What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Manager & Senior Project Manager (Transportation) position at Dakota County?
General Description
Posting Type: Open-competitive
Department: Transportation
Hours: Full-time
Location: Western Service Center, Apple Valley
Union: None
Posting Close Date: 4:30 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026
Full Salary Range: The position level at which the offers are extended is based on the candidate's ability to meet the minimum qualifications and relevant years of experience. *** Project Manager $73,515 - $114,868 *** Senior Project Manager $82,337 - $128,651 ***
What You'll Do
The Dakota County Transportation Department is currently seeking candidates to fill a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager position in the Project Management Engineering unit. Project Managers at Dakota County communicate and act as the project spokesperson to internal staff, external stakeholders, partner agencies, and the County Board on issues related to the project including design, right of way, environmental approvals, and public engagement. Incumbent must balance project needs, scope, time, cost, risk, and quality while maintaining a positive project environment to lead and manage diverse customer and stakeholder expectations. Incumbent represents County interests in plans and projects for Trunk Highway, transit and multi-modal planning and operations led by state, regional, and local agencies. Provides general work direction, assists in project planning, budget preparation, work plan development, and project monitoring throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Who We Are
Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.
Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Minimum Qualifications
The minimum qualifications listed below are written at the Project Manager level. You must meet these minimum requirements in order to continue in the recruitment and selection process.
Click here to view the Project Manager position description.
Click here to view the Senior Project Manager position description.
Pursuant to the Dakota County Policy and Procedures Manual, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.
Duties & Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities listed below are for the Project Manager position in both units. These do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. To see the Senior Project Manager duties and responsibilities view the position description linked above.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities And Work Environment
Work is performed in a County office building. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Occasional outside work below 0F° and above 100°F. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, laptop, printer, calculator, telephone, and copy machines.
Location & Schedule
This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Western Service Center in Apple Valley, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Benefits
01
Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.
03
Please select the highest level of education completed or Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment)
is your completed degree directly related to Civil Engineering, Planning, or a closely related field?
Do you have a valid driver's license?
Based upon the job posting and description, select which of the following best describes your years of Transportation project management work experience.
Identify all areas of Transportation experience (check all that apply):
Do you have one or more years of work experience in the following areas? Select all that are applicable.
Do you have experience presenting to a County Boards, City Councils, or public forums?
Do you have experience coordinating and/or leading public forums/citizen advisory meetings?
Do you have formal project management training?
If you answered "yes" to having formal project management training, describe below including the institution from which the training was obtained, the date of the training, hours attended, and course title.
13
In order to be considered for the Senior Project Manager position you must have lead project experience. With that in mind, please answer the question below. Based upon the Senior Project Manager job posting and description, select which of the following best describes your years of lead Transportation project management work experience.
If you indicated you have experience in the question above, list the employer(s) and job title(s) where we can find this work experience on your application. For the work experience to be considered, it must be clearly listed on your application.
15
The FULL salary range for the Project Manager is $73,515 - $114,868 and Senior Project Manager is $82,337 – $128,651. The amount that is offered is depended on the candidates' overall skills education, experience, and internal equity. The offer would also include the County's benefits package.
Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary you'd accept if selected for the position?
16
Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.
Other organization not listed above. Please describe.
Posting Type: Open-competitive
Department: Transportation
Hours: Full-time
Location: Western Service Center, Apple Valley
Union: None
Posting Close Date: 4:30 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026
Full Salary Range: The position level at which the offers are extended is based on the candidate's ability to meet the minimum qualifications and relevant years of experience. *** Project Manager $73,515 - $114,868 *** Senior Project Manager $82,337 - $128,651 ***
What You'll Do
The Dakota County Transportation Department is currently seeking candidates to fill a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager position in the Project Management Engineering unit. Project Managers at Dakota County communicate and act as the project spokesperson to internal staff, external stakeholders, partner agencies, and the County Board on issues related to the project including design, right of way, environmental approvals, and public engagement. Incumbent must balance project needs, scope, time, cost, risk, and quality while maintaining a positive project environment to lead and manage diverse customer and stakeholder expectations. Incumbent represents County interests in plans and projects for Trunk Highway, transit and multi-modal planning and operations led by state, regional, and local agencies. Provides general work direction, assists in project planning, budget preparation, work plan development, and project monitoring throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Who We Are
Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.
Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Minimum Qualifications
The minimum qualifications listed below are written at the Project Manager level. You must meet these minimum requirements in order to continue in the recruitment and selection process.
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineer, Planning or a closely related field AND 1 year of Transportation project management work experience.
- Associates degree in Civil Engineering Technology or a closely related field and 3 years of Transportation project management work experience.
- An equivalent combination of education and direct Transportation project management work experience to equal or exceed 5 years.
- Valid driver's license.
- Direct work experience related to transportation project management, multi-modal, transportation planning, or transportation design.
- A degree in civil engineering with potential to obtain professional licensure. This position will be supervised by a Professional Engineer allowing for Engineer’s in Training to fulfill requirements to obtain professional licensure.
- An advanced degree in related fields is desirable.
Click here to view the Project Manager position description.
Click here to view the Senior Project Manager position description.
Pursuant to the Dakota County Policy and Procedures Manual, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive.
