Transportation Manager

The City of Kirkland's Public Works Department is seeking to hire a Transportation Manager!

Why Kirkland?

Who We're Looking For

Kirkland Public Works is seeking its next Transportation Manager. This position reports to the Deputy Director of Engineering, Planning and Development Services and is a member of the Public Works leadership team. This position serves a key role to the planning and implementation of safe and efficient operations of the City's transportation network. This manager leads 19 FTE in operations (signs and signals), traffic engineering, and planning and program functions.

We are seeking a highly skilled, diplomatic, and service-oriented professional to join our fast-paced team. This role requires a proactive critical thinker with the ability to anticipate needs, navigate complex situations with discretion, and engage effectively with a broad range of stakeholders, including the City Manager, elected officials, and community members.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator who can balance technical expertise with political acumen, ensuring clear, strategic, and professional interactions in high-profile settings. They must demonstrate outstanding organizational skills, unwavering attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining composure and professionalism.

Success in this role requires not only a task-oriented mindset but also a sense of ownership and initiative, ensuring that deadlines are met, projects are executed with excellence, and solutions are proactively developed to address challenges. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a collaborative, high-achieving environment and is committed to fostering positive relationships that support the City's vision and goals.

The position works at Kirkland City Hall and may be considered for a hybrid work schedule after 6 months. A typical schedule is Monday - Friday business hours with a standing monthly evening meeting and occasional evening and weekend work as needed.

About Public Works

The Public Works Department ensures the City's infrastructure remains safe, functional, and sustainable. It oversees vital services including stormwater management, transportation, water and wastewater systems, maintenance of streets and grounds, and capital improvement projects.

As the City's largest department, we are committed to the City's vision and the Department's mission. We play a vital role in making Kirkland livable, sustainable, and connected. We are City employees who take pride in being trusted stewards of the public's resources, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life.

We have a One Team approach, strive for excellence and attract, value, and keep diverse, talented employees.

• Lead, manage, supervise, develop, mentor, and hold accountable a team of effective and productive professional, technical, and operations staff.
• Oversee activities, programs, projects, and strategies, including developing recommendations for short and long-range traffic, transportation, transit, and parking policies.
• Responsible for the development, management, and oversight of the Transportation Division work plan.
• Oversee delivery of high quality, timely and accurate transportation engineering, and operational services (signs and signals, transportation system network), in accordance with accepted engineering standards and best practices.
• Develop, implement, and advocate for policy, ordinances, and planning strategies that support the City's transportation vision, goals, and objectives.
• As a member of the Public Works Management Team, work with the Department Director, Deputy Director, and other Division Managers to lead the department in alignment with the City's policies, strategies, vision, mission, and values.
• Prepare, recommend, monitor, and manage program and project budgets.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Transportation Strategic Plan, Vision Zero Action Plan, Active Transportation Plan, Transit Implementation Plan, Intelligent Transportation System Plan, Cross Kirkland Corridor Master Plan, and various other transportation related corridor and subarea plans.
• Write reports, briefing papers, letters, memos, emails, and other materials communicating complex technical and policy matters to the Department Director, City Manager, elected officials, and the public.
• Make formal presentations to the City Manager, City Council, Boards and Commissions, other agencies and jurisdictions, and the public.
• Oversee and/or coordinate interdepartmental responses to transportation and traffic inquires, concerns, suggestions, and complaints in a timely and professional manner.
• Provide services to support funding, planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of:
  • Safe, efficient, and modern facilities for biking and walking such as on-street bike lanes, greenways, bicycle parking, bikeshare, pathways and sidewalks, school walk routes, and crosswalks.
  • Safe, efficient, and modern facilities for motor vehicles, including responsibility for operation of the transportation management center, the Neighborhood Traffic Control Program, and the school zone safety cameras.
• Work with transit providers and City staff to fund, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain various types of transit systems.
• Work with a variety of stakeholders and customers to fund, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain the City's public parking supply.
• Develop and maintain transportation standards for new development projects. Review projects to ensure compliance with current transportation standards and propose mitigations as needed. Responsible for transportation concurrency and impact fee development and implementation. Responsible for Kirkland's role in supporting and using advanced transportation modelling software.
• Manage, support, and serve as lead staff to the Transportation Commission. Work with the Commission Chair and Vice Chair to develop agendas and work plans; coordinate preparation of supporting materials.
• Work with other Public Works divisions and other departments to coordinate planning and funding strategies, including grant submissions, for transportation Capital Improvement Program projects and development of the transportation Capital Facilities Plan.
• Develops bid specifications for Request for Proposals (RFPs) or scope of work for Request for Qualifications (RFQs); negotiates and administers contracts for consultants, vendors, and contractors.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.

• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
• Act as the Department liaison, or identify designee, to serve on a variety of interdepartmental and interjurisdictional committees such as the King County Regional Transit Committee, Eastrail Regional Advisory Council, Eastside Transportation Partnership, the King County Project Evaluation Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Regional Project Evaluation Committee and Sound Cities Association Caucus. Monitor and track Sound Transit and PSRC elected boards and committees.
• Responsible for developing measurable implementation plans that achieve the City's initiatives in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Roadmap.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Superior verbal and written communication skills to interpret, describe and explain technical concepts to a wide range of groups.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external customers and colleagues including elected officials.
• Thorough understanding of multimodal transportation systems and how they are designed, deployed, operated, and maintained in an urban setting.
• Ability to create and use spreadsheets, databases, and accounting systems to estimate costs, forecast budget needs, forecast revenues, and monitor budgets and revenues.
• Ability to complete complicated projects with limited direction.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work as a productive and cooperative member of a team of managers with varied backgrounds and program responsibilities.
• Ability to attract, retain, lead, and motivate a competent and professional staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in urban planning, civil engineering, or closely related field.
• Experience: 7 years increasingly responsible experience in transportation engineering, planning and policy development, including 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's license and ability to remain insurable under the City's insurance to operate motor vehicles.
• Master's degree in transportation planning, public administration, transportation engineering, or a related field desired.
• Professional Engineer's license or ACIP Certification desired.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
This position works primarily in an office environment but also outside at streams and natural areas, construction sites, and sites with existing development. The fieldwork may occur in varying weather conditions and involves investigating existing drainage conditions, issue identification, and private and public construction monitoring related to surface water management. Potential hazards encountered during field work may include vehicular traffic, construction equipment, and uneven terrain. This position may require climbing ladders, scaffolding, and working in trenches or other confined spaces. The position will require working extra hours, including nights and weekends, to attend and/or make presentations at meetings of City events. Extra hours also will be required for emergency response operations.

Selection Process

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled. First review of applications will be on April 1st, 2025.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 711.