Transportation Services Director

Transportation Services Director

Located along the beautiful New River in coastal North Carolina, Jacksonville is a vibrant, welcoming community known for its strong sense of service, deep military roots, and small-town charm. Home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville blends patriotic pride with a youthful energy, thanks to its diverse and growing population. The City is committed to supporting its residents with excellent public services, inclusive programming, environmental stewardship, and a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure and community development. In recognition of these efforts, Jacksonville was named an All-America City in 2025 for its outstanding civic accomplishments in environmental sustainability and inclusive community engagement.

Jacksonville offers an exceptional quality of life with affordable living, easy access to the beaches of the Crystal Coast, and a family-friendly environment. The City boasts a robust park system, greenways, waterfront trails, and a walkable downtown that hosts farmers markets, community events, and cultural festivals throughout the year. Whether you're catching a sunrise over the river, volunteering with local nonprofits, or enjoying a local coffee shop, Jacksonville makes it easy to feel connectedto your neighbors, your work, and a community that genuinely values public service. With a population of approximately 75,000 in the city and over 220,000 in Onslow County, Jacksonville continues to grow as one of the most desirable places to live on the coast, earning a top 3 spot in Consumer Affairs' list of "Best Coastal Cities to Move to in 2025."

Jacksonville operates under a councilmanager form of government, where policy direction is set by the elected City Council and Mayor, and day-to-day operations are overseen by a professional City Manager. The Mayor serves as a key public representative and council leader, while the City Manager coordinates all municipal departments, implements council decisions, and manages city services. This structure ensures efficient, professional administration while maintaining strong accountability to the community through the City Council's leadership.

The Transportation Services Director serves as a critical member of the City's senior management team, overseeing a multifaceted department that includes the Jacksonville Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (JUMPO), Traffic Management, and Jacksonville Transit. Reporting to an Assistant City Manager, the Transportation Services Director is responsible for setting strategic direction, managing operations, and ensuring regulatory compliance across all transportation functions, and plays a critical role in regional coordination, capital project planning, and the administration of state and federal transportation grants. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, the Transportation Services Director will work closely with internal departments, external agencies, elected officials, and the public to advance mobility, safety, and sustainability across the community.

Essential functions and responsibilities include :

• Developing departmental goals, objectives, and performance metrics.
• Overseeing regional transportation policy and serving as staff to the JUMPO Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Managing operations, compliance, and reporting for state and federal transportation grants.
• Acting as liaison to agencies such as FHWA, FTA, NCDOT, and representatives of local Marine Corps installations.
• Establishing and maintaining departmental policies and procedures.
• Preparing reports, correspondence, and presentations on transportation issues.
• Advising public and private stakeholders on transportation plans and projects.
• Recommending operational improvements to the City Manager's Office.
• Leading departmental recruitment, training, and performance evaluations.
• Responding to citizen inquiries and recommending appropriate action.
• Preparing and managing operating and capital improvement budgets.
• Planning and overseeing capital project development and construction.
• Serving as DBE Liaison and Title VI Officer for JUMPO and Jacksonville Transit.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include :

Education & experience :

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Engineering, or related field with at least five (5) years of experience in a senior-level transportation management position. A Master's Degree in Planning, Engineering, Public Administration or related field as well as Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), urban transit and / or traffic signal operations experience is preferred.

The ideal candidate should be a visionary and collaborative transportation leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. They should bring expertise in multimodal transportation planning, urban transit systems, and traffic operations, along with a strong understanding of the regulatory landscape surrounding state and federal grant programs. The ideal candidate should be a strategic thinker who can turn big-picture goals into actionable plans that improve mobility, safety, and quality of life. Experience working within or alongside a MPO, managing capital improvement projects, and developing policies to support long-term growth will be essential.

The ideal candidate should be politically astute and able to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, while keeping the community's transportation goals at the forefront. In addition to technical proficiency, the ideal candidate should demonstrate strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. They should have a proven ability to foster teamwork across diverse functions, including planning, traffic, and transit, and build trust with staff, elected officials, agency partners, and the community.

The City of Jacksonville is offering a competitive salary range of $109,206 - $174,723 commensurate with experience, and a comprehensive benefits package. Relocation assistance will be available for the successful out-of-area candidate.

Interested applicants should forward a cover letter and resume to :

resumes@affionpublic.com

Reference : JNCDT

Affion Public

PO Box 794

Hershey, PA 17033

717-214-4922

www.affionpublic.com