Division Manager - Department of Transportation

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About the Department

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for any additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) plans, develops, operates, and maintains transportation facilities, services, and related systems which contribute to the livability and economic health of the City. We comprise a team of more than 500 people ready to serve the needs of our residents to improve the efficiency and safety of San José streets. We are an energetic and innovative team that is improving transportation in the nation’s 13th largest city, while focusing on safety, sustainability, and active public life! The department has a “can do” attitude, a culture of continuous improvement, and is progressive in both leadership development and style. For more information about DOT, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/transportation.

About the Division

The Department of Transportation is currently seeking to fill multiple vacancies for the Division Manager position.

Infrastructure Maintenance

The Infrastructure Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining the City’s 2,5 00 miles of streets and related infrastructure, including paved street surfaces, bridges, traffic signals, streetlights, signs, markings and striping, trees, sidewalks, and landscaping, as well as the public sanitary and storm sewer collection systems. Areas of focus include ensuring a safe workplace, building strong teams, expanding the use of technology, and enhancing analytical skills and ability. While many of the staff have ‘grown-up’ within the Division, the organization has been successful in attracting and assimilating new talent.

Planning & Project Delivery
The Planning & Project Delivery Division is responsible for planning, designing, and building the City’s transportation infrastructure, including complete streets (roadways, bikeways, sidewalks, street trees), transit facilities, and projects of regional and statewide significance. We undertake many projects ourselves and work very closely with partner departments and outside agencies. Areas of focus include safety, sustainability, racial and social equity, increased transportation options, and building strong teams.

Position Duties

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for any additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Infrastructure Maintenance
Increasing regulatory and legal pressure to reduce the number and severity of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) that occur in the City each year has resulted in the development of a comprehensive multi-year strategic plan to completely evaluate and refocus DOT’s sanitary sewer maintenance activities. The Division Manager will solidify the improvements made so far, continue to implement the strategic plan, and directly lead and manage the ongoing engineering and maintenance activities needed to continue the sustained reduction of SSOs. This is a 24/7 operation with a large work force that is geographically dispersed and grouped by function.

Similarly, increasing environmental requirements are changing how storm water runoff is being treated and released into the City’s waterways. San José is recognized as a leader in implementation of trash capture infrastructure and early adoption of green stormwater infrastructure. Additionally, the existing storm system is aging and planning efforts are underway in partnership with the Departments of Public Works and Environmental Services to modernize and increase the capacity of the storm system to better handle heavy storm periods and establish a sustainable master plan for capital improvement over time. The Division Manager will need to understand and plan for the impacts of these developments on DOT’s maintenance operations while continuing to ensure that the City remains safe during storm events. During heavy or prolonged storm events, managing the City’s storm “fighting” efforts will become the highest priority for the Division Manager.

In light of these challenges and priorities, the Division Manager will have the opportunity to:

• Step into a classic organizational leadership role within the Division and provide strategic leadership for the program which includes a diverse staff of nearly 130 members performing engineering, sewer line cleaning, sewer pipe repair, pump station maintenance, sewer pipe video inspection, street sweeping, and 24/7 complaint response activities;
• Develop the next iteration of the Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Strategic Plan to continue the sustained reduction in the number and severity of SSOs;
• Continually monitor the performance of the sanitary sewer system to adjust existing maintenance strategies and develop new ones;
• Formulate and utilize business intelligence data to most effectively and efficiently manage and allocate available resources;
• Become the person most knowledgeable about Federal and State wastewater regulations and how they apply in San José;
• Coordinate DOT’s maintenance operations with our partnering departments - Environmental Services Department and the Department of Public Works - who respectively oversee the City’s storm and sanitary sewer funds and perform capital storm and sanitary system improvements;
• Participate in researching, testing, and implementing new information systems and other technologies including piloting the use of AI technologies;
• Initiate and facilitate continuous improvement and team building efforts across the sewer maintenance operations;
• Develop and enhance the skills and abilities of staff to take on greater levels of responsibility and achieve higher levels of individual and program-wide performance;
• Plan and manage the Department’s storm response and assist with emergency preparedness for catastrophic disasters.

Three Division Managers and a Program Manager make up the Deputy Director’s senior leadership team, and each will have a role in managing the Division’s administrative duties as assigned by the Deputy Director, such as budget, human resources, and information technology.

