Highway Maintenance Technician I - Drainage & Canal Maintenance

Position Summary

The Highway Maintenance Technician – Drainage & Canal Maintenance is responsible for cleaning and maintaining roadside canals, drainage ditches, culverts, and stormwater runoff areas to promote proper water flow and reduce flooding risks along highways and roadways. Primary responsibilities include removing debris, clearing vegetation, operating a jon boat, maintaining drainage structures, and performing minor repairs to chain-link fencing. The position also supports general highway maintenance activities, including traffic control, equipment operation, and roadway repairs as directed by project leadership.

This is an entry-level, hands-on position with training provided. Work is physically demanding and performed outdoors in varying weather conditions, often near roadways, waterways, and uneven terrain. Night and weekend shifts, overtime, and on-call emergency response may be required. Candidates should demonstrate a strong work ethic, dependability, attention to detail, and a commitment to safety. Team members will have opportunities to gain experience, earn certifications, and develop their skills in highway maintenance.

This position reports to our Holly Hill, FL office.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Clean and maintain roadside canals, drainage ditches, culverts, swales, and stormwater runoff areas to ensure proper water flow.
• Remove trash, sediment, leaves, branches, vegetation, and other debris that may obstruct drainage systems.
• Clear overgrown grass, weeds, brush, and other vegetation along canal banks, ditch lines, and drainage structures.
• Perform manual labor, including digging, shoveling, raking, lifting, hauling, and removing accumulated materials.
• Clean and clearing drainage pipes, culvert openings, catch basins, and other stormwater structures.
• Identify and report blocked drainage areas, erosion, washouts, damaged culverts, and other conditions requiring additional maintenance or repair.
• Assist with grading, reshaping, and restoring drainage ditches and surrounding areas to maintain proper drainage and prevent erosion.
• Safely operate, navigate, launch, and work from a jon boat to perform canal and waterway maintenance, following all boating safety procedures and using required personal flotation devices (PFDs).
• Load, transport, and properly dispose of collected debris, vegetation, and other materials according to company procedures.
• Respond to drainage-related maintenance needs following heavy rainfall, storms, or other weather events as directed.
• Install, maintain, and repair chain-link fencing along roadways, canals, and designated rights-of-way, including replacing damaged posts, rails, fence fabric, and related hardware.
• Assist with operating or working alongside equipment such as excavators, skid steers, and other machinery used for drainage maintenance.
• Set up and maintain Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) and temporary traffic control zones, signage, and cones, protecting work crews and motorists during roadwork.
• Respond promptly to after-hours emergency incidents as part of a scheduled on-call rotation, demonstrating reliability and readiness.
• Drive company trucks, tow trailers, and operate rolling arrow boards as needed, following all traffic laws and safety guidelines.
• Conduct thorough pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections to ensure equipment is safe and operational.
• Perform preventative maintenance on company vehicles and equipment, supporting long-term reliability and safety.
• May perform landscape maintenance, including mowing, herbicide and fertilizer application, weed control, seasonal clean-ups, tree trimming, and pruning, to ensure clear sightlines and safe road conditions.
• May conduct general roadway maintenance for litter and debris removal to keep highways safe and accessible.
• May perform concrete repairs on sidewalks, bridges, and overpasses, ensuring structural soundness and pedestrian safety.
• May fill and patch asphalt pavement potholes and other surface distresses to provide smooth, hazard-free driving surfaces.
• Safely operate hand tools, weed trimmers, brush cutters, chainsaws, and other maintenance equipment including bed edgers, commercial mowers, mini-excavators, skid steers, gators, blowers, chain saws, line trimmers, forklifts, and more, with skill and care.
• Inspect and maintain assigned tools, vehicles, and equipment to ensure safe working conditions.
• Accurately log maintenance work orders and checklists, both manually and electronically, to ensure clear communication and compliance.
• Follow established safety procedures when working near moving traffic, waterways, steep slopes, heavy equipment, and uneven terrain.
• Maintain a strong safety-first mindset in all tasks, following company and regulatory safety protocols to protect yourself, your team, and the traveling public.
• Work cooperatively with crew members and supervisors to complete assigned maintenance activities efficiently and safely.
• Perform other duties as requested by project leadership.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge

• Basic understanding of roadway maintenance tasks such as debris removal, mowing/trimming, simple repairs, and basic drainage work.
• Previous experience in outdoor labor, highway maintenance, landscaping, drainage maintenance, construction, or similar work preferred.
• Basic understanding of drainage systems, water runoff, ditch cleaning, or vegetation maintenance is a plus.
• Awareness of work zone safety fundamentals, PPE use, and hazard recognition near live traffic. MOT/Flagger concepts are a plus.
• Familiarity with safe operation of common hand and power tools (trimmers, edgers, blowers, pole saws); training provided.
• Follow safety procedures, stop work when conditions are unsafe, and use PPE correctly.
• Take direction well, ask clarifying questions, and complete assigned tasks. Use a smartphone or tablet to receive assignments, enter notes, upload photos, and communicate with the crew.
• Perform basic equipment care, such as cleaning tools and reporting defects.

Abilities

• Work independently on basic tasks and as a cooperative member of a crew while prioritizing safety and quality.
• Lift up to 50 lbs., regularly carry up to 25 lbs., and perform frequent bending, kneeling, climbing in and out of trucks, and walking on uneven terrain near traffic and along waterways.
• Ability to walk and maintain footing on uneven ground, slopes, wet grass, muddy terrain, and along drainage areas.
• Safely board, exit, and work from small boats while maintaining balance and performing assigned maintenance activities in accordance with safety procedures.
• Work outdoors in all weather, including heat, humidity, rain, and wind, and around insects, dust, noise, vegetation, and roadside debris.
• Adapt to multiple shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergency call-backs during storms.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

Required Qualifications

• Must be at least 23 years old (per company insurance requirements).
• Must possess an active and valid Florida driver’s license with no restrictions and be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check and maintain insurability under company policy.
• Basic math, reading, and recordkeeping skills to complete work orders and material logs accurately.
• Ability to obtain Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) or Flagger certification within company timelines
• Willing and able to travel within the assigned district and report to different work sites; living within a reasonable response time to the yard is preferred.
• Compliance with the company's Drug and Alcohol Policy; able to pass pre-employment and random testing. A background check and job-related physical may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Previous experience in road maintenance, vegetation management, aquatic maintenance and remediation, landscaping, construction, or a related field is a plus, but no prior training is required for motivated candidates.
• Previous experience operating small motorized boats, particularly Jon Boats, and performing maintenance activities in or around canals, waterways, or drainage systems.