Highway Maintenance Operator

Position Summary NOW HIRING!

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE OPERATOR

Benton County Public Works/Highway Department

Join Our Team!Help keep Benton County’s roads safe, accessible, and moving year-round. We’re looking for a dependable, safety-minded individual to operate equipment, maintain county roads, and support essential highway operations in all seasons.

The Benton County Public Works/Highway Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Highway Maintenance Operator.

Hours of Work Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. During the summer, hours are Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Friday, 7:00–11:00 a.m. Schedules may be adjusted based on departmental needs, weather conditions, emergencies, and other operational demands. Employees may be required to work outside their regular scheduled hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather or emergency situations. Interview Process Initial interviews may be conducted by phone or in person. Dates and times are to be determined. Candidates selected for an interview will receive additional information and scheduling instructions by email. Please monitor your email for updates. Field Skills Test A field skills test may be required as part of the selection process. Dates and times are to be determined. Candidates selected to participate will receive additional information and scheduling instructions by email. Application Deadline Monday, November 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

View Full Job Description and Apply: Benton County Career Opportunities

Position Summary Responsible for the maintenance and repair of Benton County roads, bridges, related structures, and highway maintenance equipment. Safely operates a variety of highway maintenance equipment and performs roadway maintenance activities to ensure safe, efficient, and accessible travel for the public.Essential Duties and Responsibilities Duties and ResponsibilitiesEssential Functions A. Maintain and inspect county roads, ditches, signs, and culverts, and perform related duties in all seasonal conditions. A. 1. Haul and place gravel and bituminous on county highways and roads. A. 2. Perform pavement maintenance and repair. A. 3. Operate snowplows and other heavy equipment to remove snow, ice, and storm debris from County roadways and apply ice control materials. A. 4. Maintain land and ditches, which may include cutting brush, grass, shaping and seeding slopes, spraying weeds, and applying herbicides, as needed. A. 5. Assist the Sheriff’s Office with seasonal road restrictions. A. 6. Maintain and repair culverts, ditches, bridges, right-of-way, etc., including brush and weed control and herbicide application. B. Operate light and heavy equipment. C. Install and remove snow equipment. D. Install and maintain traffic control devices and signage and conduct flagging operations. E. Perform minor to occasional major repairs, maintain maintenance equipment and vehicles, to ensure compliance with DOT safety regulations. F. Communicate with the public regarding highway department operations and respond to questions and concerns in a timely and professional manner. G. Perform monthly inventory checks.

Additional Functions A. Attend training as needed. B. Complete timecard entries accurately and timely. C. Provide occasional directions and technical guidance to seasonal employees regarding projects, processes, and procedures. D. Assist with building maintenance and repair. E. Assist Civil Engineering Technicians. F. Subject to emergency calls outside of normal work hours. G. Perform other duties as assigned or apparent.Minimum Qualifications - Training and Experience Required

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications A. Completion of a two (2) year associate’s diploma or degree program (or higher) in Equipment Operation or a closely related field; and B. Two (2) years of relevant experience in road or highway maintenance, construction, light or heavy equipment operation, or a closely related field; OR C. Equivalent combination of education/training/experience. D. Must possess a valid Minnesota Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and be qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Minnesota; and E. Must be registered, or register, in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and satisfactorily complete the Clearinghouse Query; and F. This is a safety-sensitive position. Must complete and pass all required pre-employment testing; and F. 1. Drug & Alcohol testing. F. 1. 1. Subject to random drug testing. G. Must successfully complete a background check and driver’s license verification; and H. Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures. H. 1. Ability to obtain and maintain, within one (1) year of hire: H. 1. 1. Chainsaw Training and Certification. H. 1. 2. Crane Training and Certification. H. 1. 3. First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, as required by the position. Training, proficiency testing, and certification must be maintained every two (2) years. H. 1. 4. Flagger Training and Certification. H. 1. 5. Forklift and Bucket Training and Certification. H. 1. 6. Pesticide Applicator Training and Certification. H. 1. 7. Tanker Training and Certification.

