Bridge Maintenance Worker (Special Works Crew) (Sydney River)

About Us

Building and maintaining our provincial infrastructure is no small job.

At the Department of Public Works, we manage 23,000 kilometers of roads and highways and 4,100 bridges across Nova Scotia. Our District Highway Operations and Bridge Crew are essential to ensuring the safety of various bridges in the province.

About Our Opportunity

As the Bridge Maintenance Worker, your worksite is the great outdoors. You are often working from heights while constructing and maintaining timber, steel, and concrete bridges and culverts, as well as large aluminum structures within your assigned geographic area.

Successful candidates are required to complete two weeks of designated training including classroom and on-the-job training, as well as further on-site training and mentoring from qualified staff to be properly qualified for the various activities/duties of this position. Training will cover various areas including but not limited to: Fall Protection, Ladder Safety, Aerial Boom Lift devices, Rescue Training, Safe Boating Course; Power Saw Safety, Timber Bridge construction techniques; Scaffold Erection and Disassembly; Rigging, Signaling, Confined Space, Level 1 Bridge Inspections.

Primary Accountabilities

The work at times can be intense and physically demanding. There is ample opportunity to travel throughout your assigned area and experience exciting challenges daily. Typical daily duties may include:

• lifting and carrying materials weighing up to 50lbs;
• wheel barrowing concrete up to 50m in distance;
• using jack hammers, troweling or finishing concrete;
• hammering spikes through wooden timbers;
• walking up and down sloped banks with equipment and materials;
• working at heights while wearing fall arrest equipment;
• installing and climbing scaffolding and staging; and
• erecting aluminum signs, barrels and cones.

Qualifications and Experience

You are a quick learner, hard working, and physically fit with three (3) years of related experience.

You must have a valid Class 5 drivers license and an acceptable driving record. Your safety is of utmost importance and therefore you must have the ability to understand and comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations.

Knowledge and/or training in the following would be considered an asset:

• A Class 3 license with air brakes;
• Highway and bridge maintenance experience;
• Fall Arrest Protection, Personal Protective Equipment and Scaffolding, Traffic Control Person;
• WHMIS, First Aid and CPR; and
• Familiarity with Department plans, guidelines and specifications for bridge maintenance, repair and maintenance techniques.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, skill-testing of basic math/literacy assessment, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), reference checks and onsite practical assessments that would involve the physical work of the position.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Successful candidates must be able to work in confined spaces. Offers are conditional upon successful completion of the two-week designated training requirements. Also note that the initial start date of this bridge crew may be subject to the availability of some or all of the above training.

This position requires considerable standing, crouching, lifting, and the wearing of significant personal protective equipment while working at various heights over land and/or water in all types of weather conditions and geographical terrains.

Additional Information

This opportunity is for a special work crew as per Article 15 of the CUPE Collective Agreement.

There is one (1) opportunity based out of Sydney River (Zone 1) in the Sydney Construction Area including Maintenance (Zone 1). You will begin your workday by reporting to 151 Keltic Drive (Sydney River) before going to your assigned work location. The employer reserves the right to provide transportation to work sites with Department vehicles.

It is anticipated that this Special Work Crew will work a minimum of 23 weeks per year (corresponding to the summer works period) and may start earlier and/or extend beyond these dates in any given year depending on bridge work plans/priorities and availability of funding.

A condition of employment is a valid driver abstract. All successful applicants will need to submit one to the department.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths