Deputy Public Transit Director - Management Services Division

City of Phoenix; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 119,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Traditional pension

401(a) and 457 plans

Company medical plans

Post-Employment Health Plan

Wellness incentive

Bus pass

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Parental leave

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department seeks an experienced budget and accounting professional to serve as Deputy Public Transit Director over its Management Services Division. You will oversee the department's fiscal team and guide the annual budget, accounts payable, payroll, billing, and long-term financial planning for a $400 million operating budget.

You will lead a skilled team, mentor staff, forecast financial scenarios, and coordinate with City departments and Valley Metro to

Qualifications

• Four years of professional experience in transit planning, transit management, or transit operations, or related services.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, engineering, urban or transportation planning or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the budget process and long-term financial planning for the department.
• Lead and mentor the Management Services Division and its teams to meet goals and deadlines.
• Coordinate with City departments and Valley Metro as well as other partners.
• Supervise customer service teams and manage cash handling and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with government accounting, budgeting, and internal controls.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial forecasting

Government budgeting

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration

Tools

SAP

Job description

About This Position

The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department is seeking an experienced and innovative government budget and accounting professional to fill the position of Deputy Public Transit Director over its Management Services Division. This division oversees various departmental functions, the largest of which is the department's fiscal team overseeing the annual budget process, accounts payable, payroll, dial-a-ride billing, revenue management, billing and reconciliation with other departments and agencies, and long-term financial planning. This position is perfect for a financial professional interested in managing a team overseeing a large, complex dedicated transit budget which includes multiple funding sources, coordination with other City departments, and collaboration with Valley Metro, the regional public transit agency. The department manages a $400 million operating budget and a five-year CIP budget of over $1.4 billion. The department budget includes funds from the dedicated Transportation 2050 (T2050) sales tax, regional funds, and approximately $50-100 million in annual federal formula and competitive grants per year. Management of these funds serves Phoenix transit users of bus, light rail, and dial-a-ride and is instrumental in forecasting for large, transformative transit projects like Light Rail expansion and Bus Rapid Transit. The voter-approved T2050 program is in place through 2050, so financial acumen and long-term visioning is a plus. This position also supervises the customer service teams providing riders with assistance, counting millions of dollars in cash for the region, and handling lost-and-found.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• The ideal candidate for this position has an extensive background in government budgeting and accounting as well as the ability to build, mentor, and lead successful teams.
• An ideal candidate will have the ability to:
• Lead and grow a team of professionals and ensure they meet goals and deadlines.
• Independently problem-solve complicated financial issues.
• Perform long-range financial forecasting and communicate it to various audiences using easily understood methods.
• Analyze and manage complex federal and regional policies and constraints.
• Communicate effectively and regularly with internal and external stakeholders and regional partners.
• An ideal candidate will also have knowledge of:
• Government accounting and budgeting.
• Long-term financial forecasting.
• Financial systems, such as SAP.
• Supervisory best practices.

SALARY

Pay Range: $119,350.40 - $163,404.80 annually.

Hiring Range: $119,350.40 - $144,123.20 annually.

Pay Range Explanation

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• The City contributes 9% of salary into 457/401(a) plans with no matching required. $4,200/annual car allowance and $1,440/annual cell phone allowance.

Benefits

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability
• Free Bus/light rail pass
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

For more details, visit: Middle Manager Benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four years of professional experience in transit planning, transit management, or transit operations, or in related technical and administrative support services.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, engineering, urban or transportation planning or a related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education which meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of experience using robust financial systems.
• Five years of experience in municipal or other government agency budgeting.
• Five years of experience supervising teams of professional staff.
• Experience reporting financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Experience drafting reports and presenting to executives and City Council.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes October 20, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

REFERENCE

Deputy Public Transit Director, JC:17880, ID# 63256, 10/8/2026, USM, PO/JR, Benefits: Middle Manager

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

#DoWorkThatMakesPhoenixWork

City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.