Director of Transportation & Parking

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Sick and parental leave

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Northwestern University seeks a senior leader to direct parking and transportation services across Evanston and Chicago campuses. You will ensure efficient, cost-effective operations, provide excellent service to students, faculty, staff and visitors, and participate in strategic planning and staffing decisions.

The role requires 5+ years of transportation/parking management experience, a bachelor's degree or higher, and demonstrated contract negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required, plus substantial experience in transportation/parking management.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in transportation and parking management including leadership and program evaluation.
• Experience with planning and operations of special events.
• Experience negotiating contracts and overseeing vendors.

Responsibilities

• Directs transportation and parking services across campuses, developing policies and programs.
• Manages budgets and financial strategy for facilities operations.
• Leads staff and training initiatives to improve daily operations.
• Collaborates with City partners and University departments to meet campus needs.
• Oversees parking permits, revenue tracking, and contractor relationships.
• Participates in emergency management planning and response.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal and written communication

Contract negotiation

Vendor management

Budget planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Department: Safety & Security Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/12
The expected salary for this position is between $140,000 - $160,000 per year, in alignment with departmental equity and market data.

*Please Note: Please submit a cover letter for full consideration.

Job Summary:

Directs parking and transportation services on both the Evanston and Chicago campuses, ensuring that such services are carried out in an efficient, cost effective, and results oriented manner. Provides quality service to students, faculty, and staff as well as visitors to the university. Implements programs and policies, serves as a member of the department's senior management team, and participates in strategic planning and staffing decisions.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Directs transportation services on both campuses, maintaining professional relationship with contractual transportation vendor. Ensures quality service for all riders by developing policies, procedures, plans, and programs.
• Directs parking services on both campuses maintaining professional partnership with contractual parking operations vendor. Ensures quality service is provided to permit applicants, permit holders, guest parkers and parking violators by developing policies, procedures, plans, and programs.
• Effectively delegates responsibility to ensure effective daily operations through development of staff.
• Manages the Transportation and Parking budgets and provides accurate accounting and financial strategy for facilities, expansions and improvement of operations.
• Collects and analyzes departmental data and compiles reports needed for long-range planning of parking and transportation programs.
• Works cooperatively with other partners such as City of Chicago, City of Evanston, Cook County, neighborhood hospitals and health provider partners, and other campus communities. Maintains close working relationship with other University departments, e.g. University Police, Student Affairs, Athletics, and Facilities to accommodate campus parking and transportation needs.
• Operates and oversees sale and use of parking permit/decal distribution systems, inventory of parking permits, and revenue collected from automated parking equipment. Tracks citation revenue and ensures tax payments are made to governmental entities as required.
• Establishes training programs and provides training to departmental employees.
• Enforces safety and security regulations pertaining to vehicles, equipment, records, and documents of Transportation and Parking.
• Interacts professionally with internal and external customers to resolve parking and transportation questions and issues.
• Maintains appropriate vendor contacts and contracts related to parking and transportation Services.
• Participates in contract negotiations as required to ensure quality services are provided to the University community as efficiently as possible. Serves on internal and external committees.
• Participates in emergency management planning, response and recovery by devising, maintaining and providing parking and transportation emergency support functions.

Miscellaneous

Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in transportation and parking management including leadership, management, planning, implementing and evaluating programs.
• Experience with planning and operations of special events.
• Experience working with and negotiating contracts, developing RFPs, and oversight of vendors in relation to their contract.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Professional interpersonal skills to relate to community members including faculty, staff, students, and visitors and University partners.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive partnerships with University Police, HR, Student Affairs, Office of General Counsel, and associates working outside the University.
• As per Northwestern policy, this position requires a criminal background check. Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.
• Adherence to work processes and outcomes that comply with University policies and all regulatory requirements.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to instill such skills in subordinate staff.
• Ability to work independently within general guidelines.
• Ability to identify, adopt and adapt new techniques and procedures to meet changing requirements.
• Significant ability to manage complex projects.
• Considerable knowledge of current trends and issues in parking and transportation.
• Knowledge of parking and transportation records management.
• Knowledge of financial and accounting methods, techniques and procedures required.
• Ability to develop the skills and prepare personnel for increased responsibilities required.
• Ability to evaluate job performance of employees through observation and/or review of work product required.
• Ability to work with various customers including students, parents, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors in the university.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Master's Degree with 8 or more years of experience in transportation and parking field.
• Previous experience within a University setting.
• Any licensing/certification with a specialization in transportation, transportation planning, urban regional planning, parking or related field. (i.e. CAPP or CPP)

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Must fully understand the mission, values, objectives, and goals of the University and be able to incorporate them in the daily operation of the Department.
• Ability and skill to build consensus and credibility across the campus.
• Ability to initiate, implement, and follow through on projects, programs or assignments with completed staff work required.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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