Traffic Management Center (TMC) Operations Manager

GFT•Nashville, TN

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking experienced professionals to support an anticipated statewide Traffic Management Center (TMC) Operations contract for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). As the Traffic Management Center Operations Manager for Regions 3 & 4, you will lead daily operations supporting TDOT's Knoxville and Chattanooga Traffic Management Centers, serving some of Tennessee's most critical interstate corridors and freight routes. You will work closely with TDOT leadership, law enforcement, emergency responders, and regional transportation partners, guiding a team responsible for real-time traffic operations, incident management, traveler information, and operational excellence throughout East Tennessee. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced transportation operations leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment and enjoys mentoring teams, building strong client relationships, and driving continuous improvement. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading daily operations for TDOT's Region 3 and Region 4 Traffic Management Centers, fostering a collaborative, customer-focused culture committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement. You will build strong partnerships with TDOT leadership, emergency responders, public safety agencies, and transportation stakeholders throughout Middle and West Tennessee. You will support transportation operations that improve mobility, enhance incident response, and provide timely traveler information across Tennessee's busiest urban transportation corridors. You will develop, mentor, and support Shift Supervisors and Traffic Management Center Technicians while promoting teamwork, accountability, and professional growth. You will use operational performance measures to identify opportunities for innovation and improved service delivery and advance statewide Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) initiatives through effective leadership and regional collaboration. Additionally, you will manage daily Traffic Management Center operations for the Nashville and Memphis facilities, including staffing, scheduling, operational coordination, and issue resolution. You will provide leadership, coaching, and operational oversight for Shift Supervisors and Traffic Management Center Technicians. You will coordinate with the TDOT State Project Manager, Regional TMC Team Leads, GFT leadership, and regional transportation partners to ensure successful program delivery. You will support Transportation Incident Management (TIM) meetings, after-action reviews, special event planning, and multi-agency operational coordination. You will prepare monthly operational performance reports and evaluate operational effectiveness using established performance measures. You will oversee employee onboarding, training, certification, refresher training, and professional development initiatives. You will support updates to the TDOT Traffic Management Center Operations Manual, operating procedures, and training materials. You will ensure adequate staffing coverage while proactively addressing vacancies, leave coverage, and changing operational requirements. You will monitor operational performance and implement process improvements that enhance traveler information, incident response, and transportation system reliability. You will support SmartWay operations, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), work zone coordination, wrong-way driving initiatives, and other transportation operations programs as assigned. You will promote compliance with established operating procedures, contractual requirements, safety standards, and quality management practices. You will build a collaborative work environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and exceptional customer service.

Requirements

Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing operations within a Traffic Management Center or comparable operations environment with responsibilities involving staff supervision, operational procedures, technology systems, and safety protocols.
Public safety, law enforcement, fire service, emergency management, or first responder leadership experience within Tennessee.
Strong understanding of freeway operations, traffic incident management, traveler information systems, dispatch operations, and transportation operations principles.
Comprehensive knowledge of Traffic Incident Management (TIM) practices and real-time transportation operations.
Experience using Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) or comparable transportation operations software.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Demonstrated leadership experience supervising operational staff and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, 24/7 operations environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience preparing technical reports, operational summaries, correspondence, and performance documentation.
Ability to travel between regional Traffic Management Centers and participate in alternate work schedules or on-call support as operational needs require.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising Traffic Management Center operators, dispatchers, Shift Supervisors, or other real-time transportation operations personnel.
Experience supporting TDOT SmartWay, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Road Ranger/HELP programs, work zone operations, or related transportation initiatives.
Experience with operational dashboards, Power BI, performance analytics, or data-driven decision-making.
Experience working with TDOT or another state Department of Transportation.
Professional certifications related to transportation operations, emergency management, leadership, or project management.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations for TDOT's Region 3 and Region 4 Traffic Management Centers.
Foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Build strong partnerships with TDOT leadership, emergency responders, public safety agencies, and transportation stakeholders throughout Middle and West Tennessee.
Support transportation operations that improve mobility, enhance incident response, and provide timely traveler information across Tennessee's busiest urban transportation corridors.
Develop, mentor, and support Shift Supervisors and Traffic Management Center Technicians while promoting teamwork, accountability, and professional growth.
Use operational performance measures to identify opportunities for innovation and improved service delivery.
Advance statewide Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) initiatives through effective leadership and regional collaboration.
Managing daily Traffic Management Center operations for the Nashville and Memphis facilities, including staffing, scheduling, operational coordination, and issue resolution.
Providing leadership, coaching, and operational oversight for Shift Supervisors and Traffic Management Center Technicians.
Coordinating with the TDOT State Project Manager, Regional TMC Team Leads, GFT leadership, and regional transportation partners to ensure successful program delivery.
Supporting Transportation Incident Management (TIM) meetings, after-action reviews, special event planning, and multi-agency operational coordination.
Preparing monthly operational performance reports and evaluating operational effectiveness using established performance measures.
Overseeing employee onboarding, training, certification, refresher training, and professional development initiatives.
Supporting updates to the TDOT Traffic Management Center Operations Manual, operating procedures, and training materials.
Ensuring adequate staffing coverage while proactively addressing vacancies, leave coverage, and changing operational requirements.
Monitoring operational performance and implementing process improvements that enhance traveler information, incident response, and transportation system reliability.
Supporting SmartWay operations, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), work zone coordination, wrong-way driving initiatives, and other transportation operations programs as assigned.
Promoting compliance with established operating procedures, contractual requirements, safety standards, and quality management practices.
Building a collaborative work environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and exceptional customer service.

Benefits

Wellness programs
Parental leave
Pet insurance
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan
Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual
Tuition reimbursement for continued education
Professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
Incentive compensation for eligible positions