Class Code: 08115
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES –
HUMAN RESOURCES ENTERPRISE
GARAGE OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
DEFINITION
Functions as the principal assistant to the Highway
Maintenance Supervisor by organizing, coordinating, and overseeing operations
and maintenance work in a specific area of the state that involves assigned
lane miles, roadways, and highway maintenance employees; performs related work
as required.
The Work Examples and Competencies listed are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be the primary basis for position classification decisions.
WORK EXAMPLES
Assists
supervisor by performing such duties as instructing employees, answering
questions, distributing and balancing the workload and checking work; may make
suggestions on selections, promotions, and reassignments;
Coordinates work with other states, cities,
counties, and other maintenance shops regarding snow removal, road closures,
and bridgework.
Inspects highways and bridges within assigned
work areas to assure quality and determine maintenance needs of surfaces,
shoulders, structures, drainage facilities, signs, traffic markings, and
right-of-way areas; prepares plans for maintenance activities within budgetary
limitations by establishing priorities, goals, and objectives for each
maintenance activity and by ensuring staff time, materials, and necessary
equipment are available; assigns employees to maintenance and/or repair
activities and reports major deficiencies to a superior or assigns employees to
take care of the problem.
Ensures the proper maintenance and operation of
assigned equipment by reviewing equipment maintenance records and observing
employees in the operation of equipment in order to determine and correct any
deficiencies; requisitions and arranges for the storage and use of snow fence,
aggregates, bituminous materials, and other materials required for the
maintenance and repair of highways and roads within the assigned geographic
area; approves all requisitions for supplies and maintains inventory records.
Determines the need for emergency highway
maintenance activities by evaluating and determining road conditions during
inclement weather conditions through the use of the Roadway Weather Information
System (RWIS), the Data Transmission Network (DTN), other weather reports,
personal observations, or reports from law enforcement officials and the
general public; directs and coordinates employees in the removal of snow, ice,
or hazardous materials from the highway surface through the use of plows,
spreaders, maintainers, tractors, etc.; also involves coordination of work with
other states, cities, counties, and other state maintenance shops and assist
them if they need extra personnel in emergency situations.
Uses computers to keep track of budget on a
monthly basis, to prepare time sheets, expense sheets, crew reports, narrative
and statistical reports relating to maintenance and repair activities by
recording amount of time required for each activity, number and type of
employees utilized for the repair, the amount and type of materials used, and
the location and type of roadway repaired;
Answers inquiries, responds to concerns, and
provides information to the general public on maintenance responsibilities and
duties as they relate to the use and upkeep of state property within and along
the highway right of way in the assigned area.
Prepares unit budget recommendation based on
historical data, proposed work unit plans and objectives, anticipated
maintenance programs, and other considerations as directed.
Investigates personal injury accidents and enters
pertinent information in data base for accidents that occur within the highway
right of way to determine or establish possible state liability for future tort
claim litigation by interviewing eyewitnesses and/or law enforcement officials,
inspecting accident scene, documenting damage by taking photographs of the
accident scene, and writing a report detailing the findings of the
investigation.
Operates
various highway equipment such as, but not limited to, tractors, dozers,
loaders, trucks, graders, and snowplows as required while performing highway
maintenance operations.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Knowledge of
the standard methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in highway
maintenance work.
Knowledge of specialized highway maintenance
equipment, its operation and use.
Knowledge of highway maintenance procedures,
techniques, terminology and specifications.
Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety
precautions applicable to the work, such as the proper use of safety equipment
(i.e., shoes, hard hats, eye protection, etc.), equipment operation, and
materials handling.
Knowledge of applicable department policies,
procedures, and regulations pertaining to highway and equipment maintenance, record
keeping, budgeting, and reporting requirements.
Knowledge of elementary engineering principles and
practices involved in highway maintenance operations.
Knowledge of the characteristics and special needs of
highways within assigned areas, such as terrain, composition of roadway
surfaces, bridge conditions, etc.
