Transportation Services Director - City of Jacksonville, NC

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 youre catching a sunrise over the river, volunteering with local nonprofits, or enjoying a local coffee shop, Jacksonville makes it easy to feel connected—to your neighbors, your work, and a community that genuinely values public service. Jacksonville operates under a council–manager 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.

Develops departmental goals, objectives, and performance metrics.

Oversees regional transportation policy and serves as staff to the JUMPO Transportation Advisory Committee.

Manages operations, compliance, and reporting for state and federal transportation grants.

Acts as liaison to agencies such as FHWA, FTA, NCDOT, and representatives of local Marine Corps installations.

Establishes and maintains departmental policies and procedures.

Prepares reports, correspondence, and presentations on transportation issues.

Advises public and private stakeholders on transportation plans and projects.

Recommends operational improvements to the City Manager’s Office.

Leads departmental recruitment, training, and performance evaluations.

Responds to citizen inquiries and recommends appropriate action.

Prepares and manages operating and capital improvement budgets.

Plans and oversees capital project development and construction.

Serves as DBE Liaison and Title VI Officer for JUMPO and Jacksonville Transit.

Comprehensive knowledge of advanced transportation principles and practices

Thorough knowledge of economics, municipal finance and sociology as they apply to transportation issues

Thorough knowledge of current legislation and recent developments in the field of transportation planning, urban public transit and traffic signal operations

General knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering as they relate to transportation

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. 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.

Relocation assistance will be available for the successful out-of-area candidate.

Hershey, PA 17033