Preferred Qualifications A. Must maintain a primary residence within a forty (40) minute drive to the primary shop, driving under normal conditions and posted speed limits within one (1) year of employment. This is intended to support timely response to departmental needs, weather-related events, emergencies, and other operational demands in support of public safety. B. Three (3) years of relevant experience in snow plowing. C. Experience operating a motor grader, including snow plowing and shaping gravel roads. D. Experience in performing roadway construction, maintenance, and repair for public works or a highway department. E. Experience operating a variety of heavy and light equipment used in road maintenance and construction. F. Experience operating specialized road maintenance equipment, such as shoulder machines, crack sealers, patching equipment, street sweepers, rollers, road stripers, or similar equipment. G. Experience operating and maintaining trucks and equipment with specialized attachments. H. Experience performing routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and minor repairs on heavy equipment, vehicles, and small engines. I. Experience applying weed and dust control chemicals. J. Experience with traffic control devices. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Physical Demands and Working Conditions Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities A. Knowledge of local and state laws and regulations regarding the operation of equipment, particularly those pertaining to their operation on public streets. B. Knowledge and skill in proper snow and ice removal techniques. C. Knowledge of small and large engine mechanics. D. Skill in operating heavy equipment and vehicles used in roadway maintenance and snow/ice removal. E. Knowledge of state and federal OSHA standards and requirements. F. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. G. Ability to work under limited supervision with general autonomy in determining how objectives are achieved; supervisor generally sets operating benchmarks, goals, and objectives. H. Ability to apply a variety of procedures, policies, and precedents using moderate analytical ability. I. Ability to effectively communicate with the department and other departments, outside agencies, and the public on specialized matters requiring detailed or technical responses/explanations. J. Ability to travel within your daily work assignment. K. Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays. L. Ability to work extended, evening, and weekend hours as needed. M. Must comply with organizational and departmental policies. N. Performs the physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position. O. Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours, as necessary. P. Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and citizen customers. Q. Must comply with data practices policies and standards related to private data. Access to private data is limited strictly to what is necessary to perform assigned job duties. While accessing such data, the employee must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related need. Once the work-related purpose has been met, private data must be properly secured and stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions A. Work is performed both in the office and in the field. B. Headaches, eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome, injuries, and other related occupational hazards reflect some of the most common potential risks associated with office and field work. C. Must be able to perform moderately physically demanding work, typically involving walking, standing, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing staircases and heights, and balancing. Work may require reaching straight ahead and above and below shoulder level with either arm individually or both arms simultaneously. Duties may also involve lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling heavy objects and materials weighing up to 100 pounds. D. Must be able to use fingers for fine manipulation, use the sense of touch and near vision, demonstrate analytical ability, apply sound judgment, work effectively with interruptions, and use effective organizational and interpersonal skills. E. Must be able to communicate verbally and interact effectively with coworkers, supervisors, the public, contractors, and others encountered in the course of work. F. This position occasionally performs work under moderate attention to detail and deadlines. G. The incumbent may be required to work indoors and outdoors, in confined spaces and on uneven ground, independently and with or around others, and interact with the public. H. Work is performed in varied weather conditions and may require working in inclement weather, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, and other adverse weather conditions. Employees may be exposed to changing weather conditions, uneven terrain, traffic, moving equipment, and other hazards associated with highway maintenance and emergency response activities. I. Incumbents may be exposed to the following environmental conditions and occupational hazards: heat, cold, wetness, humidity, marked changes in temperature, dust, fumes, noise, vibrations, toxic chemicals, infectious diseases, insect-borne illnesses, traffic, pressurized equipment, explosive materials, burning materials, moving objects, and other hazards associated with road construction and maintenance. J. Employees may be required to respond to weather-related events and other emergencies, which may involve working outside regular business hours, during evenings, weekends, holidays, or extended periods as operational needs require. K. This position may be intermittently exposed to foul or offensive language, offensive behavior, threats, mental effort, and stressful situations. L. This position is exposed to the potential dangers of distracted driving. M. Subject to a random drug testing program.

Hours of Work A. Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. B. Seasonal Summer hours: Monday – Thursday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Fridays, 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. C. Schedules may be adjusted based on departmental needs, weather conditions, emergencies, and other operational demands. Employees may be required to work outside their regular scheduled hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather or emergency situations.

Equipment Utilized A. Office equipment, computer hardware and software, two-way radio, and phones. B. Light and heavy road maintenance vehicles, equipment, and tools used in the performance of duties. C. Equipment Operation and Maintenance: C. 1. Responsible for operating and maintaining a wide range of light and heavy specialized equipment, including motor graders, loaders, dump trucks, sign trucks, snow equipment, street sweepers, rollers, tractors and attachments, backhoes/excavators, shouldering machines, crack sealer machines, dura patchers, patch trailers, screen plants, chippers, dozers, trash pumps, forklifts and attachments, sprayers, steamers, cranes and hoists, truck scales, portable air compressors, packers, welders, skid loaders, chainsaws, pole saws, string trimmers, bucket trucks, plasma cutters, torches, grinders, band saws, drill presses, brine systems, post benders/presses, sand blasters, road stripers, generators, air tools, and transit/laser levels.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" employment relationship. The County Board, County Administrator, or appropriate Elected Official retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Benefits

Benton County offers an exceptional benefit package, including paid time off and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package are life insurance, medical, vision, and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan); deferred compensation plan, and Public Employees Retirement (pension) - (PERA). Health Insurance is covered under the Local No. 49ers Health Plan.

BENTON COUNTY BENEFIT SUMMARY

This summary is intended for general information purposes and does not represent the legal description of our benefit package. The summary plan descriptions, Benton County personnel policies, or applicable labor contracts contain more complete information and will prevail in the event of a discrepancy.

TO VIEW BENTON COUNTY'S BENEFITS GUIDE FOR DETAILS ON BENEFITS, CLICK HERE.

COMPETITIVE AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION:

It is the policy of Benton County that competitive and equitable compensation be provided to employees, consistent with the Local Government Pay Equity Act and federal standards. We strive to be a market-competitive employer with compensation rates that are externally competitive and internally equitable. To do so, Benton County has adopted an annual classification maintenance program that provides for the ongoing review of all job classifications on a three-year rotating cycle. The Human Resource Department has information regarding the county’s Compensation Plan, job classifications, and annual classification maintenance program.

PAID TIME OFF (PTO):

PTO is defined as authorized absence from duty with pay granted to employees in permanent employment positions. The amount of PTO earned is dependent upon hours worked and the employee’s length of service measured from his or her last date of continuous service with Benton County in accordance with the following schedule:

YEARS OF SERVICE

ANNUAL ACCRUAL RATE

PER PAY PERIOD

ACCRUAL RATE

PTO

DAYS EARNED

0 through 2 years

168 HOURS

6.46 HOURS

21 PTO DAYS

3 through 6 years

192 HOURS

7.39 HOURS

24 PTO DAYS

7 through 10 years

216 HOURS

8.31 HOURS

27 PTO DAYS

11 through 15 years

240 HOURS

9.23 HOURS

30 PTO DAYS

16 through 20 years

264 HOURS

10.15 HOURS

33 PTO DAYS

21+ years

288 HOURS

11.08 HOURS

36 PTO DAYS

Employees in regular part-time positions, who normally work fourteen or more hours per week, shall earn PTO on a pro-rata basis.

HOLIDAYS:

Benton County observes the following 13 calendar holidays:

New Year's Day Martin Luther King Day President's Day Good Friday (4 hours) Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day The day after Thanksgiving Day Christmas Eve (4 hours) * Christmas Day **If Christmas Eve falls on a workday, County Offices (excluding the Sheriff’s Office) will close at noon.

*Except for the December 24th holiday, if the holiday falls on a Saturday, the previous Friday shall be designated as the official holiday. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be designated as the official holiday.