Knowledge of the effects weather conditions have on
road surfaces (i.e., expansion, contraction, deterioration, erosion, etc.) and
the extent these conditions affect the movement of traffic.
Knowledge of rules and regulations pertaining to
proper placement of signs and placards within and along the highway right of
way.
Knowledge of the anti-icing and deicing principles.
Ability to read and write English.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written
directions/instructions in English.
Ability to train and direct crew members and
effectively function in a work team environment.
Ability to assess road conditions, hazards, and
surface deterioration to determine the need for repair or corrective action.
Ability to plan, prepare, and monitor budget
expenditures to ensure a complete and efficient highway maintenance program.
Ability to plan and monitor maintenance activities to
ensure repairs are timely, necessary, and completed in accordance with
departmental policies and procedures and ensuring the use of appropriate
equipment, materials, work force, and safety requirements.
Ability to work out of doors in all types of
weather conditions, day or night, in normal and emergency situations to ensure
the proper completion of maintenance activities.
Ability to deal tactfully and courteously
with the public and contractors.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle and become familiar
with the operation of other vehicles associated with the maintenance of a
highway system to ensure proper operation by personnel.
Ability to plan, oversee, and coordinate the work of
others under normal and emergency situations.
Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in
writing, in order to report to management personnel the status of programs and
attainment of stated goals and objectives through narrative and statistical
reports.
Ability to lift and load items weighing up to
95 pounds to the height of 55 inches above the ground.
Ability to read plans/specifications may be required
for some positions.
Ability to appropriately use anti-icing or deicing
materials.
Skill in the operation of hand tools, power
tools, and light and heavy highway maintenance equipment.
Skill in operating computers and related software
applications to record and receive data and make decisions regarding times,
temperatures, weather conditions, and material usage.
Skill in use of Roadway Weather Information System
(RWIS) and the Data Transmission Network (DTN).
Skill in calibrating and maintaining electronic and
hydraulic controls to ensure proper amount of materials are being applied to
the roadway.
Displays high standards of ethical conduct. Exhibits honesty and integrity. Refrains from theft-related, dishonest or
unethical behavior.
Works and communicates with internal and external
clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and
cooperative manner. Committed to quality
service.
Displays a high level of initiative, effort and
commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Works with minimal
supervision. Demonstrates responsible
behavior and attention to detail.
Responds appropriately to supervision. Makes an effort to follow policy and
cooperate with supervisors.
Aligns behavior with the needs, priorities
and goals of the organization.
Encourages and facilitates cooperation,
pride, trust, and group identity.
Fosters commitment and team spirit.
Expresses
information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the
audience and nature of the information. Listens to others and responds
appropriately.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Graduation from high school, or G.E.D. and
experience equal to four years of full-time work in highway maintenance and
equipment operation;
OR
an
equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year
(thirty semester hours or the equivalent) of college or technical school course
work, construction technology/management, or engineering for each year of the
required full-time highway maintenance experience; to a maximum substitution of
two years of experience;
OR
employees
with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that
includes experience equal to 24 months of full-time work as an Equipment
Operator and/or an Equipment Operator Senior.
Must
possess and maintain a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License with an air
brake endorsement required. Other
endorsements may also be required.
After accepting an offer of employment all persons
may be required to have a physical examination by a doctor of choice verifying
the physical ability to perform the duties described.
In conjunction with Title 49 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (parts 391 & 40), this job requires a pre-employment
drug screen and will require ongoing participation in the employer’s random
drug testing program.
Employees must be available to travel and may be
required to stay away from home overnight during assignments.
Employees must respond to emergency conditions
requiring them to be able to report within a 30 minute time period under normal
driving conditions to their assigned facility.
Certain designated positions require the employee
to be certified by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a
Pesticide Applicator.
Employees must be available to work up to 16
consecutive hours.
Effective Date:
6/01
GR