Meteorology/Weather Operations – Division of Maintenance and Operations

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Meteorology/Weather Operations - Division of Maintenance and Operations

Data, Misc

The Division of Highway Maintenance oversees maintenance operations across the state for 1800 employees. The Division provides leadership and direction in establishing and enforcing standardized best practices for training, execution, and sustainment of CDOT's highway maintenance operations. Providing policy and direction to the day-to-day leadership of highway maintenance forces and coordinates with the Regional Transportation Directors, Superintendents, Traffic Engineers, and Division Directors for implementation of visionary plans and best practices. The Division of Highway Maintenance includes a Weather Operations unit which exists to provide forecasting of upcoming adverse weather events to maintenance personnel, standardization of winter material usage, levels of service reporting for snow and ice control, MOSS development, policy and procedural directive guidance and weather-based training for maintenance personnel. The position will also assist the Weather Operations Manager in leading COOT in exploring new opportunities, technologies and ideas in the weather operations industry, focusing on integrating them into various COOT processes, programs and culture in a way that brings value to both internal and external stakeholders.

The Division includes a Winter Operations Unit which oversees CDOT's $90 Million snow and ice removal budget as well as set standards for winter maintenance systems and operations, and materials usage or applications. The unit monitors statewide weather forecasts/ avalanche warnings and implement strategies for emergency operations, communications and storm management.

The purpose of this position is to learn to provide timely forecasting and communications geared toward maintenance staff for effective snow and ice control operations to the Weather Operations Manager, as well as provide project and initiative support for the Weather Operations unit which includes, but is not limited to, assisting in pulling performance metrics, MOSS advancements, weather-responsive strategies and integrations, route optimization, roadway weather technologies, data analysis, and contracting/procurement needs. This position will work under the supervision of the Winter Operations Manager.

Typical responsibilities:

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide administrative support in various weather-based initiatives;
  • Monitor day to day pre-storm forecasts statewide;
  • Communicate and coordinate pre-storm warnings with maintenance leadership;
  • Conduct data analysis and review forecasting models;
  • Create CDOT and roadway-specific forecasts 12, 24, and 28 hours out;
  • Review the accuracy of all winter operations data, including Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS), materials usage, and storm severity indices;
  • Provide project support for various winter operations programs, including friction sensor deployment and technical support, adaptive route optimization, contracting and procurement needs, forecasting, etc;
  • Draft SBAR scientific reports;
  • Use meteorological knowledge, scientific writing skills, and statistical analysis to complete weather related reports and post storm analyses;
  • Research industry innovations in regards to roadway weather operations and forecasting;
  • Create reports of technology trends;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Typical qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
This experience must be specifically documented on your application. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Meteorology, Hydrology, Oceanography, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, and other Science related disciplines(e.g. Physics, Chemistry) or a closely related field
AND one (1) year of full-time professional experience in a combination of forecasting, meteorology, data collection and manipulation, analysis, reporting, and support.

NOTE: A legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. 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 credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Stronger candidates will be those that demonstrate depth and breadth of skill and ability, through a combination of professional experience and formal training, to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position.

The Exceptional Applicant will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following: Additional experience in the duties listed in the Description of the Job section; Strong background in Meteorology, Hydrology, Oceanography and Earth Sciences; Weather Forecasting experience in a transportation industry; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Working knowledge of forecasting models using HRRR, NAMS, GFS, etc.; Knowledge of snow and ice material usage (granular and liquid products); Strong ability to review data and make recommendations for snow and ice operations needed; Knowledge of government transportation policy; Highest work/ personal ethics and integrity; Excellent interpersonal skills; Keen willingness to learn; Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite, and Gmail; experience with Microsoft SharePoint & Google Drive a plus; A current Colorado Driver's License.


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