Traffic Operations Supervisor

Applitrack; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 98,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

Applitrack in Evanston seeks a Public Works/Traffic Operations Supervisor to lead the Traffic Operations Division, overseeing signals, street lighting, signs, and related infrastructure. The role plans, directs maintenance, and coordinates emergency responses with a focus on MUTCD compliance and safety.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree with 5+ years in traffic operations, supervisory experience, and budgeting skills; PE/PTOE preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; five or more years in traffic operations, traffic engineering, or related field.
• Experience supervising staff in a municipal/public works environment.
• Knowledge of MUTCD, Illinois Vehicle Code, and safety standards.
• Ability to plan, manage budgets, and oversee procurement and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages Traffic Operations activities including signals, street lighting, signs, and markings.
• Supervises staff, sets priorities, and ensures safety compliance.
• Manages maintenance programs and capital projects for traffic infrastructure.
• Oversees permits, construction coordination, and emergency response operations.
• Coordinates with IDOT, utilities, consultants, and other agencies.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Project management

Emergency response coordination

Contract administration

Budgeting knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, transportation, construction management, electrical technology, public administration, or related field

Tools

GIS

Job description

• Position Type: Public Works/ Traffic Operations Supervisor
• Date Posted: 9/25/2026
• Location: Service Center
• Closing Date: 10/09/2026

SALARY RANGE: $97,663.68 -$146496.14 - ANNUALY

*Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for range.

NATURE OF WORK

This is a highly responsible administrative, technical, and supervisory position in the Public Services Bureau responsible for managing the City’s Traffic Operations Division. The position plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the maintenance, repair, installation, and operation of traffic signals, street lighting, traffic signs, pavement markings, and related traffic infrastructure. The position also oversees traffic control associated with construction, right-of-way permits, special events, block parties, street closures, and emergency operations. The Traffic Operations Supervisor provides direct supervision and operational leadership to Traffic Electricians, Sign Shop personnel, Public Works Maintenance Workers, and other assigned staff. The position coordinates with other Public Works divisions, City departments, consultants, contractors, utilities, and outside agencies to ensure that traffic infrastructure is maintained safely and efficiently, in accordance with applicable standards. The position requires considerable independent judgment, technical knowledge, interpretation of electrical plans, code requirements, electronic schematics, and diagrams, and supervisory ability to establish operational priorities, manage preventive maintenance and infrastructure improvements, respond to emergencies, and identify long-term staffing, equipment, contractual, and capital needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):

Plans, directs, and manages Traffic Operations activities involving traffic signals, street lighting, traffic signs, pavement markings, electrical JULIE locates, traffic control, and related infrastructure.

Supervises assigned personnel; establishes work priorities and schedules; assigns and reviews work; evaluates performance; identifies training and development needs; and ensures compliance with safety requirements, work rules, and City policies.

Develops and manages preventative and cyclical maintenance programs for traffic signals, street lights, traffic signs, pavement markings, and related infrastructure.

Oversees the City’s traffic sign program, including inventory, fabrication, installation, inspection, maintenance, replacement, and compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Oversees traffic signal and street lighting maintenance, troubleshooting, emergency repairs, upgrades, controllers, detection, communications, electrical systems, and related infrastructure.

Monitors traffic signal operations and coordinates signal timing, progression, detection, preemption, controller settings, and other operational improvements with City staff, consultants, IDOT, and other agencies as appropriate.

Reviews traffic circulation and traffic control plans associated with construction projects, right-of-way permits, utility work, street closures, and special events, and coordinates field inspections to ensure appropriate traffic control is implemented and maintained.

Plans and oversees pavement marking activities, including annual work planning, contract administration, inspection, and coordination of in-house and contracted services.

Identifies maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade needs for Traffic Operations infrastructure and establishes priorities for operating and capital improvements.

Develops scopes of work, specifications, cost estimates, and related documents for Traffic Operations contracts and purchases; participates in procurement activities and oversees contractor performance.

