Transportation Assistant Director - Chief Engineer of Development and Delivery

About the Role

The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) is seeking an Assistant Director to lead the department’s Engineering division and serve functionally as the “Chief Engineer.” NDOT is seeking a Chief Engineer with extensive capital project delivery experience to lead the department into a new era of best practices in both project design and delivery. The Chief Engineer drives program and project delivery, while performing the administrative and managerial duties to oversee the Engineering division of NDOT.

These duties include project development, project management, design, right-of-way and utilities coordination, construction, standards, specifications, development services, and managing staff. The Chief Engineer will enact Nashville’s adopted key transportation values of safety, connectivity, choice, prosperity, wellbeing, stewardship, equity, and regionalism. In this role, they will shape the future of infrastructure in Nashville by prioritizing projects, ensuring robust community engagement, adopting and applying national best practices, training and mentoring staff, and guiding and approving inclusive and innovative project design and construction.

This position will report to the Deputy Director of Engineering and work with senior NDOT leadership to interact with the Mayor’s Office, the Metro Council, Metro Departments, regional, and state agencies, as well as other community stakeholders, while also working collaboratively with the Choose How You Move (CHYM) Chief Program Office. NDOT is in a new era of delivery, and the Chief Engineer will partner with NDOT leadership to build internal capacity and support efforts to reform NDOT into a project delivery organization.

The Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure delivers a range of services, and the nearly 400 employees work around the clock to ensure a multimodal system that offers choice and better connects neighborhoods, residents, businesses, and visitors to the places they need and want to go in a safe manner. These employees are responsible for over 2,200 miles of public roadways and rights-of-way, over 6,000 streets, over 300 bridges, 835 traffic signals, and over 1,200 miles of bike/sidewalk lanes and much more. Big events in Nashville, such as CMA Festival, Stanley Cup Finals, Titans games, and numerous special events, require significant preparation and cleanup, and NDOT employees are up for the challenge.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with the Deputy Director of Engineering to manage and oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the NDOT Engineering division.
• In partnership with the Deputy Director of Engineering and NDOT Director, establishes the long-term and short-term project design and delivery strategies for the Engineering division.
• Oversees project design that implements national best practices and standards (e.g., NACTO and Vision Zero) and collaboratively solves multimodal transportation issues aligned with community values.
• Leads the development of departmental policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and work methods under the Engineering division.
• Collaborates with the NDOT Director on preparation and administration of the capital improvement budgets, capital spending plan, annual operating budget, and related engineering budget.
• Collaborates with the NDOT Planning division to ensure that designed projects align with vision/intent.
• Ensures project deliverables remain on time, within budget, and in alignment with city priorities.
• Advises the NDOT Director and Deputy Director of Engineering of cost-effectiveness on projects and oversees prudent use of public funds.
• Attends Metro Council meetings, budget meetings, Council Committee meetings, and other relevant meetings concerning NDOT activities.
• Addresses complex problems arising on engineering projects and supports employees through remediation.
• Conducts studies and implements improvements on engineering processes and procedures.
• Leads development, oversight, implementation, and deployment of new transportation infrastructure programmatic standards, specifications, and processes; ensures standards, criteria, policies, and processes are aligned with and adopted by project delivery partners.
• Prepares and transmits communications, instructions, and policies to colleagues and direct reports.
• Performs supervisory duties which include evaluating Assistant Engineering Chiefs and setting assignment deadlines along with assigning and reviewing work.
• Directs and reviews grant and funding applications.
• Serves as the NDOT liaison for other engineering divisions within the Metro Government or in the private sector.
• Leads the development and growth of NDOT internal capacity, working to ensure project design and delivery functions to NDOT staff, reducing reliance on outside entities.
• Oversees management of private engineering firms and contractors that support NDOT.
• Serves as a spokesperson for responding to media inquiries concerning NDOT engineering projects and other related activities.
• Serves as a member of the NDOT senior leadership team, working effectively across NDOT Departments and with other senior leaders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university and eight (8) years of progressively responsible post-degree engineering experience, including professional experience of which five (5) years as a licensed Professional Engineer and five (5) years of management experience.
• Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.
• Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078, all employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science Degree in Engineering.
• Knowledge in delivery of large-scale capital and multimodal projects and programs.
• Knowledge of NACTO Design Guidelines.
• Experience with project management administration and delivery.
• Experience with contract administration and performance management.
• Knowledge of TDOT guidelines and procedures.
• Knowledge of encroachments and right-of-way matters.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
• Ability to analyze studies and make recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and hold teams accountable while fostering professional growth, collaboration, and a strong team culture that values interdepartmental partnership.