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Transportation Division Manager

Salary

$158,288.00 - $222,892.80 Annually

Location

Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Non-Classified

Job Number

T0230-25

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

08/11/2025

Closing Date

9/9/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Description

The Public Works Department (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/public-works/) (Public Works) is recruiting for our Transportation Division Manager (Division Manager, Engineering) position. The ideal candidate will be a holistic strategic thinker who is a collaborative leader that can bring teams together and influence the direction of Public Works.

As a key member of the Public Works Management Team, the successful candidate will support the mission of the Department to provide essential public services by designing, building, maintaining, and preserving public infrastructure that enhances the quality of life for the people of Tacoma in a fair, responsive, sustainable, and equitable manner. Public Works does this through an open and engaged partnership with customers, cost-effective services, and a consistent approach to satisfying the needs of the community.

Under the direction of the Public Works Director and Assistant Public Works Director, this senior leader provides leadership and direction to approximately 60 full-time employees, including six direct reports. This Sr. leader is responsible for creating and maintaining an operating biennial budget of $33.5 million and a capital biennial budget of approximately $6.7 million. This position plays a central role in safeguarding public safety by guiding implementation of transportation functions and operations and managing transportation engineering design, transportation planning, and operations. Program areas include parking services, design review for private development and capital projects, traffic data collection and analysis, development of engineering standards, traffic safety and automated enforcement, active transportation, school safety programs, permitting, Road Use Compliance, and the maintenance and operation of the City’s streetlights and traffic signals.

Division Overview:

The mission of the Transportation Division (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/public-works/transportation/) is to support the City of Tacoma’s goals through the fiscally and environmentally responsible planning, design, maintenance, and operation of transportation systems for everyone who lives, works, or plays in Tacoma. Our services enhance the community by improving the function of the multi-modal transportation network for all users.

+ Safe: We prioritize the safety of all users, and strive to build a transportation system that provides safe and reliable access for all users and neighborhoods.

+ Equitable: We center anti-racism in our work and work to decrease disparities in our transportation system.

+ Sustainable: We recognize that transportation is a leading contributor to local greenhouse gas emissions and work to improve the efficiency of our existing investments and to prioritize active transportation and transit in new investments.

The Transportation Division collaborates with a broad cross-section of disciplines within the City of Tacoma staff organization, City Council, Transportation Commission and other boards and commissions, and community stakeholders to establish and implement transportation plans and policies, including:

+ Transportation and Mobility Plan,

+ Safe Routes to School Action Plan,

+ Vision Zero Action Plan, and

+ Transportation elements of the City’s Right-of-Way Design Manual, City Standard Plans, City-developed Special Provisions for Capital Projects, and long-range planning documents.

What we are looking for in our Ideal Candidate:

+ A strategic thinker who knows how to paint a picture of the Department and Division's vision and strategy.

+ A leader who is able to gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, authenticity, and collaboration.

+ A dynamic, compassionate leader who motivates others, with exceptional team building and performance leadership skills.

+ An innovative, results-oriented leader who promotes efficient ways of conducting business, with excellent decision-making skills.

+ Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing. Candidates must have the ability to communicate and present clearly and effectively with the City Manager, City Council, City Staff, and our community members.

+ Previous experience at the Division Manager or Assistant Division Manager level, or equivalent experience managing a diverse, complex, public works-related team and associated projects in the management and administration of municipal government operations.

+ Extensive knowledge of traffic engineering, transportation planning, private development reviews, and traffic operations and maintenance, and related rules, laws, and regulations in order to maintain a safe transportation system/infrastructure in Tacoma.

Check out Public Works’ video! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13sxoWshhI)

Qualifications

Minimum Education*

Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, mechanical, or electrical engineering or directly related field

Minimum Experience*

7 years of engineering experience including 3 years as a licensed professional engineering including 1 year prior at senior, lead and/or supervisory level

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements

As Assigned, May Require:

Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer**

Washington State Driver's License

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

**6-month grace period allowable to transfer PE license from another state to WA

Desired Qualifications

Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer and/or Professional Traffic Operations Engineer Certification

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Apply

Interested City of Tacoma current employees should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the supplemental questions evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts. These questions will be scored on the basis of the information provided; therefore, it is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training. The evaluation committee will not have access to the candidate's application. Providing false information will result in disqualification. Candidates must pass this evaluation in order to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:

We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.

If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400 prior to 4pm on the date of this posting closing.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $76.10 - $107.16

Annual Salary: $158,288.00 - $222,892.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

01

Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. I understand that any form of cheating or falsification will disqualify my application for further consideration.

+ Yes

+ No

02

Do you have an equivalent combination to bachelor's degree in engineering or directly related field (equivalent work experience can be substituted on a year for year basis) AND 7 years of engineering experience, including 3 years as a licensed professional engineering including 1 year prior at senior, lead, and/or supervisory level? (Please note education and experience can be substituted on a year for year basis.)

+ Yes

+ No

03

Do you have a Washington State Driver's License or the ability to obtain one by time of employment?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Do you have a State of Washington Professional Engineer License or the ability to obtain one within 6 months from the beginning of employment? (This is a desirable qualification but not required.)

+ Yes

+ No

05

Do you have a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer Certification or the ability to obtain one within 6 months from the beginning of employment? (This is a desirable qualification but not required.)

+ Yes

+ No

06

In 300 words or less, please describe why you are interested in the position of Transportation Division Manager for the Public Works Department at the City of Tacoma, and what particular skills, abilities and experience you would bring to the position including development and/or entrepreneurial experience.

07

Service is one of the guiding principles of the City. In 300 words or less, describe a situation where you built strong customer relationships and delivered customer-centric solutions.

08

Excellence is one of the guiding principles of the City. In 300 words or less, describe a situation where you developed an effective and efficient project, with a focus on the delivery of a high-quality work/outcome.

09

Equity is one of the guiding principles of the City. In 300 words or less, describe a situation where you helped to create and sustain an organizational environment that acknowledges and celebrates diversity and employs inclusive practices throughout its daily operations.

10

Integrity is one of the guiding principles of the City. In 300 words or less, describe a situation where you worked to gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

11

Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

+ Job Interest Card notification

+ Professional organization

+ Military organization

+ City of Tacoma employee

+ Online job board posting

+ Word of mouth

+ LinkedIn

+ Tacoma Training & Education Program (TTEP)

+ Indeed

+ Facebook

+ Instagram

+ Careers in Government

+ Government Jobs

+ Outreach Event

+ National Diversity Network

+ African American Job Network

+ Disability Job Network

+ Asian Job Network

+ Latino Job Network

+ Retirement Job Network

+ LGBT Job Network

+ Veteran Job Network

+ Other

12

Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.

Required Question

Employer

City of Tacoma

Address

Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone

253-591-5400

Website

http://www.tacoma.gov

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