Transportation Division Deputy Director

Multnomah County; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Multnomah County's Department of Community Services is seeking a Transportation Division Deputy Director to lead the transportation planning, development, admin, and survey teams, align with the Strategic Plan, and drive performance and budget management.

The role requires a background in Public Administration or Planning, 3–6 years of management experience in transportation, and strong leadership and communication skills, with a commitment to equity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation/Infrastructure/Urban Planning, Public Administration or a similar field providing the required experience. A Masters Degree is preferred.
• 3-6 years of relevant management experience in public works or transportation.
• A valid driver license.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and evaluating work plans to meet service level goals for each section you oversee.
• Estimate staffing requirements and assist with hiring, discipline, evaluation, training, coaching, and diversity/inclusion.
• Create a culture of safety, trust, and belonging in the division, addressing physical and emotional safety and well-being.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to set goals and priorities for County transportation assets.
• Oversee Transportation budget development and improve tracking and reporting of budget performance.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Public administration

Transportation planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Transportation/Infrastructure/Urban Planning

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

OVERVIEW

The Multnomah County Department of Community Services is looking for a motivated, confident and strategic leader to join our transportation team as a Transportation Division Deputy Director!

In this role, you will join the Transportation Leadership Team, which includes the Director, County Engineer, and Maintenance Manager. In this role you will partner in managing, developing and implementing strategic plans for all of the Transportation Division, developing short and long range financial plans, managing the Transportation Division Budget, integrating the work of all of the Transportation sections, and promoting cross section partnerships and support to provide the highest level of service to the residents of Multnomah County. The Deputy Director is the lead on aligning business practices with the DCS Strategic Plan, developing, implementing, and monitoring division-wide process improvements, tracking performance on program key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensuring the division program compliance. The Deputy Director oversees Transportation Planning, Development, Admin, and Survey.

Coming into this role, you will bring practical experience from working in the Public Administration, Planning, Engineering or Asset Management field. You will bring experience in program management, transportation, and project delivery. You will also have the soft skills that allow you to effectively manage teams of planning, survey, and admin managers and staff and create a healthy and productive work environment. You’ll have a strong commitment to the community we serve and you value and promote diversity, equity and inclusion and a safe systems approach in all of your work.

Other duties include:

• Assisting in the development of, and evaluating work plans to achieve service level goals for each section you oversee
• Estimating staffing requirements based on those work plans and assisting with hiring, discipline, evaluation, training, coaching, succession planning, inclusiveness and diversity
• Creating a culture of safety, trust and belonging in the division that recognizes not just physical safety as a primary goal but also emotional safety and mental well being
• Collaborating and working with the leadership team to develop goals and priorities for County transportation assets
• Overseeing the Transportation budget development and continuing to develop processes for tracking and reporting on budget performance

Who We Are

The Multnomah County Transportation Division includes eight programs plus our Administration group: Transportation Planning and Development, Road Capital, Road Maintenance, Bridge Capital, Bridge Operations, Bridge Maintenance, Survey Office, and Water Quality. We maintain 30 bridges, including six large bridges on the Willamette River, four of which open and close for river traffic. We also maintain 270 miles of roads in Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village and in unincorporated areas of Multnomah County including Sauvie Island, the West Hills and the Corbett area. We are responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, operation and planning for these roads and bridges, and we are also home to the County Surveyor’s office. More information can be found on our website: Multnomah County Transportation Division

What We Can Offer You

Multnomah County is dedicated to maintaining an effective, respectful, and inclusive workplace. We strive to reflect the community we serve and invite leaders who share our passion for workforce equity and public service. The Department of Community Services (DCS) comprises unique and essential government services, including Elections, Land Use Planning, Animal Services and Transportation. What ties these unique services together is our commitment to serving the public and operational excellence. In DCS we strive for:

• A Culture of Excellence: You will be challenged to innovate, encouraged to excel, and empowered to build a legacy within a high-performing organization.
• Collaborative Innovation: Manage leadership team that prizes collaborative problem-solving and a relentless drive for continuous improvement.
• Equity in Action: We don’t just talk about diversity; we operationalize it. At the County, our Workforce Equity Strategic Plan (WESP) serves as our roadmap for creating a workplace where every voice is heard and every employee belongs.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details Employee Benefits

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation/Infrastructure/Urban Planning, Public Administration or a similar field that would provide the required experience. A Masters Degree is preferred
• 3-6 years of relevant management experience in public works or transportation
• A valid driver license

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Knowledge of leadership tools and resources and the ability to select and use appropriate methods to get results with direct reports and their staff
• Skills to manage section managers holding staff accountable while promoting an environment of safety trust and belonging
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, via presentations, to audiences ranging from the County board of commissioners and state legislators to regional partners, peers, and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other department staff, other County employees, vendors, contractors, community partners, elected officials and the public
• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply federal, state and local laws and policies and plans as they relate to transportation planning, road design, road proceeding and regulations, traffic control; general knowledge of planning concepts.
• Ability to negotiate complex issues having broad public policy implications with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with various interest groups.
• Knowledge of Transportation Planning and the Safe Systems approach to build transportation systems.
• Understanding of state laws, regulations, and statutes that govern transportation, land use, and surveying activities in Oregon.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The Selection Process:

For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

1. Initial review of minimum qualifications
2. Evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
3. Consideration of top candidates, which may include phone interviews, panel interviews, and/or additional testing
4. Professional reference checks

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This exempt, non-represented position is not eligible for overtime

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. There may be some flexibility with the regular start and end times.

Location: 1600 SE 190th Avenue, Portland, OR 97233 or 1403 SE Water Avenue, Portland OR 97214

Telework: This role is hybrid, with three days in the office and two days working from home. Please note that other in-person attendance for team meetings, performance coaching, and key events. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.