Oversees construction, repair, replacement, and improvement projects involving traffic signals, street lighting, signage, pavement markings, and related infrastructure.

Reviews plans, designs, specifications, and recommendations prepared by consultants and coordinates implementation of Traffic Operations improvements.

Maintains asset inventories, condition information, maintenance records, and work histories using the City’s GIS, work-order, asset-management, and other technology systems. Uses available data to establish maintenance priorities and identify infrastructure replacement needs.

Develops annual operating and capital budget recommendations and monitors expenditures. Identifies staffing, equipment, material, contractual, technology, and infrastructure needs and maintains appropriate inventory levels.

Coordinates Traffic Operations activities with other Public Works divisions, City departments, contractors, utilities, and outside agencies, including IDOT, RTA, CTA, Pace, Metra, and ComEd.

Coordinates Traffic Operations support for special events, construction activities, street closures, block parties, temporary "No Parking" requests, emergency incidents, and other planned or unplanned activities.

Attends Special Events Committee meetings as required and coordinates traffic control, signage, staffing, street closures, and other Traffic Operations support.

Manage banner and block party programs, including scheduling, installation coordination, and associated administrative activities.

Reviews accident and other damage to traffic signals, street lights, signs, and related infrastructure; coordinates repairs and documents labor and material costs for cost recovery.

Receives, investigates, and responds to 311 service requests and other inquiries related to Traffic Operations and ensures requests are appropriately documented and resolved.

Ensures Traffic Operations activities comply with the MUTCD, Illinois Vehicle Code, applicable electrical and traffic signal standards, OSHA and IDOL requirements, City policies, collective bargaining agreements, and other applicable requirements.

Identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency, preventative maintenance, technology, asset management, and the City’s ability to perform work in-house where appropriate.

Coordinates employee training and ensures staff maintain required licenses, certifications, and technical qualifications.

Prepares reports, memoranda, budget requests, specifications, cost estimates, presentations, correspondence, and other documents related to Traffic Operations.

Assists with grant applications and other funding opportunities related to Traffic Operations infrastructure, equipment, technology, and programs.

Attends City Council, Council committee, neighborhood, advisory committee, and other meetings as required and represents Traffic Operations on technical and operational matters.

Participates in the City’s Snow and Ice Control Program as Snow Commander and/or Tow Commander and performs other emergency management responsibilities as assigned.

Oversees 24/7 emergency response of Traffic Operations staff and responds to significant off-hour and weekend emergencies as needed.

Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, transportation, construction management, electrical technology, public administration, or a substantially similar field, with five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in traffic operations, traffic engineering, traffic signal or street lighting systems, transportation infrastructure, public works operations, or a related field.

Eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible experience in traffic operations, traffic engineering, traffic signal or street lighting systems, transportation infrastructure, electrical operations, or a related municipal or public works environment may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Must possess at least two (2) years of supervisory, crew leadership, project management, or comparable operational leadership experience.

Possession of a Professional Engineer (PE) license, Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) certification, or applicable IMSA certification is preferred but not required.

Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a safe driving record.

Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License is preferred but not required.

Must possess or obtain National Incident Management System (NIMS) ISC 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 certifications within 18 months of employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Thorough knowledge of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Illinois Vehicle Code, and applicable federal, state, and local standards governing traffic signals, signs, pavement markings, street lighting, and traffic control.

Ability to understand and apply City policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, personnel rules, and safety requirements.

Considerable knowledge of traffic operations principles and practices, including traffic signal systems, traffic control, roadway signing, pavement markings, street lighting, and transportation infrastructure maintenance.

Knowledge of traffic signal timing and coordination, including signal splits, offsets, cycle lengths, preemption, detection, controller functions, communications, and system interconnection sufficient to evaluate system performance and coordinate operational improvements.

Knowledge of traffic signals and street lighting systems, electrical infrastructure, applicable electrical codes, NEMA standards, and standard electrical trade practices and safety requirements.