Duties & Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities listed below are for the Project Manager position in both units. These do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. To see the Senior Project Manager duties and responsibilities view the position description linked above.
- Represents the County during the study phase, preliminary design or final design process for construction projects by reviewing proposed layouts, plans and specifications.
- Manage consultant design progress and professional service expenditures and regularly reviews design elements and budget compliance.
- Coordinate internal review of studies and plans by transportation functional areas, collate review comments and participate in the value engineering, cost estimating and cost adjustment process.
- Negotiates and in timely manner processes requests for change orders or contract amendments for professional design services.
- Coordinates with local, regional, State, and Federal agencies and utility companies to obtain required approvals, permits, and agreements.
- Facilitate environmental studies and documentation in accordance with accepted NEPA and MEQB procedures and practices.
- Communicates current project information to internal Transportation staff and to external stakeholders through a variety of forums. Conduct regular project meetings with Project teams.
- Coordinate and lead Public Involvement Program for the project. Act as County spokesperson on design and right of way issues.
- Participates in professional service contract selection process and coordinates the preparation and execution of contracts.
- Coordinates the County's efforts in obtaining State/Federal funding for the project and provides status reports to administering authority on regular basis.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities And Work Environment
- Knowledge of transportation and engineering principles and practices and their application in the public sector.
- Knowledge of Federal and State highway preliminary design and final design standards, rules, and environmental regulations and specifications.
- Ability to analyze and interpret construction plans and specifications.
- Ability to communicate and present ideas orally and in writing.
- Ability to coordinate and address multiple priorities and issues.
- Effective interpersonal skills with emphasis on communication of ideas and technical information to all levels of organization verbally and in writing.
- Proven ability to complete projects under budget and within schedule.
- Strong problem solving skills.
- Considerable knowledge of multi-modal transportation elements including best practices for improving mobility and safety for all modes including bicycling, walking, driving, and transit.
- Experience in preparation of written, visual, and graphic materials, and the presentation of materials to public groups, committees and general public.
- Direct experience in effectively leading discussions and facilitating meetings.
- Ability to lead and manage multiple tasks and priorities of varying complexity ranging from preparing agendas, creating materials for formal resolutions and/or board actions, and organizing meetings to manage daily elements of project grants or contracts with consultant and other governmental entities.
- Strong knowledge of computer programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and a general understanding of land use mapping and transportation modeling programs.
Work is performed in a County office building. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Occasional outside work below 0F° and above 100°F. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, laptop, printer, calculator, telephone, and copy machines.
Location & Schedule
This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Western Service Center in Apple Valley, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Benefits
- Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
- Excellent work-life balance
- Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
- Eleven paid holidays each year
- Pension with a generous employer contribution
- Ability to work from home some of the time
- You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
- We assign you a score based on your qualifications
- Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
- We conduct background and reference checks before hiring
01
- Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions. Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.
Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.
03
Please select the highest level of education completed or Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment)
- High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalent
- Professional/Technical Certificate equivalent to 1 year of full-time post secondary education
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
is your completed degree directly related to Civil Engineering, Planning, or a closely related field?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a valid driver's license?
- Yes
- No
Based upon the job posting and description, select which of the following best describes your years of Transportation project management work experience.
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- 6 years
- 7 years
- 8 years
- None of the above
Identify all areas of Transportation experience (check all that apply):
- Transportation project management
- Multi-modal project management
- Transportation planning
- Transportation design
Do you have one or more years of work experience in the following areas? Select all that are applicable.
- Project Management
- State agency regulations and requirements
- Coordinate and lead public forums
- Environmental regulations
- Analyze and interpret construction plans and specifications
- Trail, bikeway and sidewalk design standards and principles
- Coordinate and collaborate with outside agencies/entities on projects
- Writing Grant proposals
- No experience but willing to gain
Do you have experience presenting to a County Boards, City Councils, or public forums?
- Yes
- No
Do you have experience coordinating and/or leading public forums/citizen advisory meetings?
- Yes
- No
Do you have formal project management training?
- Yes
- No
If you answered "yes" to having formal project management training, describe below including the institution from which the training was obtained, the date of the training, hours attended, and course title.
13
In order to be considered for the Senior Project Manager position you must have lead project experience. With that in mind, please answer the question below. Based upon the Senior Project Manager job posting and description, select which of the following best describes your years of lead Transportation project management work experience.
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- 6 years
- None of the above
If you indicated you have experience in the question above, list the employer(s) and job title(s) where we can find this work experience on your application. For the work experience to be considered, it must be clearly listed on your application.
15
The FULL salary range for the Project Manager is $73,515 - $114,868 and Senior Project Manager is $82,337 – $128,651. The amount that is offered is depended on the candidates' overall skills education, experience, and internal equity. The offer would also include the County's benefits package.
Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary you'd accept if selected for the position?
16
Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.
- Friend, Family or Colleague
- Indeed
- Job Fair or Dakota County Event
- Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
- League of Minnesota Cities
- Diversityjobs.com
- Minnesotaworks.net
- Minnesota Association of Counties
- Monster
- Professional Association Website
- Referred by a Dakota County Employee
- College Website, Instructor, Career Services
- Dakota County Website
- Other
Other organization not listed above. Please describe.
- Required Question
Salary : $73,515 - $114,868