Highway Laborer at Maine Arts Commission in Houlton, ME

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department of Transportation

Salary: $15.10 - $20.64

To view the full salary range of this position, click here.

Office/Bureau: Maintenance and Operations

Location: Houlton, ME

Opening Date: May 26, 2026

Closing Date: June 9, 2026

Job Description:

This position performs skilled and strenuous physical labor in support of highway maintenance, construction, and facility upkeep projects. Responsibilities include setting up and maintaining safe work zones, directing traffic through active construction areas, operating hand and power tools, digging trenches, clearing debris, and assisting with roadway and drainage maintenance. Employees also support grounds and building maintenance by mowing, snow removal, painting, and minor carpentry work, while ensuring vehicles and equipment are cleaned, fueled, lubricated, and properly maintained. Work is performed under close supervision with a strong emphasis on safety, teamwork, and efficiency.

Key duties include:

• Setting up traffic control devices and flagging traffic to protect workers and the traveling public
• Assisting with highway and construction projects through manual labor, material handling, and site preparation
• Operating hand tools, small equipment, and maintenance machinery safely and effectively
• Cleaning and maintaining roadsides, culverts, ditches, buildings, and grounds
• Inspecting and reporting maintenance needs for roads, bridges, signs, and equipment
• Recording field data, completing simple reports, and following project plans and specifications

For this position candidates must meet the following experience criteria:

Possession of the above knowledges and abilities and be at least 18 years of age.

Some positions may require a Maine Class C motor vehicle operator’s license.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by clicking the "Apply for this Opening/Apply Now" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and any applicable copies of post-secondary transcripts, licensing, registration and certifications.

For general questions or for Current MaineDOT employees in the Transportation Worker series who wish to be considered for a transfer and must complete and submit a Transportation Worker Reassignment Form indicating your interest please contact: Maine Department of Transportation, Attn: Monica Yeater, Human Resources Specialist, 41 Rice Street, Presque Isle, Maine 04769. Telephone: 207-764-2216 Email: monica.yeater@maine.gov

Why join our team?

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Wellness – We care about you and your family’s wellbeing, offering 12 days of sick leave annually to help you stay healthy.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($358.08 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.