Transit Director

DeKalb County; Decatur (GA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

DeKalb County in Georgia seeks an executive to lead the county’s transit strategy, policy development, and capital investments, guiding long-range mobility and ensuring compliance with laws. The role serves as advisor to CEO and leadership on transit performance and investment strategies.

The position directs major transit planning initiatives, coordinates with regional and federal partners, and oversees governance, safety, and organizational excellence across transit programs and projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Transportation Management, or a related field required, Master’s preferred.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in transit or transportation management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Directs enterprise transit strategy and policy development; establishes long-range mobility vision aligned with county priorities.
• Directs financial strategy and capital investment planning; develops operating and capital budgets; Secures funding opportunities.
• Leads regional/state/local partnerships and public engagement; represents the county's transit priorities in intergovernmental coordination.
• Provides executive leadership; evaluates staff and consultants; enforces safety, performance, and governance standards.
• Drives innovation in mobility; oversees adoption of new technologies and data-driven performance tools; aligns with sustainability goals.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Transportation Management, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Salary Range $115,684-$186,251

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for developing and executing DeKalb County’s transit strategy in alignment with County priorities and community mobility needs. This role guides long-range transit policy, planning, and capital investment initiatives; ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and serve as the principal advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and County leadership on transit policy, planning, and system performance.

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Directs enterprise transit strategy and policy development; establishes the County’s long-range vision for mobility and public transit aligned with County strategic priorities, economic development goals, and regional transportation plans; advises the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Commissioners, and executive leadership on transit policy, system performance, and capital investment strategies; develops and advances countywide transit policies, initiatives, and programs in coordination with executive leadership including the Chief Economic Development Officer and Chief Housing Officer; provides executive oversight of major transit planning initiatives, consultant engagements, and procurement activities including the development and implementation of the Transit Master Plan; coordinates with regional transit authorities, state agencies, and federal partners to align County transit investments with regional mobility strategies; and directs long-term system planning for service expansion, infrastructure investment, system resilience, and sustainable mobility.

Directs financial strategy and capital investment planning and policies that shape decisions for bus rapid transit corridors, transit hubs and stations, new rail lines or extensions, micro transit, and other forms of public transportation; establishes long-term operating and capital funding strategies to support transit programs, infrastructure development, and service expansion; develops, administers, and monitors annual operating and capital budgets to ensure fiscal sustainability and alignment with County priorities; identifies and secures federal, state, and regional funding opportunities, grants, and strategic partnerships to advance transit initiatives; ensures financial accountability through transparent fiscal oversight, performance monitoring, and compliance with County, state, and federal funding requirements; and provides strategic financial analyses, investment recommendations, and budget briefings to the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Commissioners, and senior leadership; engages with Federal Transit Authority, USDOT and attends statewide transit meetings with the Georgia Transit Association.

Leads regional, state and local partnerships and public engagement; serves as the County’s chief representative and spokesperson on transit policy, planning, and system performance; represents the Chief Executive Officer in intergovernmental coordination and strategic engagement with regional and state transportation partners including MARTA, ATL, GDOT, ARC, regional transportation committees, and working groups; engages with local transit agencies, airports, city councils, school districts, and other mobility partners; advances County transit priorities through regional policy discussions, planning initiatives, and funding collaborations; presents transit strategies, capital investments, and system performance updates at CEO briefings, Board of Commissioners meetings, public hearings, and community forums; promotes equitable, accessible, and community-responsive transit services; and cultivates collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders, advocacy groups, business organizations, and regional agencies.

Provides executive leadership and organizational governance; directs and evaluates the work of department staff, contractors, and consultants to ensure effective program delivery and operational excellence; establishes organizational priorities, performance measures, and accountability frameworks for transit programs and initiatives; promotes a culture of safety, innovation, transparency, and customer service across transit operations; advances workforce development, leadership capacity, and succession planning initiatives; and ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and performance standards governing transit programs and services.

Drives innovation and sustainable mobility initiatives; leads the modernization of the County’s mobility network through the adoption of innovative transit technologies, service models, and data-driven performance tools; directs the integration of clean energy technologies, electric and low-emission vehicle fleets, micro-transit services, and smart mobility solutions to enhance service delivery and environmental sustainability; aligns transit planning and operations with County sustainability, resilience, and climate action goals; leverages data analytics and real-time service technologies to improve system efficiency, reliability, and customer experience; and monitors national trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices to guide long-term system transformation and continuous improvement.

Drives digital transformation and advanced mobility technologies; leads the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, to enhance transit planning, operations, and decision-making; implements smart mobility solutions such as predictive analytics, demand-responsive services, and real-time performance tools; oversees technology procurement and governance to ensure alignment with County priorities and data security standards; leverages data-driven insights to improve efficiency, reliability, and customer experience; and monitors industry trends to support continuous innovation and system modernization.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Transportation Management, or a related field required, Master’s preferred; 10 years of progressively responsible experience in transit or transportation management,; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required: Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.