Director of Transportation - Transportation Department - 559 (Unclassified)

JOB INFORMATION

The Transportation Department Director is responsible for ensuring that the Department mission is implemented across all aspects of operations – from long term strategic planning to daily operations and field activities. This role within the City of San Diego is critical to ensuring essential City functions perform efficiently and includes oversight of the most highly visible City infrastructure and customer services for our residents. The Director is responsible for: efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, facilities, and resources; standardizing procedures to improve operating efficiencies; addressing personnel matters including hiring, onboarding, and retention for the Department staff; and ensuring the Department meets or exceeds all performance metrics and customer service standards. There is one current vacancy for a Director.

The current position is on-site, primarily based out of the City facility located at 2781 Caminito Chollas (with regular meetings on-site at 8525 and 8575 Gibbs Drive and Downtown/San Diego City Hall). Interviews for selected shortlisted candidates will be held the week of January 19.

The Department is comprised of approximately 550 employees and the equivalent operating budget for these staff. Department employees are diverse in their backgrounds and functions including staff that perform field operations, engineers/planners, and administrative or fiscal staff. The Director will need to possess the ability to manage all aspects of the operations and implement effective and innovative solutions and cost efficiencies to successfully run the Department. The Director will directly oversee two Divisions within the Department: Business Operations and Fiscal, Administrative, and Information Technology; the Assistant Director will oversee three Divisions: Street; Right of Way Management; and Engineering, Asset Management & Parking.

The position frequently interacts with, and makes formal presentations to the City Council, Council Committees, Mayor’s Office, and community groups, prepares for and participates in news conferences, responds to media inquiries, and works closely with other City departments and regulatory agencies.

This role requires a candidate that has strong leadership, excellent communication skills, is well organized, and has a high level of accountability and urgency. These personal characteristics are of utmost importance rather than a specific background in transportation infrastructure and systems, which is desirable but not required.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Direct oversight for two of the Transportation Department’s Divisions (Business Operations and Fiscal, Administrative, and Information Technology), in close partnership with the Assistant Director who will oversee three Department Divisions (Street, Right of Way Management, and Engineering, Asset Management, & Parking).
• Development and implementation of goals and performance standards, objectives, and policies for the Department.
• Ensuring proper controls and processes are in place to promote and encourage consistent and quality work, plus regular assessment to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Monitoring and reporting on key performance indicators and active assessment of resource, funding, or process improvement needs. Plus, championing and leading continuous improvement efforts across all service areas.
• Partnering with other City departments, agencies, contractors, and service providers to ensure common objectives are achieved and relationships are strengthened.
• Strategic planning and implementation for programs and initiatives to ensure compliance with grants or other funding sources, audits, and City milestones.
• Ensuring strong customer service across the Department and managing Council Office inquiries and public requests for the relevant Department work.
• Benchmarking performance to comparable agencies/municipalities and championing innovative solutions to field operations and capital delivery.
• Representing the Department in meetings with elected officials, agencies, and community groups.
• Strategic development and compelling delivery of presentations to executive management for high priority initiatives and resource needs and budget requests.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Construction, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field, and
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible supervisory and(or) professional management experience in engineering, operations, or management that demonstrates the ability to work in a dynamic environment with a large and diverse workforce. However, any combination of education, experience, and training may demonstrate these qualifications.

Desirable Qualifications:

This role requires a candidate that has strong leadership, excellent communication skills, is well organized, and has a high level of accountability and urgency. These personal characteristics are of utmost importance rather than a specific background in transportation infrastructure and systems, which is desirable but not required.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Regarding Municipal Operations and Transportation Infrastructure

• General knowledge of right of way infrastructure repair and maintenance activities or other related construction activities for a variety of assets: roads, sidewalks, traffic signals, streetlights, trees, and related infrastructure.
• Experience overseeing large capital projects or large operations and maintenance programs with the ability to successfully manage large employee populations (100+), substantial capital or operating budgets ($100M+), and high-profile and visible programs.
• Knowledge regarding City, State, and Federal standards, laws, and regulations.

Regarding Service and Customers

• Interest in municipal services and how they impact the community.
• Experience managing diverse operations with a high-volume of customer requests or competing priorities.
• Motivated by delivering exceptional internal and external customer service.

Regarding Employes, Teambuilding, and Interpersonal Skills

• Operates with an employee-first approach to ensure employees are valued, respected, and resourced.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience and a desire to build and grow high performing teams.
• Experience and a desire to partner with other entities to ensure common goals are achieved (including other agencies, Departments, contractors/vendors, Council Offices, Represented Employee Organizations, etc.).

Regarding Goals and Accountability

• Ability to establish clear goals, expectations, and priorities for teams and successfully monitor and manage to completion.
• A high level of accountability to ensure both day-to-day tasks are achieved and high level initiatives are completed, even in the face of competing priorities.

Regarding Problem Solving and Communication

• Strong quantitative analytical abilities with an ability to develop practical solutions with the resources available.
• Ability to comprehend technical details and understand how they relate to and impact the “big picture.”
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information in a simple, clear, and straightforward manner (including the use of completing graphics), and across various audiences, including elected officials, City management, and members of the public.
• Overall excellent writing and communication skills.

Regarding Pace and Adaptability

• A desire to solve problems and integrate process improvements, and an ability to work in a resource-constrained environment with a “can do” attitude.
• Energetic and motivated with the ability and desire to take initiative.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with tight time constraints.
• A desire to innovate and improve processes and operations.
• Understanding for how to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Highly ethical and objective, with the ability to navigate in a political environment without being political.

The Department:

The Transportation Department is responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, streetlights, and traffic signals, and engineering of multimodal transportation systems; managing the Utilities Undergrounding Program; and management and coordination of resurfacing and utility work within the public right-of-way. The Department manages large capital operations and receives a high volume of customer service requests with the most publicly-visible “essential” infrastructure across the City.

The Department is comprised of approximately 550 staff and five distinct Divisions: Right of Way Management; Street; Engineering, Asset Management, & Parking; Fiscal, Admirative, and Information Technology; and Business Operations. The annual budget as adopted for Fiscal Year 2026 is $200M+ for operations and $480M+ for capital improvements; the Department manages $250M+ in grant awards and active grant projects.

The City:

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan".

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2025 operating and capital budget of approximately $5.65 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Benefits:

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.).
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate.
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924.

Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:

Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage for additional information. Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego.

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview. The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Program for employment and vigorously supports diversity in the workplace.

Click Here to Apply: https://jobs.sandiego.gov/job-invite/559/