HEALTH INSURANCE:

All employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49, shall be covered under the Local No. 49ers Health Plan. Newly hired employees will be eligible for coverage effective on the first day of the month immediately following their date of hire. Effective January 1, 2026, Benton County shall contribute toward employee health insurance according to the following caps: the lesser of $1,706.58 per month or the full cost of the Local No. 49ers Health Plan for 2026, and the lesser of $1,756.58 per month or the full cost of the Local 49ers Health Plan for 2027.

VISION INSURANCE:

All employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49, may elect to purchase supplemental vision insurance through VSP. Newly hired employees who choose this option will be eligible for coverage effectively on the first day of the month immediately following their date of hire.

HEALTH CARE SAVINGS PLAN:

Several classifications of employees participate in a post-employment pre-tax savings plan designed to help save for future medical expenses. For employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49, Benton County will deduct $19.23 from each biweekly paycheck and remit such withholding to a post-employment health care savings plan administered by the Minnesota State Retirement System.

LIFE INSURANCE:

Regular full-time employees and elected officials shall be provided with a $15,000 employer-paid Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) term life insurance policy. (As of 1/1/2026, Age Reductions no longer apply.)

OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE:

Additional life insurance coverage is available at the employee's expense.

SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE:

Employees may elect to purchase supplemental insurance through AFLAC. Available policies include short-term disability, accident, cancer, dental, critical illness, life, and vision insurance.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY:

Regular full-time employees may elect to enroll in long-term disability insurance. Long-term disability benefits provide up to 60% of the employee's monthly income, beginning on the 91st day of total disability. Employees must elect a coverage amount at the time of enrollment. Benefits continue until the employee is able to return to work or reaches retirement age. The maximum benefits duration is determined by the Social Security normal retirement date.

RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

Retirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA). For more information on PERA, visit www.mnpera.org.

PERA covers Minnesota local government public employees and non-teaching school staff. Membership is required once you meet the earnings threshold, and your earnings exceed $425 in a single month. Once you meet this threshold, your employer will enroll you in your membership group, and you will contribute a percentage of each paycheck to PERA.

As an employee of Benton County, you are enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA). As noted, participation is mandated for all public employees and includes contributions from your employer.

YEARS EMPLOYEE EMPLOYER

PERA PLAN TO VESTED CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION

PERA–Coordinated Plan 3 Years 6.50% 7.50% PERA–Correctional Plan 5-10 Years 6.83% 10.25% PERA–Police & Fire Plan 5-10 Years 11.80% 17.70% PERA–Defined Contribution Plan 5 Years 5.00% 5.00%

Once "vested" in PERA, you have secured a cash benefit for your retirement in this defined benefit retirement plan. Unlike most retirement plans today, PERA will provide secure retirement payments that are not dependent on the financial market. You can calculate your retirement payments at any time! Alternatively, you may choose to take a refund of your contributions if preferred once you are no longer active in the PERA plan.

PERA – VESTING:

PERA – Coordinated Plan – 3 years (36 service credits) PERA – Correctional Plan – 5 – 10 years (50% vested at 5 years; 100% vested at 10 years) PERA – Police & Fire Plan – 5 – 10 years (50% vested at 5 years; 100% vested at 10 years)

DEFERRED COMPENSATION:

Deferred Compensation plans are voluntary, long-term savings plans designed to help employees prepare for retirement. Employees may elect to defer a portion of their paycheck into a Deferred Compensation plan authorized under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. Both pre-tax and ROTH options are available.

PENSION:

Minnesota State Law allows public employees to participate in paid pensions. The Central Pension Fund (CPF) plan of Benefits and Trust Agreement governs the plan for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 49. The hourly contribution rate will apply to all straight-time hours compensated; however, no pension contributions shall be made on overtime hours. For the period from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, the contribution to the Central Pension Fund will be $1.50 per hour for each member of the Bargaining Unit, up to a maximum of 2,080 hours per calendar year.