Transportation Director

City of Bentonville•Bentonville, AR

7d•$112,294 - $149,824

About The Position

The Transportation Director plans, directs, oversees, and coordinates the City’s Engineering, Street, Airport, and Public Works Maintenance departments, along with the local bus transit program and capital street and drainage construction projects. The role conducts long-range City planning for streets, drainage, and the airport; oversees traffic control and design, street maintenance, stormwater control and compliance, and traffic signage, controls, and signals; and ensures projects and documents comply with applicable federal, state, and local policies and regulations. The position oversees two direct reports and 65 total personnel. It manages annual budgets totaling $7 million to $11 million, a 10-year capital improvement program totaling $175 million, a $180 million street bond program, a $20 million drainage bond program, grant oversight of $10 million to $20 million, and assets valued at more than $500 million. The role also directs the overall Transportation Division, including employee hiring, training, work assignment, performance evaluation, and handling complaints and problems. The Director develops and monitors long-term plans, budgets, and public works projects; oversees engineering design, construction, estimating, inspection, and technical reviews; and advises City leadership and the public on transportation and public works matters. The position represents the City at public hearings and meetings, prepares and presents reports, participates in external committees and boards, and works with City officials, staff, contractors, consultants, and community organizations. The position requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in civil or construction engineering and six to ten years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. It also requires five or more years of progressively responsible public works maintenance experience in a management or supervisory role, supplemented by relevant college-level coursework. A valid driver’s license must be maintained. The job involves regular exposure to outdoor weather and occasional exposure to mechanical parts, heights, fumes, chemicals, electrical hazards, and vibration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in civil or construction engineering and six to ten years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five or more years of progressively responsible public works maintenance experience in a management or supervisory role, supplemented by college-level coursework in civil engineering, public administration, construction management, or another job-related field.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license; additional licenses may be required depending on departmental or subordinate requirements.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; respond to inquiries and complaints; write speeches and publication articles; and present information effectively to management, public groups, and boards.
Ability to apply probability, statistical inference, geometry, trigonometry, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw conclusions, interpret technical instructions, and handle abstract and concrete variables.
Knowledge of public administration principles and practices, including budgeting and purchasing, and of hazards and generally accepted safety standards.
Ability to plan, direct, and integrate street services; analyze complex issues and alternatives; develop sound conclusions and recommendations; and present proposals clearly in public meetings.
Ability to develop and evaluate management practices and procedures and exercise independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with City Council members, officials, department heads, staff, organizations, and others.
Ability to interpret and apply memorandums of understanding, hangar ground leases, grant procedures, City ordinances, and administrative rules and regulations.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and use a personal computer, engineering applications, and data management software.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including standing, using hands, reaching, talking or hearing, frequent walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee Engineering, Street, Airport, and Public Works Maintenance operations, as well as the local bus transit program and grants.
Prepare, review, and adjust annual operating budgets and bond capital project budgets.
Develop, implement, and monitor long-term plans, goals, and objectives aligned with the City’s mission and City Council priorities.
Oversee planning, design, construction, and estimating for public works projects, including streets, transportation facilities, public structures, airport projects, and stormwater systems.
Develop plans for surface transportation projects in accordance with engineering standards and state or federal construction policies.
Plan modifications to drainage systems, streets, highways, and freeways to improve drainage and traffic flow.
Perform field engineering calculations related to change orders and contract estimates.
Review private development, airport, highway, and bridge plans, locations, contracts, and cost estimates for technical accuracy; approve acceptable proposals or recommend corrections.
Direct research related to street planning and engineering and establish street engineering policies and procedures.
Analyze collected data to estimate costs and determine project feasibility.
Prepare or direct the preparation and modification of reports, specifications, plans, construction schedules, environmental impact studies, and project designs.
Direct preparation of reports for state and federal officials and represent the City at hearings with public officials, contractors, and engineering personnel.
Prepare and present public transportation reports and study vehicular and pedestrian traffic conditions.
Plan, organize, and direct transportation studies for surface transportation systems.
Supervise control and inspection of City public works construction projects involving the airport, streets, and stormwater.
Provide information to the Mayor, City Council, citizens, and City departments concerning engineering, street maintenance, airport operations, drainage, traffic signals, and capital street projects.
Participate in external committees, boards, and task forces, and conduct and attend meetings.
Review consulting engineers’ capital project designs and reports and provide technical recommendations to the Mayor.
Review documents submitted by subordinates for completeness and accuracy.
Manage and evaluate Transportation Division operations, including hiring, training, work direction, performance appraisal, employee recognition and discipline, and resolving complaints and problems.