Asst Deputy Director - Transportation

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Job Req ID: 346 

Department: Transportation 

Salary Range: $224,744.00 to $224,744.00 

Job Type: Unclassified     

Business Area: Transportation 

Personnel Area: Transportation 

Closing Date: 07/25/2025 

​**Please Note: Current City Employees: To Apply, please log into SuccessFactors, click on the "Careers" tile and apply.  

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, one Assistant Deputy Director will oversee and manage overall operations of the Transportation Department’s (Department) safety and litigation sections. The sections currently consist of a Safety Manager, Safety Officer, and an Administrative Aide.

• For Safety and Training: The position will oversee the safety and training for the Department which is directly managed by the Safety and Training Manager (a direct report to the Assistant Deputy Director). This requires: ensuring that safety and training policies and procedures are maintained and updated; facilitating the accident review committee administrative process; overseeing the tracking of light duty employees and facilitating reasonable accommodation requests; and ensuring any process improvements or training are integrated into field operations based on the result of claims and litigation.
• For Claims and Litigation: This position will: manage the intake of all claims and litigation received by the Department; represent the Department in closed session and other meetings; represent the Department in trial and testify when required; liaise with the Office of the City Attorney and other City departments; work closely with Department staff when subject matter expertise is needed; and ensure remediation actions are taken. Given this is a new position for the Department, creating and implementing up a framework for tracking and managing accountability on claims and litigation cases will be important for the success of the position.

Within the two areas of management, this position will assist with developing and administering policies and programs for the Department. For the areas of safety/training and claims/litigation, key areas of focus include: the development of current and long-range operational and budgetary needs; serving as lead for process and continuous improvement efforts; and monitoring key performance indicators, workload, and production data to inform decision making. In addition, this position will ensure that the progress of programs is appropriately tracked and reported to the Mayor, City Council, and other stakeholders, and will lead policy discussions related to these programs when needed.

The Department is currently recruiting one (1) permanent Assistant Deputy Director.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Serving as the Department lead point of contact for all claim and litigation cases related to maintenance and repair of the streets, sidewalks, and all other Transportation assets.
• Ensuring that all data requests and documentation for claims and litigation are coordinated and provided in a timely manner.
• Coordinating with all internal Department subject matter experts to support the needs of the City Attorney’s Office.
• Ensuring that all remediation actions, process improvements, and(or) training are integrated across the Department and field operations as outcomes of claims and litigation.
• Tracking and reporting out on trends in data from claims and litigation and opportunities for adaptive management.
• Overseeing safety and training for the Department, through coordination with the Safety and Training Manager, to ensure Department employees are properly trained, equipped, and has access to the technology and resources to be successful in their daily responsibilities and tasks.
• Ensuring that safety and training policies and procedures are maintained and updated.
• Facilitating the accident review committee administrative process.
• Overseeing the tracking of light duty employees and facilitating reasonable accommodation requests.
• Ensuring proper controls, procedures, and processes are in place to promote and encourage consistent and quality work.
• Tracking and reporting on key performance indicators and determine resource, funding, or process improvement needs.
• Serving as lead to implement continuous improvement efforts across all assigned service areas.
• Compiling and reporting information to executive management including service request status, project status or timeline, and resource and budgetary needs among others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Engineering, Construction, Business Administration, or a related field, or 
• Eight years of professional experience in engineering, operations, or management. However, any combination of education, experience, and training may demonstrate these qualifications.

Desirable Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• General knowledge of right of way infrastructure repair and maintenance activities or other related construction activities.
• Interest in municipal services and how they impact the community.
• Experience managing diverse operations with a high-volume of customer requests or competing priorities.
• Ability to successfully manage large employee populations, substantial operating budgets, and high-profile and visible programs.
• Ability to establish clear goals, expectations, and priorities for team.
• Strong advocate for safety within the team and throughout the operation for City and contractor activities.
• Knowledge of field operations’ best practices for safety and training, and experience ensuring commitment to safety and performance.
• Ability to learn and implement new technologies and to leverage available tools for efficiency.
• Strong quantitative analytical abilities, including a thorough understanding of common data analysis tools and programs.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a resource-constrained environment and a desire to overcome barriers and challenges with a “can do” attitude.
• A desire to solve problems and integrate process improvements.
• Energetic and motivated with the ability and desire to take initiative.
• Motivated by delivering excellent internal and external customer service.
• Understanding for how to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information in a simple, clear and straightforward manner, including the use of graphs and tables as needed, and across various audiences, including elected officials, City management, and members of the public.
• Ability to comprehend technical details and understand how they relate to and impact the “big picture.”
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high pressure environment with tight time constraints.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and timelines with a positive attitude.
• Highly ethical and objective, with the ability to navigate in a political environment without being political.

The Transportation Department in San Diego oversees the operation and maintenance of streets and sidewalks, traffic and transportation system engineering, the Utilities Undergrounding program, and right-of-way coordination. It manages fiscal, administrative, and executive functions, including financial management, budgeting, safety, litigation, and customer service. The department ensures that all right-of-way projects meet quality standards and provides services such as vegetation encroachment control, graffiti abatement, and urban forestry. Additionally, it maintains and repairs the City’s street network, including streets, alleys, sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, and safety devices. The department also enhances the transportation network for motorists, transit users, cyclists, and pedestrians, coordinating with agencies like SANDAG, MTS, and Caltrans. For more information, please visit this link.

Benefits:

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.). 
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate. 
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance. 

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees  (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924.

The City:

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan". 

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2025 operating and capital budget of approximately $5.65 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:
Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage for additional information.  Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. 

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.   
 
The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Program for employment and vigorously supports diversity in the workplace.