Operations Program Manager

Applications will be considered from residents of Colorado. New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year. About CDOT CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public, while also keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers competitive medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. Visit the State of Colorado benefits for details, current premium rates and a summary video about benefits. The state also offers PERA retirement, great optional PERA plans such as 401K, a generous paid time off package of annual, sick, holiday and other leave, strong career growth, tuition reimbursement and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling, wellness, credit union membership and employee discount program. Visit CDOT Benefits for details. Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. CDOT for All CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive. The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for a period of up to 6 months. About the Work Unit The Division of Maintenance and Operations oversees maintenance operations across the state for 1,800 employees. The Division provides leadership and direction by establishing and enforcing standardized best practices for the training, execution, and sustainment of CDOT’s highway maintenance operations. It provides policy and direction for the day-to-day leadership of highway maintenance forces, and it coordinates with Regional Transportation Directors, Superintendents, Traffic Engineers, and Division Directors to implement visionary plans and best practices. The Division includes a Winter Operations Unit that oversees CDOT’s standards for winter operations, avalanche control, and training. About this Position The Winter Operations Program Manager reports to the Division of Maintenance and Operations Deputy Director of Operations and serves as the principal strategist for winter and weather operations, avalanche control and forecasting statewide; serving as the program manager and steward of resources for these operations. This position serves as the statewide program owner for winter operations, weather forecasting and response, and avalanche mitigation. The manager regularly assists state agencies—such as the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Division of Aeronautics, Colorado State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources—and works with federal partners like the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army. This position will supervise employees in the Winter Operations Unit, manage funds, including monitoring accomplishments, comparing costs of snow and ice versus other programs. Additional Winter Operations management areas include: Capital improvement programming, including avalanche systems development Statewide weather forecasting Preplanning operations in the I-70 Joint Operations Area Developing customer service polls Monitoring and adjusting the level of service for winter operations Day-to-day storm management at the Traffic Operations Center This position provides visionary yet practical leadership, builds trust, and communicates openly to deliver credible and sustainable public service without compromising quality. Major duties and responsibilities Lead CDOT in exploring new ideas in the winter maintenance industry and integrate them into agency processes to benefit internal and external stakeholders; Manage the Road Weather Technology project which includes both hardware and software specific to the maintenance decision systems contract (~$600,000) on behalf of and in support of the maintenance sections, and the Traffic Operations Center (TOC); Improve data and information sharing for sound decision making by the maintenance sections; Oversee implementation of material readiness and cost benefit of materials used; Partner with the National Weather Service for strategic development of forecasting models and platforms; Ensure CDOT is represented on a National level for Clear Roads, Aurora Pooled Fund and TRB Road Weather Committee; Provide strategic direction for Winter Operations for the 8 maintenance sections as to the format and content of winter operations plans; Drive the strategic transition from legacy explosive methods (e.g., howitzers) to modern Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) and non-explosive mitigation strategies; Manage the adoption of cutting-edge detection technologies (e.g., infrasound, radar) to ensure high-consequence corridors remain resilient against natural hazards; Oversee enterprise-wide risk management for avalanche hazards by aligning field operations with predictive data from Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and internal forecasting models; Translate complex meteorological data into actionable maintenance strategies; Oversee the integration of advanced road weather technology (e.g., MDSS, PikAlert, WeatherBell, friction sensing) into daily maintenance operations; Champion the ‘Forecasting-to-Operations’ pipeline, ensuring that 72/48/24-hour briefings are utilized by Regional Superintendents to drive proactive, rather than reactive, snow and ice mitigaton response; Provide outreach and weather education within the organization and to external stakeholders; Work closely with internal and external stakeholders during all-weather storm events to provide tactical weather information geared towards operational decision-making; Administer the performance program for the employees to include regular performance feedback; Coach, mentor, and train employees; Document and evaluate performance and set an appropriate example. Follow up on corrective action and performance improvement plans when necessary; Monitor work for quality control and efficiency; Communicate effectively; Resolve personnel problems using insight and experience; Address personnel issues and mediate conflicts; Other duties as required. Work Environment Primarily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday Approximately 30% spent in the field, 70% spent in the office Travel required during work hours throughout Colorado Overnight travel is required Required to operate CDOT vehicles Required to be in the field during winter storm events A current, valid driver's license is required for this position as it requires operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position. Exposure to hazardous (explosive) materials, inclement weather, high elevations Minimum Qualifications Experience Only Four (4) years of professional experience in Meteorology, Management or a closely related field. and Six (6) years of experience in weather forecasting, avalanche forecasting/mitigation, and/or forecasting for winter road operations. OR Education and Experience A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least ten (10) years Relevant education from an accredited college or university in Meteorology, Management or a closely related field. Experience in weather forecasting, avalanche forecasting/mitigation, and/or forecasting for winter road operations. Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. See Resume statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated. College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position. Conditions of Employment Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section. A current valid driver's license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position. Preferred Qualifications The exceptional applicant will be experienced in Meteorology/Program Management and will possess proven ability or accomplishment in the following: Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section; Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position; Highest work/personal ethics and integrity; Excellent analytic and strategic thinking skills; Experience and skill in transportation planning, maintenance or operations is preferred; Familiarity with transportation rules and regulations; Familiarity with Program, Project, and Budget Management; Ability to communicate and coordinate with civilian, government, and military constituents; Experience in avalanche mitigation using multiple methods; Field experience in artillery usage; Leadership and vision across multidisciplinary groups; Ability to lead diverse groups to determine policy decisions; Skilled in data analysis, including revenue forecasts, program allocations, and performance metrics; Ability to effectively interpret and address requests from executive leadership and political entities; Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment; Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing conditions and assignments; Ability to take initiative to solve problems innovatively; Ability to partner with public and private organizations, special interest groups, and elected and appointed officials in situations that may be politically sensitive; Ability to work with the general public, professionals, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments; Ability to negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and build consensus through give and take; Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; Experience demonstrating effective supervision of professional and support staff; Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability; Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability; Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral; Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy; Passion for safety; Ability to work effectively in both independent and team situations; Fluency in Gmail and SAP and the ability to quickly learn other software systems. Applicant Checklist A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green APPLY button at the top of this announcement) A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.) A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing completed coursework and credit hours, that your degree has been conferred (if applicable), your and the name of your school, or your official NACES accreditation report. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected. The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from state.co.us and View email address on click.appcast.io addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email. Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website. The Hiring Process: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager. Transfer, Non-Disciplinary Demotion or Reinstatement If you believe that you are eligible to be considered as a transfer, non-disciplinary demotion, or reinstatement to this vacancy, you must submit a completed application following the directions in this job announcement and you will be included in the selection process along with other qualified applicants. If you are the finalist for this position after the selection process, Human Resources will confirm your eligibility to be appointed as a transfer, non-disciplinary demotion, or reinstatement applicant. Employment Screening If an applicant reaches the finalist stage of the hiring process, the Colorado Department of Transportation may procure a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report on the applicant in connection with his/her application for employment purposes, as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These reports may be obtained at any time after receipt of the applicant's authorization. As part of the employment screening an applicant will be requested to disclose any deferred judgments and convictions as well as an explanation of the circumstances around any arrest or conviction. In the event that a screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or she will have an opportunity to dispute the information with Accurate. Accurate, a consumer reporting agency, will obtain the report for CDOT. Further information regarding Accurate including its privacy policy, may be found online at Accurate is located at 200 Spectrum Center Drive Suite 1100, Irvine, CA 92618. The report may contain information bearing on the applicant's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living. The information that may be included in the report includes social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records checks, educational records, and driving records checks. CDOT will only request credit reports insofar as they relate to the position for which the applicant is applying. The information contained in the report will be obtained from private and/or public record sources. The applicant will have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after receipt of a notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report. Appeal Rights If you receive notice that you have been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io. Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io. Email address: View email address on click.appcast.io. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov. ADAAA Accommodations CDOT is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to HR Specialist Name at Email Address or call Phone Number. Former State Employees Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application. #J-18808-Ljbffr