance, traffic operations, materials testing and sampling, or materials laboratory management.

The functions performed in this job family will vary by level, unit and organization, but may include the following:

• Performs sampling and testing of materials for use in highway construction and maintenance operation; performs plant inspections and prepares materials certifications.
• Surveys grade and alignment of highways using survey equipment.
• Collects statistics and documentation about the state highway system.
• Conducts traffic studies to aid in the determination of transportation system improvements.
• Performs or supervises the various functions required for the bid letting of construction projects, such as developing bid proposals from design plans, incorporating revisions to proposals, and disseminating information to contractors and industry throughout the letting progress.
• Inspects, reviews, or provides oversight for contractors, consultants or utility relocations associated with construction projects to ensure compliance with plans and contracts for highway construction activities; prepares progressive and final estimates for construction contractors.
• Performs planning and review functions for transportation systems such as rail, public transportation, waterways, and highways; determines existing service levels and future needs for transportation modes; considers social, economic, and environmental effects of proposed projects.
• Performs real estate duties in one or more of the following areas; property appraisal, acquisition of real property, or relocation assistance; prepares plans and reports for right-of-way projects.
• Performs audits on the effectiveness of research programs, the adequacy of right-of-way plans, the support of planning decisions by appropriate data, the reliance of materials testing, the reliability of surveys, and the accuracy of construction project documentation.
• Supervises employees in any area of transportation work.

Levels are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others.

Incumbents perform technical tasks at the full performance level such as surveying, research, planning, highway construction inspection, and materials sampling and/or testing. Responsibilities may be assigned in any area of transportation work.

Level I - Education and Experience requirements are none.

Level II - Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of one year of experience in transportation related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting two college courses in mathematics, natural science, engineering or a closely related field for the year of the required experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of basic geometry and algebra; of basic laboratory equipment; of construction materials; of the English language in order to follow written and oral instructions; of construction methods; of survey procedures; of plans and specifications; and of the basic principles of transportation planning or research.

Ability is required to measure distance; to collect data; to operate computer equipment; to operate transportation-related equipment; to check and adjust survey equipment for accuracy; to read and interpret plans and specifications; to measure and calculate areas and volumes of work completed; and to perform tests on materials using basic laboratory testing equipment in accordance with prescribed procedures.

The successful candidate will be involved in the sampling and testing of aggregates, concrete, and steel materials to ensure such materials are in compliance with the requirements of the ODOT Standard Specifications for Highway Construction. Aggregate materials will be sampled at various rock quarries and sand/gravel pits in-state and out-of-state or ODOT field projects, therefore a potential for overnight travel may exist. Concrete and steel materials may be sampled in the field or manufacturing plants. Sampling of these materials will typically be outside in potentially a broad range of conditions (windy, hot, cold, etc.). Testing of these materials is performed in an enclosed laboratory setting where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be required to be worn while testing. The successful candidate will have the ability to lift heavy (up to 80 lbs.) bags of aggregate and stone, repeatedly, in a broad range of conditions (windy, hot, cold, etc.). Additionally, maintaining a safe, clean, and productive work area will be part of their duties. Other duties as assigned may be part of the regular workday, to include but not limited to troubleshooting equipment breakdown and/or general maintenance on testing equipment, maintaining a clean workplace, working with other labs when the needs arise, etc. Experience testing construction materials for the transportation industry is a plus but not required.

Possession of a valid driver's license in order to perform necessary travel.

Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with the position.

Some agencies may require applicants to take and pass a Physical Abilities Demonstration prior to appointment or entry into this job family.

Based upon the specific work performed, some positions may require registration or certification in a designated profession or occupation.

Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.