Assistant Transportation Director

City of Carlsbad

Carlsbad (CA)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The City of Carlsbad is seeking a senior transportation leader to manage and advance the City’s transportation, traffic, mobility, and drainage service areas. You will work under the Transportation Director to translate policy into programs, supervise staff, and drive compliance with regulatory requirements.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and proven ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams, city partners, and the community.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, public administration or related field.
At least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in municipal government administration at the management/supervisory level.
Possession of a valid Civil Engineer (PE) license is required.

Responsibilities

Assist Transportation Director in planning, organizing and managing transportation, traffic, mobility, and drainage service areas.
Provide complex administrative support to the Director and implement department goals and priorities.
Oversee budget preparation and ensure operations stay within allocated funds.
Direct staff reports and oversee hiring, training and performance evaluations.
Represent the Department at meetings, hearings and professional conferences; engage with community stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Public speaking

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or public administration

Job description

Carlsbad – The Community

City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County where a great climate, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and abundant natural open space combine with world-class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a charming village atmosphere to create the ideal California experience. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the City of Carlsbad is currently home to about 115,000 residents. The city sets the standard for high-quality local government services and is home to corporate headquarters in technology, life sciences and action sports, supported by a thriving tourism market and nearly 40 percent preserved open space. Thanks to an award‑winning growth management plan, the city's infrastructure and services keep pace with development and promote an excellent quality of life.

City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County where a great climate, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and abundant natural open space combine with world‑class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a charming village atmosphere to create the ideal California experience. Covering nearly 40 square miles, the City of Carlsbad is currently home to about 115,000 residents. The city sets the standard for high-quality local government services and is home to corporate headquarters in technology, life sciences and action sports, supported by a thriving tourism market and nearly 40 percent preserved open space. Thanks to an award‑winning growth management plan, the city's infrastructure and services keep pace with development and promote an excellent quality of life.

Position

Carlsbad – The Community

The Branch

The Public Works Branch is responsible for planning, providing and maintaining infrastructure that supports Carlsbad's excellent quality of life. The branch includes a variety of departments including Environmental Sustainability, Fleet & Facilities, Construction Management & Inspection, Transportation and Utilities. More than 195 full‑time equivalent staff support the branch, which also has an annual total budget of over $123 million, along with a total Capital Improvement Program (CIP) appropriation of over $110 million. These areas of services are often referred to as "Public Works". To learn more please visit: City of Carlsbad - Public Works Department.

Basic Function

Under the general direction of and in collaboration with the Transportation Director, this management position performs managerial, administrative, and professional functions in managing the daily operations and service areas of transportation within the City of Carlsbad. These service areas include Transportation and Drainage Engineering and Asset Management, Traffic and Mobility Transportation Planning and Engineering, Streets and Storm Drain Maintenance, and project management activities related to transportation services.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a single incumbent position reporting directly to the Transportation Director. The incumbent provides general strategic and administrative direction to the transportation service areas that are assigned.

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists is required.

Key Leadership Expectations

This is a key leadership position within the Transportation Department. The incumbent shall be expected to model the city’s commitment to employee engagement and development in all leadership activities. This includes valuing diverse opinions; cultivating a culture of trust; mentoring staff through ongoing discussion and meaningful feedback; helping people with life as well as work issues; being an encourager; and thinking long‑term.

You Belong In Carlsbad

The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

Key Responsibilities

Assists the Transportation Director in the planning, organization, and management of transportation, traffic, mobility, and drainage service areas within the Transportation Department.
Provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Director.
Assists in the implementation of the City’s and departments over all goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
Develops plans and implement goals and objectives for reporting service areas.
Identifies, establishes, achieves, and reports on progress toward goals and objectives.
Serves in leading a diverse group of people with a positive attitude by creating and maintaining an encouraging and supportive working environment.
Advises the Director in the development, supervision, and evaluation of key personnel and principal subordinates. Oversee the selection, placement, training, and supervision of assigned managers for Transportation and Drainage Engineering and Asset Management, Streets and Storm Drain Maintenance, and Analysts.
Oversees the development and administration of the operating and capital improvement budgets for assigned service areas.
Works with the Director and staff to oversee and plan budgetary guidelines, and ensure departmental operations are within allocated amounts for the various funds.
Evaluates work processes and implements best practices for transportation-related services.
Evaluates training needs and coordinates training and professional growth opportunities.
Develop partnerships with other city departments and external agencies to coordinate relevant projects and programs related to transportation services. Models effective communication and a team approach.
Develop and tracks legislation and regulations related to each assigned service area.
Directs and oversees preparation of staff reports, agenda items, studies, and surveys.
Represents the Department at community meetings board and council meetings, public hearings, and professional conferences. Initiates and maintains relationships with community and professional organizations.
Develops and implements policies and procedures. Prepares and presents written and oral reports, studies, and correspondence to a variety of entities.
Ensures transportation-related services are provided with exceptional customer service and the highest level of ethical standards.
Embodies the attributes of a great leader to guide staff efforts to build and sustain an extraordinary Carlsbad community; those attributes include critical thinker, effective communicator, respectful listener, courageous problem solver, kind and generous employee coach/manager who serves others before self.
Acts as department head in the absence of the Transportation Director.
Performs other related duties as assigned by the Transportation Director or as the situation requires.

