Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Sign Maintenance

Class code: 003676
Bargaining unit(s): 207
Classification title: Transportation Generalist Senior
Function: Sign Maintenance
Kind of work: Intermediate technical, skilled work, and/or lead worker.

Nature & purpose

Under general supervision an employee in this class oversees difficult technical sign maintenance planning activities; provides ongoing, daily work direction to a sign crew in the installation, repair, or fabrication of signs to maintain the operational status of the sign program; performs related work as required.

This level is different from the Transportation Generalist in that at the Transportation Generalist Senior level, an employee initiates and/or prioritizes work activities, completes a variety of work assignments, chooses the methods in which to complete work using acquired knowledge of the function, and interpret Traffic Engineering Requests and Plans, including sign layouts and wind loading charts in the Traffic Engineering Manual, and apply them in the field.

An employee resolves semi-routine yet uncommon problems by searching for solutions learned from experience. Employees are responsible for completing multiple projects and/or work activities with competing deadlines and may set some priorities in the completion of work. A Transportation Specialist is responsible for completing or leading multiple complex sign maintenance projects and/or work activities and has a substantial degree of authority in planning, organizing, and completing work.

Examples of work

A position may not include all the work examples given, nor does the list include all that may be assigned.

  • Installs, repairs, and removes permanent signs and messages to conform to traffic engineering plans and Traffic Engineering Manual.
  • Schedules sign maintenance projects (sign graffiti cleaning, vegetation control, damaged signs, and improper sign installations), performs work and/or serves as leadworker, conducts inspections, and assists in documenting results.
  • Determines proper traffic control layout and performs traffic control to conform with Traffic Control Field Manual to ensure maximum safety for employees and the traveling public.
  • Installs emergency and temporary signing on detours, and other emergency projects so the motoring public is guided safely through project areas on trunk highways.
  • Implements and inspects pavement marking and signing updates conforms to leadworker or supervisor direction.
  • Provides ongoing and daily responsibility to organize human, equipment, materials, and other resources.
  • Installs or coordinates installation of message painting/taping and markers (snowplow, No Passing Zone) conforms to traffic engineering plans and Traffic Engineering Manual to ensure the safety of the motoring and pedestrian public.
  • Provides ongoing, daily work direction to a sign crew in the fabrication of standard sign elements (applying speed limit numbers or route numbers) conforms to Specifications, traffic engineering plans and Traffic Engineering Manual.
  • Prepares Maintenance and Sign Maintenance Inventory System (Transportation Asset Management System) work orders, inspects completed work, and closes out work orders for traffic modifications.
  • Assists with or conducts field and final inspections to ensure signs and pavement markings are working properly on construction projects or contracts to ensure placement conforms to plans and Traffic Control Field Manual.
  • Assists in analyzing, scheduling, monitoring, and inspecting staking sign locations and conducting Gopher State One Call to ensure no utilities are damaged during sign installation.
  • Assists in monitoring and updating inventory using a sign management software system (Transportation Asset Management System), so inventory is current, and material is ordered and/or available; serves as a member of TAMS Key Expert Group.
  • Provides technical assistance, with input from Traffic Engineering employees to construction inspectors and contractors in the field.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required to be proficient at the job 

Knowledge of:

  • Principles and practices of signing operations, sign repair procedures, sign standards, and/or pavement marking procedures.
  • MN Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Traffic Engineering Manual and Traffic Control Field Manual.
  • Gopher State One Call and cable location procedures.
  • Working knowledge of English sufficient to read, write, speak and understand oral and written information; communicate with employees and the general public in-person or via two-way radio and other electronic devices; and to maintain routine written logs and simple records.

Skill in:

  • Using basic hand tools to handle materials (transport, stockpile, and mix).

Ability to:

Equipment - Perform routine scheduled maintenance; calibrate, set up and adjust equipment; and transfers and operates the full range of MnDOT heavy equipment.
Information Technology Operate a personal computer and various software applications, such as TAMS, to create, edit, and verify data files used to generate e-mails, memos, timesheets, spreadsheets, presentations, and reports. Complete simple data entry, enter time into timesheet and database programs, enter messages into equipment such as programmable message boards, take reading from electronic equipment such as a mapping grade GPS.
Interpersonal - Work cooperatively with peers.  Able to receive verbal instruction and direction.
Leadership - Take responsibility for quality and timeliness of work, respond to unplanned requests, complete assigned tasks and report progress.  Demonstrate behavior consistent with department direction.
Math - Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and all units of measure including fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Oral Communication - Clearly express job-related questions and comprehend answers. Communicate in a team setting.
Problem Solving - Able to follow verbal instructions, can work under the direction of others, work independently, and solve routine technical, process, or people-related problems.
Reading - Comprehend notes, letters, memos, electronic mail (Outlook), white papers, proposals, departmental forms, instructional manuals, and highway plans.
Written Communication - Responds to customer inquiries/requests by translating technical information into responses easily understood by the general public using Outlook and other computer applications.
Technical - Set up work zones and develop work zone plans using the MN Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Install permanent and temporary signs. Monitor sign and other material inventories.

Licenses, Certifications:

Some positions may require a driver’s license, as well as endorsements, specific to position demands and/or equipment required to perform the job within the work area posted.

Technical certifications may be required specific to position demands and will be documented on the posting as to the justification of why specific certifications are necessary.

  • Class A Commercial Driver’s License with no Air Brake restriction.
  • Some positions may require TAPE Certifications.

Minimum Qualifications:

Includes years of experience, education, and training required at the time of application to be considered eligible for the vacancy. The level of experience to perform this job at the TGS level can be achieved with:

  • Two years of experience performing sign operations (e.g. sign repair and installation, sign fabrication, message painting, etc.);

OR

  • One year of experience performing sign operations and one year of experience performing a combination of any of the following:  sign installation and maintenance, roadway, roadside or bridge maintenance, driving commercial vehicles, operating heavy equipment, farm experience, snow plow operations, road construction, construction inspection, permits, materials/soils testing, etc. 
  • Working knowledge of English sufficient to read, write, speak and understand oral and written information; communicate with employees and the general public in-person or via two-way radio and other electronic devices; and to maintain routine written logs and simple records.

Physical capabilities and environmental work conditions:

The physical demands of this job will vary, but typically requires lifting up to 100 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects and/or tools weighing 50-pounds.  This job also may require walking or standing to a significant degree on rough terrain or may involve sitting with pushing and pulling of arm and/or leg controls.  This job will require strenuous manual labor including but not limited to digging, shoveling, hauling, crawling, bending, pushing, pulling and climbing.

Weather elements:

May require frequent exposure to weather elements (both hot and cold) on a daily basis.

EST:

Revised:

  • 2-15-12 Deleted degree
  • 4-10-23 Updated Class Specification

T.C.:

Former Titles:

  • N/A