Bridge Maintenance Worker (Special Works Crew) (Pictou Area Bridge Crew)

Competition # : 49742

Department: Public Works

Location: MCLELLAN'S BROOK

Zone: 10

Type of Employment: Special Works Crew

Union Status: CUPE - NSPG

Closing Date: 09-Sep-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

Under Article 13 of the Collective Agreement between the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1867, the following opportunity is being posted.

Please quote the competition number and the Zone you are applying for as noted above on your application.

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

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

It is the responsibility of each employee on this Special Work Crew to report to the MacLellans Brook Base at the start of each work day (0700). The employer reserves the right to provide transportation to work sites with Department vehicles.

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

There is one (1) position available that will be based out of the Pictou Construction Area including Maintenance Zones 10 and 11.

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.

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

Pay Grade: BRDG MTN

Salary Range: $29.12 Hourly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current CUPE local 1867 employees with a date of seniority. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to perform duties as necessary within their zone. Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Current employees may apply to this position through the following link:

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.