Director - District Department Of Transportation (Ddot)

OPEN: September 11, 2023

CLOSE: Open until filled

POSITION: Director - District Department of Transportation (DDOT)

SALARY: ES5 ($153,350 to $231,471)

INTRODUCTION

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is committed to achieving an exceptional quality of life in the nation's capital through more sustainable travel practices, and safer streets. DDOT's mission is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment.

DDOT is one of several agencies under the oversight of the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure (DMOI). DDOT manages and maintains the District's transportation infrastructure, including the planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of the District's streets, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, traffic signals, and street lights. The Agency also oversees the regulation of the District's public space, the planting and maintenance of street trees, and operates the District-owned transit assets—the DC Streetcar and the DC Circulator.

DDOT has a unique role of functioning as both the state DOT and city DOT. In this dual role, the Agency is responsible for a wide array of transportation infrastructure from interstate highways to small alleys. The Agency is committed to providing a balanced transportation system with choices for all modes of travel, while prioritizing safety for the traveling public. For more information about DDOT, please visit here: http://ddot.dc.gov

The Director, DDOT, works under the general supervision of the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure, who provides broad policy direction, and assists the Director in setting major policy and priority guidance for solving complex transportation program issues with significant economic, social, environmental and urban infrastructure development implications.

Duties And Responsibilities

The Director is responsible for and has full authority to develop program plans, strategies, and goals to transform the Department into a performance-based organization that delivers effective and efficient transportation program services.

Additionally, The Director

• Oversees the planning and execution of major, multi-million dollar infrastructure projects.
• Provides guidance and administrative direction to Agency staff. Supervises the work of the Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Performance Officer, Chief Project Delivery Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and the Transportation Equity and Inclusion Officer.
• Oversees the management and development of a progressive pedestrian and bicycle access and safety initiatives including, but not limited to, Capital Bikeshare and VisionZero.
• Ensures effective engagement with residents, businesses, and other key stakeholder groups.
• Implements, in coordination with the District’s Department of Public Works, the District’s snow clearance and removal activities and supports the District’s response to other weather events.
• Represents the Department and the Bowser Administration in both public and private sector forums.
• Engages regularly with the Executive Office of the Mayor, the Office of the City Administrator, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Councilmembers, other District agencies, and federal and regional partners (including but not limited to WMATA and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments) to respond to issues, enhance coordination, and advance policy priorities.
• Evaluates the Agency's operations and budget and uses expertise to determine and advance priorities, target resources, prioritize staff efforts, and execute plans.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Serves as a trusted subject matter expert and policy advisor in District government for transportation-related policy and management decisions.
• Manages the District’s transportation and traffic operations networks, including traffic signals, pavement markings, other traffic control devices, traffic control officers, and crossing guards, to allow residents and visitors to travel safely and efficiently throughout the District by foot, bus, car, and bicycle
• Advances alternative project delivery and innovative finance activities of the department, including engagement in public private partnerships.
• Directs the implementation of transportation studies, projects, and programs with a focus on ensuring equitable consideration of and delivery of services to all residents of the District—particularly the economically disadvantaged, minority, elderly, disabled communities.
• Implements changes in management practices through written directives and ensures that these practices are carried through to completion.
• Serves as the District’s Senior Executive for managing the District of Columbia's transportation infrastructure within the public right-of-way.
• Manages the performance of a work force of approximately 628 employees including community and transportation planners, environmental specialists, traffic;, civil and general engineers, transportation management specialists, and mass transportation analysts and inspectors, along with technical and administrative staff.

Required Background Experience

• Thorough knowledge of transportation industry best practices, standards, principles, and procedures with preference for direct experience in an urban setting.
• Beneficial to have prior positive experience with managing union and non-union staff and committed to effective partnerships between management and union.
• Experience in managing large, complex capital budgets including knowledge of federal highway and transit funding.
• Experience overseeing and managing the operations and project delivery of a large organization. Demonstrated knowledge and leadership in the development of transportation systems that meet the needs of a diverse population.
• Experience in leading large organizations with a workforce of diverse professionals, including senior staff and labor.
• Track record of managing organizational performance through developing, tracking, and reporting on performance metrics.
• Advanced Degree in Transportation, Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Planning, or a closely related field.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and local laws, regulations, and administrative practices related to the procurement, funding, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and systems.
• Minimum of ten (10) years in senior leadership of a large public or private organization, with direct experience in the transportation industry strongly preferred.
• Prior executive level experience with planning, evaluating, organizing and implementing best practices, policies, and procedures in a governmental setting.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted and Executive Service either: (1) be domiciled in the District of Columbia at the time of appointment; or (2) establish District domicile within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment. The law also requires that Excepted and Executive Service employees maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment. Failure to maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.