District Maintenance Chief – Safety-First Leader

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Fairfield (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

IPERS Retirement System

401A plan with employer contributions

Paid time off

Job summary

Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking a Transportation Bureau Chief and District Maintenance Manager to provide strategic leadership for a large Southeastern Iowa district, overseeing maintenance, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role requires a strong people-first approach and experience managing a multi-county operation.

The position emphasizes workforce development, budget stewardship, and 24/7 readiness for emergencies while coordinating with partners and stakeholders to sustain

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree.
• Extensive management-level experience in finance, human resources, engineering, or related fields.
• Public administration coursework or IPERS-related equivalence is acceptable for experience credit.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for a large, complex transportation district.
• Lead maintenance operations across 20 counties in Southeast Iowa.
• Oversee an annual maintenance budget of about $15 million.
• Develop people through hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Represent the district with internal and external partners and ensure 24/7 readiness.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic planning

Emergency readiness

Budget management

Communication

Education

Four-year college degree

Public administration graduate coursework

Iowa Certified Public Manager Program equivalent

Job description

Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking a Transportation Bureau Chief and District Maintenance Manager to provide strategic leadership for a large Southeastern Iowa district, overseeing maintenance, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role requires a strong people-first approach and experience managing a multi-county operation.

The position emphasizes workforce development, budget stewardship, and 24/7 readiness for emergencies while coordinating with partners and stakeholders to sustain