Qualifications

To perform a job in this classification, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties as generally described in the specification. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties in a specific job. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Knowledge Of

Transportation operations, engineering, asset management, maintenance, permit requirements, and legal considerations.
Design, contracting, construction methods, and best practices of engineering service areas.
Development and negotiation of contracts and agreements.
Local, and federal laws, regulations, permits ordinances, and reporting relevant to Transportation Department service areas.
Principles of municipal budget administration, governmental budget, and financial management principles.
Budgeting requirements for both operating and capital improvement program budgets.
Consensus building and conflict resolution.
Organizational and technical data systems.
Policy development.
Management and development of staff resources.
Methods and techniques for determining transportation priorities.
Principles of supervision, performance review, and training; strategies for staff development, training, progression, and succession planning.
Principles, methods, and procedures of personnel and financial management.
Public outreach and effective citizen engagement.
Public policy and procedure development.
Gaining cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
Making independent judgments and decisions based on policies and procedures.

Ability To

Plan, organize, and direct the assigned service areas and programs.
Analyze workflows and organize, assign, and schedule assignments accordingly.
Communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
Communicate technical theories in a manner that can be understood.
Develop and implement departmental goals, projects, programs, and policies.
Direct the vision and activities of the transportation service areas assigned.
Effectively manage workplace diversity issues in adverse organization.
Effectively train and supervise subordinates.
Establish and maintain smooth and effective working relationships and resolve interpersonal conflicts in a respectful manner.
Foster a culture that encourages innovation, flexibility, and productive problem solving that is creative and supportive of high-quality customer service to both residents and developers, contractors, partner agencies, and others in the transportation community.
Foster a teamwork environment; develop and implement effective team-building activities.
Lead, coach, instruct, and motivate employees with a servant leadership approach.
Mode and practice the highest standards of ethical conduct.
Plan and prepare effective written reports and oral presentations.
Plan, organize, and prioritize projects.
Review and evaluate employees’ job performance and recommend appropriate personnel action, if necessary.

General knowledge of the following areas of expertise is helpful to successful performance in this position:

Transportation, traffic, stormwater, and drainage regulations and requirements.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Principles and techniques of construction.
Safety issues and liability reduction.
Civil and structural design, architecture, engineering, and construction.
Working through required planning and land development processes.
Environmental law and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Long‑range planning for transportation and planning administration and/or general planning.
Administrative functions and programs.
General contract management principles.
Legislation and regulatory issues.
Principles of organizational, financial, and personnel management.
Willingness to be a servant leader; serve others first; serve with kindness and respect.

Experience & Education

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Required

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, and preferably a graduate degree, from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering, business or public administration, or a closely related field, and at least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the field of municipal government administration, at the management/supervisory level.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Life Insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Retirement under the CalPERS program, 2% @ 62 formula, Classic Members (those who are enrolled in CalPERS at another local agency) have the 2% @ 60 formula
Holidays- 11 scheduled
Floating Holiday- 2
Paid vacation
Executive Leave
Computer purchase loan
Tuition reimbursement

A detailed list of our benefits can be found here: Carlsbad Benefits

Additional CalPERS information can be found here: CalPERS

Are you currently licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California? If so, please provide a copy.
Yes
No

What is your highest level of education?

Attending High School
High School / GED
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or Higher
None of the above

Regarding your education, please indicate your area(s) of study in the space below. If you answered "None of the above," type N/A in the space below.

How many years of progressively responsible professional work experience do you have in the field of municipal government administration, at the management/supervisory level?

None
Less than 1 year
1 year but less than 3
3 years but less than 5
5 or more years

Describe a complex transportation project you managed or led from planning through construction. What was your role, what was the project budget, and what challenges did you encounter related to funding, stakeholder coordination, or regulatory compliance? What was the outcome?