Operations Program Manager

Department Information 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. Description of Job 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, winter product usage, level of service programming, materials management, 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 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, and Department of Natural Resources—and works with federal partners like the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army. The position also publishes scientific papers at national and international conferences, such as the International Snow Science Workshop and the Transportation Research Board. This position will supervise employees in the Winter Operations Unit, manage funds, including monitoring accomplishments, comparing costs of snow and ice versus other programs, and tracking expenditures for winter products. Additional Winter Operations Management Areas Include Capital improvement programming, including avalanche systems development Contracts for winter deicing products 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 CMTC 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 include, but are not limited to: Lead CDOT in exploring new ideas in the winter maintenance industry and integrates 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 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 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 50% spent in the field, 50% spent in the office #J-18808-Ljbffr