Do you have an interest in performing design and construction duties on transportation improvement projects? Join the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as a Project Development Specialist today!

The WI Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD) is seeking an interested and qualified individual to fill a Project Development Specialist (Transportation Specialist Entry or Senior) vacancy in the North Central Region!

This full-time position will be headquartered in Rhinelander, WI.

WisDOT is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year.
• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits (health plan options start at just $37/month for single plans and $92/month for family plans after two months of employment)
• A casual office atmosphere, flexible work schedules, and telework options depending on the position’s requirements
• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being

In addition to our generous employee benefits, we strive for inclusivity and celebrate different religious holidays and cultural observances and provide flexibility for utilizing paid time off for such celebrations. For more information on WisDOT you can visit our website by clicking here.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is an organization dedicated to creating transportation solutions through innovation and exceptional service. We are committed to fostering an environment rooted in Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, and Accountability.  Click here to learn more about how we apply these values in our work.

Every day, WisDOT’s Division of Transportation System Development plays the leading role in the upkeep and improvement of nearly 12,000 miles of state highways and bridges used by millions of people. You’ll find that behind every barrel is a dedicated team from a wide array of backgrounds including engineering, planning, environmental services, public outreach, real estate, finance and many more. It can be a challenging job, but we think you’ll find it’s an awfully rewarding one, too.

We’re looking for detail-oriented critical thinkers to help deliver a quality program to build, improve and maintain transportation infrastructure throughout the state. We encourage anyone at any point in any career to take a look at WisDOT opportunities and give some thought to how your skills and resume line up. Having a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a passion for creating lasting, impactful work will go a long way here. It’s a big system with lots of opportunity and responsibilities.  

Are you up for it? At WisDOT, you can Build the Future – NOW. 

This position is a Project Development Specialist in the Project Development Section (PDS) of North Central Region (NCR). 

At the entry level: Under the close supervision of a Project Development Supervisor or Project Manager, this position is responsible as an assistant project leader for the development of plans, specifications, and estimates for simple and moderately complex design projects, and as an assistant construction project leader/inspector for construction projects. The design portion of this position is responsible for completing the studies, reports, documentation, plans and specifications necessary for planning, location, and design of simple highway improvement projects.  As an assistant construction project leader, this position performs the inspection, direction of assigned personnel, project layout and public relations for utility relocations and construction projects. This construction position assists in the review of construction project final documentation.

At the senior level: This position performs a variety of difficult specialized duties on transportation improvement projects in both the construction and design phases.  This position completes duties under the general supervision of a Project Development Supervisor and in coordination with a Project Manager. This position is also responsible to assist or act as a project leader in the development of plans and specifications and estimates for simple and moderately complex design projects. This design position is responsible for completing the studies, reports, documentation, plans and specifications necessary for planning, location, and design of simple highway improvement projects as an assistant design project leader. This position is responsible to assist or act as a construction project leader in the inspection of construction projects. This construction position also leads in the review of construction project final documentation review.

This position is responsible as construction project leader for small, medium, and large construction projects.  As construction project leader, this position assumes the responsible charge for all construction activities, including the inspection, direction of assigned personnel, project layout, and conducting of public involvement for construction projects.  This position administers construction contracts to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, and acceptable construction practices, and represents the department in high level contacts with the public and local officials.  The projects may involve roadway and bridge reconditioning or reconstruction, substantial grading and paving, erosion control issues, complex layout, utility conflicts, various types of construction, traffic handling operations, and environmental issues.

The entry level position is in schedule-range 14-15 with an annual salary of $47,840 - $57,658, plus excellent benefits.

The senior level position is in schedule-range 14-14 with an annual salary of $58,240 - $70,720, plus excellent benefits.

A twelve month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.

Occasional travel to field sites for work purposes is required.

WisDOT does not sponsor work visas.  Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States. WisDOT is not an E-verify employer.

Prior to any appointments for position(s) filled from this announcement, candidates may be subject to a comprehensive criminal background check which may include FBI fingerprinting.

Certain positions within this Department may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. For permanent positions that allow remote work flexibility, Wisconsin residency is not required. However, it is not anticipated that working outside of Wisconsin (or bordering cities) will be allowed because positions may at times need to report to office locations in Wisconsin on short notice.

Qualified candidates at the entry level must have education OR experience with engineering principles and methods - may include: using engineering software, reviewing plats or surveys, reading and interpreting technical documents, construction inspection, material testing, preparing plans and bid documents, etc.

Qualified candidates at the senior level must have extensive education OR experience with engineering principles and methods.

Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process.  Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don’t have an account. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Your application materials are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on how to develop and what should be included in these materials, click here. For more information on the basics of the selection process and how the State of WI ensures fair and equitable treatment of all applicants, click here. The vast majority of applicants are able to outline their background and experience in their resume in 1-3 pages. Any resumes submitted with more than 10 pages will not be considered after page 10. If this job posting requires a letter of qualifications, the same limit applies.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline.

Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Questions can be directed to Allie Strullmyer at allison.strullmyer@dot.wi.gov or (608) 267-7946.

Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis until the position is filled. The first application review deadline is 11:59pm on Monday, February 5th 2024.