Senior Transportation Specialist - Department of Transportation

Senior Transportation Specialist - Department of Transportation

Salary

$151,110.96 - $189,855.12 Annually

Location

San Jose Metropolitan Area

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202601669

DEPART

Transportation

Opening Date

07/14/2026

Closing Date

8/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.

About the Department

The Department of Transportation (DOT) plans, develops, operates, and maintains transportation facilities, services, and related systems which contribute to the livability and economic health of the City. We comprise a team of more than 500 people ready to serve the needs of our residents to improve the efficiency and safety of San José streets. We are an energetic and innovative team that is improving transportation in one of the nation's largest cities, while focusing on safety, sustainability, and active public life! For more information about DOT, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/transportation.

Position Duties

The Department of Transportation is currently seeking to fill multiple vacancies for the Senior Transportation Specialist position. If you are interested in employment in these classifications, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Team

This is a temporary (Overstrength) position that is anticipated to be funded through June 30, 2027, subject to further extension as appropriate. If this position is not extended through the budget process, the City may seek to place you in other internal job opportunities based on your previous work experience.

The overstrength Senior Transportation Specialist (STS) will report to the Division Manager of the Traffic Signals and Streetlights team and serve as primary backup to the incumbent STS in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) section, assisting in the overall design and deployment of ITS devices, field cabling, radios, and communication systems affecting DOT and Citywide network services.

Key duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with the ITS network engineer and incumbent STS to direct the design, operations, and maintenance of back-end network systems, servers, and cloud infrastructure that support more than 15 ITS and traffic signal control applications.
• Manage the configuration, installation, operations, and maintenance of the various ITS end devices, including but not limited to traffic signal controllers, detection systems, surveillance cameras, and multi-use sensors.
• Provide oversight to properly manage and maintain the City's communication/fiber asset, assuring that proper asset management procedures are utilized.
• Support the expansion of the communication network to enhance signal system use and use by other City departments, and provide options to leverage the city's communications network to support pilot projects.
• Plan, develop and deliver traffic signal technology projects.
• Lead technical staff.

Vision Zero Team

This position is responsible for managing the San Jose's Vision Zero and Walk n Roll Programs. Reporting to the Division Manager, the Senior Transportation Specialist will oversee delivery of the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan, which details the 5-year program delivery workplan striving to reduce all fatal and severe injury roadway crashes by 30% by 2030, while ultimately aiming to eliminate these serious crashes by 2040. As part of our Vision Zero efforts to reduce fatal and severe injuries on our roadways, we are piloting speed cameras under AB 645. This initiative is a proven and effective tool to address speeding, one of the leading causes of severe crashes. We are proud to be one of the pilot cities selected to implement and test this innovative program, which aims to make our streets safer for everyone. Additionally, the role will take independent lead in seeking innovative roadway safety treatments, pursuing all applicable grant opportunities, and managing myriad traffic data (including crash data) to monitor the program's progress, including numerous before/after studies for completed projects.

The Senior Transportation Specialist will also collaborate with their Walk n Roll staff and school leadership to provide walking and bicycling educational outreach at over 260 K-12 campuses across San Jose. This role will also oversee staff scheduling and program organization to deliver roadway safety student assemblies and Bike Roadeos to provide bicycle safety training to students in a hands-on environment.

Key duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develop delivery plan to align with target deliverables in the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan
• Provide support in the Automated Enforcement Programs
• Oversee crash data analysis and other traffic safety statistics to identify high crash locations and corridors and identify trends and contributing behaviors
• Coordinate before/after studies to provide tangible conclusions regarding safety improvements' effectiveness
• Pursue grant opportunities and manage existing grant funds to ensure all requirements are met
• Develop and administer contracts and agreements with vendors, contractors and consultants
• Collaborate with Vision Zero partners and stakeholders, community public health partners, and community groups
• Represent the City, Department and Division Manager in a variety of interdepartmental, intergovernmental, and community matters
• Assist with advocating policies at the State and National level that can have significant influence on improving traffic safety
• Lead and motivate technical team, including engineers and transportation specialists

Options - Bike & Ped Planning and Climate & Emerging Mobility Team

The Department of Transportation is currently recruiting to fill the Options Team Senior Transportation Specialist position in the Transportation Planning and Project Delivery Division. The position reports to the Planning, Options, and Policy Division Manager. This position leads the Transportation Options team, a multi-disciplinary group of 7.0 FTEs The Senior Transportation Specialist provides direct supervision and technical guidance to two distinct sub-teams:

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Team (3FTEs ): Responsible for the implementation and evolution of the Better Bike Plan 2025, ensuring that infrastructure design meets the Citys safety and accessibility standards. This team leads bike project identification and planning, including the annual pavement projects assessment, outreach for ongoing bike project implementation, bike parking program, BPAC administration, development review input, and recently adopted Guadalupe Trails Bike Connections Plan.
• Climate & Emerging Mobility Team (4FTEs ): Focuses on the transportation elements of Climate Smart San José and the Emerging Mobility Plan, managing the integration of new technologies and sustainable transportation project such as the East San José Mobility project delivering on demand shuttles, bike share expansion, and social equity-based education. This team also manages the City's Electric vehicle adoption strategic planning efforts, mobility hubs planning projects, micro-mobility program, sidewalk and aerial systems program as well as the City Transportation demand management program for development review and for employees.