Knowledge of traffic sign fabrication, installation, inspection, maintenance, inventory management, and replacement practices.

Knowledge of pavement marking materials, application practices, specifications, inspection, and maintenance.

Knowledge of work-zone traffic control principles and the ability to review traffic control plans for construction, utility work, permits, special events, and emergency operations.

Knowledge of asset management and preventative maintenance principles as applied to public infrastructure.

Knowledge of municipal budgeting, procurement, contract administration, project management, and capital planning.

Knowledge of modern supervisory principles and practices, including work planning, scheduling, employee development, performance management, labor relations, workplace safety, and customer service.

Knowledge of OSHA, IDOL, and other applicable workplace and electrical safety standards.

Ability to supervise employees performing skilled-trade, maintenance, technical, and operational work and establish clear priorities, schedules, and performance expectations.

Ability to manage multiple projects, maintenance activities, contracts, special events, and emergency assignments while adjusting priorities based on operational needs.

Ability to review and interpret plans, specifications, electrical diagrams, schematics, traffic control plans, construction documents, contracts, and technical reports.

Ability to evaluate infrastructure condition and operational performance, identify deficiencies, establish priorities, and develop recommendations for maintenance, repair, replacement, and capital improvements.

Ability to effectively manage contractors and consultants and review work for compliance with specifications and City requirements.

Ability to utilize computers, tablets, GIS, work-order and asset-management systems, spreadsheets, databases, traffic signal software, and other technology necessary to perform the work.

Knowledge of traffic signal timing and analysis software such as Synchro, SimTraffic, HCM, or comparable applications is desirable.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, elected officials, community organizations, and members of the public.

Ability to communicate technical and operational information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences and prepare reports, memoranda, specifications, presentations, and other written materials.

Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage changing priorities, and respond effectively to emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects; ability to move heavy objects (100 pounds or more) short distances.

Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions such as extreme cold, high winds, rain, snow, sleet, high temperatures, humidity, and other uncomfortable conditions. Ability to use all equipment and power tools required to perform assigned tasks efficiently. Ability to focus on small and distant objects, recognize the depth of objects, lift, bend, kneel, sit, or stand for long periods of time, work in confined spaces, and work outdoors at night with limited lighting.

Ability to walk or navigate over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces.

Ability to work around chemicals, asphalt products, concrete, vehicle or equipment fumes, gases, dust, and dirt while following safety guidelines.

Ability to work on job sites with elevated noise levels and vibrations.

SUPERVISION:

Work is performed under the general direction of the Public Services Bureau Chief. Assignments are provided in terms of overall objectives, priorities, policies, and desired results, with the employee exercising considerable independent judgment in planning, organizing, and directing the work of the Traffic Operations Division. Guidance is provided through applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, City policies and procedures, Unified Work Rules, collective bargaining agreements, Personnel Rules, safety regulations, established Public Works practices, and direction from the Public Services Bureau Chief. The employee is expected to independently manage day-to-day operations, establish work priorities, allocate resources, and address routine operational and personnel matters. Significant issues involving staffing, budgets, service levels, infrastructure needs, or policy are coordinated with the Public Services Bureau Chief. Work is evaluated through observation, meetings, reports, completion of assigned programs and projects, and the overall effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and quality of Traffic Operations services. Performance is formally evaluated at least annually in accordance with City policies and classification standards.

PUBLIC CONTACT:

The employee has significant contact with employees from other departments, supervisors, contractors, elected officials, consultants, outside vendors, and citizens to resolve problems and improve maintenance and service delivery methods.

SELECTION METHOD

Structured Oral Interview

Chosen candidates will be required to provide proof of licenses, certifications, and education required for this position. Candidates will also be subject to qualifying pre-employment processes, including medical examination, drug/alcohol screen, employment verification, and criminal background check.

The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at 847-448-8204 (voice) or 847-448-8052 (TTY)