Planning & Project Delivery
In service of the Department’s overall goals of safety, sustainability, and equity, the Division Manager represents the City on complex projects of regional importance. This role oversees a team of professionals working on many of the highest profile and most complex projects in the Department of Transportation. The Division Manager works with other agencies and departments to reconnect our communities by modernizing existing interchanges and building new crossings over highways; improve safety and mobility around railways and expressways; bring BART to Silicon Valley; extend light rail to East San José; and enhance existing transit, rail and highways (with the addition of features like soundwalls) that improve quality of life for our neighborhoods.

The Division Manager will lead internal and external collaboration and communication. Internal partners include other parts of the Department of Transportation, as well as the City Manager’s Office; the City Attorney’s Office; Department of Public Works; Office of Economic Development; Planning, Building and Code Enforcement; Intergovernmental Relations; and our elected officials. Key external partners include Caltrans; the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA); Caltrain; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); the California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA); Union Pacific; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART); the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); and federal partners (Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Transit Administration).

To accomplish these goals, the Division Manager will:

• Lead a high-functioning, engaged team who care about their work and our community;
• Incorporate City and departmental priorities into individual projects - for example, improve safety at and around regional facilities, particularly for vulnerable users; take racial and social equity into account such that changes to highways or rail/transit benefit the City’s most disadvantaged residents; and incorporate sustainability into project design and materials;
• Oversee work plan development, budgets, position requests, hiring processes, training, and development;
• Be responsible for strategic communications with partner departments, outside agencies, and elected officials, with guidance from the Deputy and/or Department Director;
• Initiate and facilitate continuous improvement and team building efforts across the regional projects team, with other parts of the Division, and with other parts of the Department;
• Develop and enhance the skills and abilities of staff to take on greater levels of responsibility and achieve higher levels of individual and program-wide performance;
• Participate in citywide and departmental priorities, like emergency preparation and response, to meet the needs of the community.

Two Division Managers and one Principal Engineer make up the Deputy Director’s senior leadership team and are a critical part of the Department’s leadership and management structure.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, transportation, public administration, urban planning, or a related field; and six years of increasingly responsible experience in a similar professional environment.

Acceptable Substitutions: None.

Form 700: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following job competencies:

• Collaboration - develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities. Positive demeanor and collaborative partner with stakeholders inside and outside the City organization.
• Communication Skills - effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts; Effective and empathic communicator skilled at building relationships.
• Computer Skills - experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
• Constructive Energies - A demonstration of energy and drive that comes from within, and a willingness to approach all aspects of work with a generally positive attitude; possessing the inclination to take appropriate action rather than waiting to be told what to do; examples of Constructive Energies include but are not limited to: enthusiasm, honesty, integrity, empathy, dedication, reliable, proactive, respectful, confidence, ethical, and a willingness to help others.
• Creativity - Addresses objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions/solutions to generate creative ideas and new ways of doing business; exhibits creativity and innovation when contributing to organizational and individual objectives; seeks out opportunities to improve, streamline, reinvent work processes. An entrepreneurial spirit and effective change agent not adverse to fresh perspectives or the recalibration of the organization.
• Decision Making - identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions. Confident decision maker with a track record of producing results.
• Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead. Displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
• Job Expertise - demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Leadership - leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, encourages and rewards risk-taking, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction. Develop and enhance the skills and abilities of staff to take on greater levels of responsibility and achieve higher levels of individual and program-wide performance.
• Management - evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit; Proven leader in empowering employees and supporting their development and recognition.
• Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Project Management - Ensure support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives. Adept project manager comfortable leading in a team environment
• Vision/Strategic Thinking - Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action. Experienced manager who appreciates and welcomes San José’s rich multicultural, diverse environment.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Candidates with a combination of public and/or private sector work experience from various geographic areas
• Background in infrastructure maintenance or project and planning delivery will serve the candidate well.
  
• Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City operating department.
• Certifications/Licenses:
  
  • Valid CA Driver’s License;
  • Registered Traffic Engineer;
  • Registered Professional Engineer;

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process.

If selected, the Conditional Offer of Employment is contingent upon you providing proof of a valid State of California driver’s license, and an assessment of your California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) as per the DMV Release of Driver Record Information form. Failure to pass the DMV Pull Notice assessment will deem you ineligible for employment.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Keana Castillo at keana.castillo@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 10/11/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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