DIVISION CHIEF, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

DIVISION CHIEF, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

OVERVIEW

Help Shape the Future of Mobility in Alexandria

The City of Alexandria is looking for an exceptional leader to guide one of the most innovative transportation planning programs in the country.

This is an opportunity to lead a talented team that is helping transform how people move through Alexandria—making our streets safer, more connected, more sustainable, and more welcoming for everyone. From advancing Vision Zero and Complete Streets initiatives to shaping major transit investments and multimodal corridor transformations, this role sits at the center of some of the City's most important transportation priorities.

We are seeking a leader who is a good team player—someone who is collaborative, curious, and driven to make a difference. The ideal candidate is a strong manager and mentor who empowers staff, builds relationships, communicates effectively with diverse audiences, and takes initiative to solve complex challenges.

If you are energized by public service, passionate about transportation, and excited to help shape the future of mobility in Alexandria, we encourage you to apply.

The Role

As Division Chief of Transportation Planning, you will lead a team responsible for developing and implementing transportation policies, programs, and capital projects that improve safety, mobility, accessibility, and quality of life throughout Alexandria.

You will work closely with the Deputy Director and fellow Division Chiefs in Transportation Engineering, Mobility Services, and the DASH team to provide strategic leadership for the Department's transportation programs. Together, this leadership team is responsible for advancing Alexandria's transportation vision and delivering projects that serve residents, businesses, and visitors.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and mentoring a team of transportation planners and professionals while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Managing the City's transportation planning programs, including Vision Zero, Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, multimodal corridor planning, transit planning, and transportation policy initiatives.
• Supporting the Transportation Commission and providing technical and policy guidance to City Council, boards, commissions, and executive leadership.
• Overseeing long-range transportation planning efforts and helping shape Alexandria's future transportation network.
• Guiding transportation elements of development review and land use planning to ensure new growth supports community goals and multimodal mobility.
• Managing the Division's operating and capital budgets and coordinating funding strategies with local, state, regional, and federal partners.
• Coordinating closely with regional transportation agencies and partners, including DASH, WMATA, VDOT, MWCOG, NVTC, DRPT, and other regional organizations.
• Representing the City on regional committees, technical working groups, legislative initiatives, and transportation policy discussions.
• Collaborating across City departments to align transportation investments with broader community goals related to housing, economic development, sustainability, public health, and equity.
• Overseeing consultant contracts, grant applications, project development efforts, and transportation planning studies.
• Helping advance major capital projects from concept through implementation while balancing technical analysis, community input, and policy objectives.
• Communicating complex transportation issues clearly and effectively to elected officials, community members, stakeholders, and partner agencies.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates will bring:

• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• A commitment to developing staff and building high-performing teams.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day execution.
• Communicates well with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Political awareness and sound judgment.
• A collaborative approach to problem solving and relationship building.
• Curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to continuously learn and adapt.
• The ability to navigate complex transportation, land use, and policy issues while maintaining focus on community outcomes.

Why Alexandria?

Alexandria is widely recognized as one of the nation's most innovative local governments in transportation and mobility. The City has built a reputation for advancing Vision Zero, multimodal transportation, transit investment, and emerging transportation technologies through strong partnerships and a willingness to pilot new ideas.

Our transportation team works closely with regional and national partners including DASH, WMATA, VDOT, DRPT, MWCOG, NVTC, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, NACTO, and other leading organizations shaping the future of mobility.

Alexandria is currently advancing major investments in bus rapid transit, corridor redesigns, smart mobility technologies, transportation safety, and multimodal infrastructure. The Division Chief will have the opportunity to help shape these efforts while leading a talented team committed to delivering meaningful results for residents, businesses, and visitors.

For transportation professionals seeking a leadership role with broad impact, visible projects, strong regional influence, and a culture of innovation, this is a unique opportunity.

About T&ES

The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) strives to improve quality of life through the development, maintenance, and operation of Alexandria's transportation and environmental infrastructure. Our team delivers innovative solutions that support a safe, sustainable, and thriving community through transportation planning, engineering, transit, mobility services, environmental stewardship, and public infrastructure management.

Ideal Candidate

To qualify for this position all candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering or related program; and five years of progressively responsible experience in transportation planning and/or engineering, or operations analysis; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.