Cary, North Carolina, a thriving, forward-looking, and diverse community nationally recognized for its quality of life, with a population of almost 190,000; is seeking a forward-thinking, collaborative, self-aware leader for the position of Transportation Director. The Transportation Director oversees and directs the activities of a team of 28 full-time employees to manage the overall operations of the Transportation department while shaping the future transportation landscape of our community. This position also works in concert with the Town Manager, Deputy Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager(s) and other key leadership staff.
To learn more about Cary, its governance, values, the Transportation Department, and this unique opportunity, please see the additional details in the Transportation Director Job Profile.
 
Seeks out opportunities to pursue excellence and encourage innovation;
 
Participates as a key member of the Town’s management team offering leadership and collaboration on initiatives spanning all aspects of local government;
 
Challenges themselves as well as other colleagues and community-wide leaders to experiment, fail and adjust when working on problems that require more than just a technical solution;
 
Plans, programs, directs, and evaluates the operations of the Transportation Department;
 
Oversees managerial staff engaged in the daily supervision of the operations of the department; provides guidance and opportunities for professional development;
 
Oversees transportation capital planning and capital projects management, ensuring they are executed efficiently, on time and within budget; develops and implements best practices in project management to enhance operations;
 
Works closely with Chief Development Officer and Planning and Development Staff to coordinate Transportation development review activities, including traffic studies, transportation development fee, and review of private development in accordance with Town standard;
 
Develops and implements transportation strategies and initiatives that align with Cary’s vision and priorities; remains abreast of current and future strategic issues related to transportation management; works with the Manager and management team to respond to long-range issues raised by the Town Council, NC Department of Transportation, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and others;
 
Develops an annual budget for the department and is responsible for controlling budgeted expenses; receives input from employees on departmental needs; identifies and pursues grant funding opportunities to support transportation projects and initiatives;
 
Negotiates complex agreements and partnerships with third party businesses, local governments, non-profit organizations, state and federal agencies, and others;
 
Provides leadership to attract, develop and retain diverse, high-performing, service-oriented staff that supports Cary’s objectives and service expectations;
 
Oversees and gives direction to the hiring, training, supervision, evaluation, and disciplinary actions of employees within the department in alignment with town culture;
 
Establishes and communicates standards of performance excellence and high-quality service delivery;
 
Works collaboratively with employees to address issues, advocate for solutions, and ensure an environment where employees feel included, valued, and supported;
 
Advances the Department’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in the internal management as well as in the external facing work;
 
Builds strong community, Council, and organizational relationships that reflect Cary’s adaptive leadership and collaborative and non-hierarchical, OneCary culture;
Performs other duties as assigned.

• Ability to strategize and provide sound and practical advice while prioritizing working on the most important things
• Ability to grow future leaders within the department, champion employee development, include new leaders in decision-making, and seek out people of diverse backgrounds and opinions
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with Council, Manager, Management Team, staff, citizens, and community partners and work collaboratively to resolve problems and satisfy expectations
• Ability to communicate extremely effectively through well-developed interpersonal and presentation skills, speaking confidently and with transparency in a manner that translates complex technical issues to non-experts. 
• Ability to foresee problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment and appropriate context to evaluate alternatives and make and implement decisions.
• Ability to maintain flexibility and comfort with uncertainty and the ability to operate in a dynamic fast-paced, innovative workplace with high expectations for producing work
• Outstanding written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to foster the OneCary culture of People First, Evolution, Working Smart, and Anyone Can Lead
• Ability to help build consensus among staff and elected officials and make decisions consistent with Town goals, values, and the OneCary culture 
• Ability to have productive, difficult conversations and deal effectively with extremely difficult problems
• Ability to cultivate, celebrate, and leverage diversity, removing barriers to access and opportunities and creating an inclusive department in which employees can be their authentic selves
• Ability to show initiative, fail, take responsibility, and adjust and to encourage these traits in others
• Ability and willingness to be vulnerable, convey vulnerability, and demonstrate a strong sense of self-awareness

Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field and a minimum of ten years' experience proven experience in transportation planning and project management, including at least five years supervisory or managerial experience.
Preference will be given to candidates who possess an advanced degree in related fields and professional certification such as a Professional Engineer License; experience in a mid to larger-sized community that has experienced the challenges associated with substantial urban growth; a strong knowledge of community engagement practices; transportation capital projects; grant funding opportunities; local, state, and federal transportation regulations and guidelines including traffic and pedestrian safety practices such as Vision Zero; and experience leading in a community with sustained growth, utilizing best practices to help the organization and community successfully adapt to existing and future challenges that come from an evolving urban environment.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
 
Requires a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
 
Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks prior to employment.