Assistant State Engineer- Traffic Operations

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) is now accepting applications to fill the position of Assistant State Engineer in the Traffic Operations Division. This is an exciting opportunity for qualified candidates interested in applying for an opportunity to work in an environment dedicated to achieving excellence in Traffic Operations.

The selected candidate will serve as an Assistant Division Administrator and will serve as the State Highway Safety Engineer. The ideal candidate will provide leadership and administrative oversight for multiple statewide transportation program areas, including developing policies and procedures applicable to program areas and ensuring the timely implementation of the programs. The candidate will also direct the planning and implementation of new or revised programs and operational policies and procedures to ensure the successful delivery of statewide traffic safety objectives. Other areas of focus will include evaluation of program areas' performance and staffing needs including recommending and implementing desired changes as well as  developing and monitoring budgets and program progress.

Additional duties will include but are not limited to:

• Program Management: Determine statewide program direction for various traffic engineering functions. These functions may include traffic studies, data analysis, traffic control devices, field assistance, MUTCD compliance, integrated directional signing program, safety, budget development and monitoring, procurement duties, staffing, planning and transportation legislation updates, etc. Establish performance goals, identify and assign resources across work units. Review key deliverables and performance measures.

• Operational Efficiency: Develop effective relationships between Central Office, districts and regions. Advise district staff on solutions for complex, non-routine traffic engineering problems about operational efficiency analysis. Lead Central Office staff in developing effective relationships with the districts to maximize the organization's ability to deliver a high quality, state-of-the art traffic engineering operational program.

• Informational Requests: Review and respond to requests for information. Draft responses to priority letters and respond to phone calls and emails from localities, businesses and citizens.

• Special Assignments: Perform special assignments as requested. Review, research, and coordinate buy-in from stakeholders. Recommend or develop new policies, procedures or updates for various Traffic Engineering functions to ensure clear and consistent interpretation and application of policies statewide.

• Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program (VHSIP) – Coordinate statewide VHSIP program. Lead efforts to develop programmatic initiatives. Engage with Districts in the overall management and development of local VHSIP project.

• Virginia Strategic highway Safety Plan (SHSP) – Lead the development and refinement of the VA SHSP.

• Safe Systems – Develop a plan for promoting the VDOT/FHWA Safe Systems Approach to other Divisions and incorporate the principles into current policies and manuals. Develop tools to influence decision making related to planning and design based on this approach.

• Vulnerable Road User Safety – Develop transportation programs and policies that incorporate practices to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists.

• Work Zone Performance Management: Oversee the development of performance metrics to track statewide work zone performance. Recommend treatments or enhancements to improve work zone performance to Districts.

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Considerable knowledge of large-scale organizational functions related to traffic engineering principles, safety programs and operations.

• Extensive knowledge of traffic engineering principles and analysis practices.

• Thorough knowledge of agency, state and federal laws, regulations policies and programs relating to highway engineering and safety issues.

• Ability to manage multiple, complex statewide program areas.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with diverse audiences and to make presentations and conduct meetings.

• Ability to develop effective relationships at all organizational levels and external to VDOT.

• Ability to manage and direct a diverse workload within program areas, and to supervise, coach and develop a professional staff.

• Valid Professional Engineer's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in policy development, interpretation and analysis.

• Experience in scoping programs and projects, negotiating for resources.

• Knowledge of accounting principles and state and VDOT procurement policies, procedures and practices on consultant and service contracts.

• Ability to direct safety related research and development.

• Knowledge of project management, risk analysis and mitigation plan development.

• Ability to represent VDOT on local, state and national levels while working to improve the safety of our transportation system.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• Once onboarded, this position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy. (only for eligible positions)

• We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application. 

• VDOT utilizes a market based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

• This position requires the completion of the Financial Statement of Economic Interest form upon employment. This position requires a fingerprint-based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check, and Work History Verification with references.

• VDOT is an emergency operation agency. Positions physically working within Central Office locations may be designated upon request with coordination among the respective District Engineer or Administrator and Chief. Assignments are updated annually. Not all designated employees are provided with an emergency operations assignment.