Key duties include, but are not limited to:

• Represent the DOT at meetings with internal and external stakeholders, including by presenting and/or facilitating public meetings ?
• Manage and direct the two teams in this group. Ensuring a productive and supportive work environment.
• Guide planning, project and program development, and operations of new programs.
• Implement the Emerging Mobility Plan
• Implement San Jose Citywide bike plan, Better Bike Plan 2025.
• Stay up to date on trends in emerging mobility, understand how these trends will effect San Jose's transportation system.
• Work across Dept. of Transportation and other City dept.to push for implementation of the groups plans and objectives.
• Maintain relationships with people throughout the City and area that will enable
• Pursue grant opportunities and manage existing grant funds to ensure all requirements are met
• Develop and administer contracts and agreements with vendors, contractors and consultants

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in transportation planning, city and regional planning, urban studies, civil engineering, or closely related field. A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university is desirable.

Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in transportation development programs including two (2) years of project management.

Form 700 Requirement: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an "Assuming Office Form 700" with the City Clerk's Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other peoples ideas and thoughts.
• Constructive Energies: A demonstration of energy and drive that comes from within, and a willingness to approach all aspects of work with a generally positive attitude; possessing the inclination to take appropriate action rather than waiting to be told what to do; examples of Constructive Energies include but are not limited to: enthusiasm, honesty, integrity, empathy, dedication, reliable, proactive, respectful, confidence, ethical, and a willingness to help others
• Analytical Thinking: Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
• Conflict Management: Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people, by presenting the facts, analysis, and conclusions or solutions that show command of content and perspectives and interests of the audience.
• Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Decision Making: Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
• Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
• Political Skills: Intaking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Supervision: Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
• Vision/Strategic Thinking: Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization's vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicants training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If selected, the Conditional Offer of Employment may be contingent upon you providing proof of a valid State of California driver's license, and an assessment of your California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) as per the DMV Release of Driver Record Information form. Failure to pass the DMV Pull Notice assessment will deem you ineligible for employment.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jasmine Medrano at jasmine.medrano@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the Citys benefits page for detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City's Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks site to explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

01

This position requires a State of California Drivers License. Please select the applicable option that best describes your drivers license, or your ability to possess a valid drivers license.

• State of CA, Class A Drivers License
• State of CA, Class B Drivers License
• State of CA, Class C Drivers License
• I do not possess a State of California Drivers License but, I can obtain one.
• I do not possess a State of California Drivers License and I cannot obtain one

02

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High School Diploma or the equivalent (GED)
• College (1 to 29 semester units/ 1 to 44 quarter units)
• College (30 to 59 semester units/ 45 to 89 quarter units)
• College (60 to 89 semester units/ 90 to 134 quarter units)
• College (90 to 119 semester units/ 135 to 179 quarter units)
• College (120 or more semester units/ 180 or more quarter units)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• Other
• None of the above

03

If you have a Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a related field, please state the field of study and the issuing accredited college or university

04

How many years of increasingly responsible experience do you have in transportation development programs?

• Fewer than five (5) years
• Five (5) years or more

05

How many years out of the above experience do you have in project management?

• Fewer than two (2) years
• Two (2) years or more

06

Please cite an example where you were involved in working with the community and/or multiple stakeholder groups on a project. Describe the project, your role in any meetings or presentations that were held, and how you were able to influence the outcome of the project by handling/resolving issues among the stakeholders.

07

Do you have supervisory experience? If yes, please describe the direct supervisory or lead experience you have had. Include the length of time you supervised or led staff, the number of employees under your direct supervision, and a description of your methods for developing your employees.

08

Describe your experience with complex projects requiring analytical work of considerable difficulty and formulation of recommendations. In your response, please describe the steps you took in completing the analysis.

09

Please select the position(s) for which you are interested in applying for. Select all that apply:

• ITS Team
• Vision Zero Team
• Options Team

10

If you selected Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Team, please describe your experience managing network systems software, hardware, and communications backbone, as well as experience implementing complex technology improvement projects related to the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems infrastructure. Detail a specific project, your specific role, success or failure of the projects, and lessons learned. If this does not apply, please write "N/A" for not applicable.

11

If you selected Option - Bike & Ped Planning and Climate & Emerging Mobility Team, please describe your experience city bike planning and your experience with emerging mobility technologies. What are some of the efforts that have had the most impact? If this does not apply, please write "N/A" for not applicable.

12

If you selected Vision Zero, please describe your experience in leading and implementing innovative projects, memorandum writing, and grant applications, as well as your ability to analyze and synthesize complex data to support decision-making, and your capacity to effectively collaborate with other agencies to achieve shared goals. If this does not apply, please write "N/A" for not applicable.

Required Question

Employer City of San Jose

Address 200 E Santa Clara St

San Jose, California, 95113

Phone (408) 535-1285

Website https://www.sanjoseca.gov/