Transportation Director

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

5d • $122,874 - $196,598 • Hybrid

About The Position

Multnomah County, Oregon (Pop. 813,300) The Multnomah County Department of Community Services is recruiting for a highly motivated, confident and strategic leader to oversee and lead the Transportation Division as the next Director of Transportation. The Transportation Director manages a dedicated workforce of over 100 union represented and non-represented employees. With an annual budget of $114,460,446, this Division oversees a diverse transportation system, including rural roads in unincorporated Multnomah County, the iconic county-owned Willamette River Bridges, and urban arterials in East County. The successful Director will be a systems thinker who can lead multifaceted operations, from planning and road maintenance to engineering and capital construction. They will be able to develop a strong vision, have the ability to look upstream, and be proactive in managing the budget. You must be a champion for an inclusive workforce and be comfortable making decisive moves while maintaining a collaborative spirit.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation, Urban Planning, Public Administration or a similar field that would provide the required experience.
• 6 or more years of progressive management experience.
• This must include supervising staff, managing large-scale budgets, and overseeing multi-year projects or programs in transportation or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• A Masters Degree is preferred.
• Experience working in local or state government.
• Demonstrated familiarity with public procurement, contracting, public records and meeting laws.
• Experience with government budgets and managing federal, state and/or local funds is preferred.
• Experience and understanding of asset management principles.
• Knowledge of the link between transportation systems and negative health outcomes for minority communities and approaches to mitigating those outcomes.
• Understanding of major transportation policy initiatives in the region and state and how to advocate for the County’s values and objectives.
• Knowledge of and experience with both large and small scale budgets and funding.
• Skills to manage section managers while promoting an environment of safety trust and belonging.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, via presentations, to audiences ranging from the County board of commissioners and state legislators to regional partners, peers, and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other department staff, other County employees, vendors, contractors, community partners, elected officials and the public.
• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply federal, state and local laws and policies and plans as they relate to transportation planning, road design, road proceeding and regulations, traffic control; general knowledge of planning concepts.
• Ability to negotiate complex issues having broad public policy implications with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with various interest groups.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and orchestrates the implementation of plans, including: long-range transportation plans, including the County transportation system plan and safety action plan, asset management plan, the capital improvement plan (CIP); implements applicable aspects of the Multnomah County Strategic Plan and DCS Strategic Plan. This position will serve as a bridge between high-level policy and operations by integrating the core values objectives of the Multnomah County and DCS Strategic Plans into division workflows.
• Hires, trains, and supervises staff, including engineers, planners, surveyors and maintenance staff. Provide feedback, training and opportunities for growth, mentorship and leadership.
• Oversee the $114M+ budget, manage state and federal grants, and collaborate with Finance on long-term transportation forecasting. Develops, prepares and monitors the Transportation Division Budget, including all capital projects.
• Ensures all operations comply with state, federal, and local laws, including design manuals, American Disability Act regulations, workplace safety (OSHA) standards and other standards and regulations as appropriate.
• Responsible for the day-to-day operations of county road maintenance, bridge maintenance, construction, and bridge operations; demonstrates good judgement during emergency situations.
• Represents the Division to the Board of County Commissioners, community organizations, and government agencies.

Benefits

• employer-funded retirement savings
• health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents
• paid parental leave
• wellness programs
• a focus on work-life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager