Chief Roadway Operations and Safety Officer

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) seeks an experienced and strategic Chief of Roadway Operations and Safety Officer to lead the District’s real-time roadway operations and frontline safety programs. The Chief manages DDOT’s daily roadway operations, including special event preparation, incident response, and coordination of multimodal activity. A central responsibility includes the strategic deployment of operational staff—Traffic Control Officers who support traffic flow and pedestrian safety at the busiest intersections during rush hours, major special events, and emergency incidents; and School Crossing Guards who safeguard families and children at school crossings. The role demands expertise in designing efficient workforce schedules, implementing accountability tools, and managing large shift-based teams.

This position also oversees DDOT’s 24/7 Traffic Management Center (TMC), which monitors and disseminates real-time traffic and emergency information using an extensive network of cameras and field technologies. The Chief directs the Roadway Operations Patrol (ROP), a rapid-response unit responsible for clearing debris, managing hazards, and restoring roadway functionality during incidents and emergencies. Ideal candidates bring demonstrated experience leading large operational unionized teams, optimizing resource deployment, and making data-informed decisions in fast-paced and high-stakes environments. This role is critical to ensuring the District’s streets remain safe, efficient, and resilient—every hour of every day.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides strategic leadership for day-to-day roadway operations, ensuring effective real-time monitoring, coordinated incident response, and comprehensive planning for major events. Establishes division goals and develops performance metrics and evaluation frameworks that promote accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement. Oversees the Transportation Management Center, the Traffic Control Officer Branch, and the Safety Technician/School Crossing Guard Branch, ensuring strong operational integration, consistent field coordination, and alignment with DDOT’s mission and performance targets. 

Provides executive oversight of DDOT’s emergency readiness and continuity of operations planning in emergency management and interagency engagement. Leads development and implementation of emergency action plans, regional evaluation plans, and coordinated response strategies for all-hazards events. Represents DDOT’s roadway operations interests in citywide and regional emergency planning, serving within emergency operations centers, regional traffic coordination forums, and interagency command structures. Plans and oversees safe multimodal flow during major planned events and communicating operational priorities, performance, and system needs to the agency Director, the DDOT executive team, elected officials, and external partner organizations.

Qualifications and Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position.

OR

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position and has equipped the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, such as experience in traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position. To be creditable, the incumbent must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Licenses and Certifications

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record.

Working Conditions/Environment

Work is primarily conducted in an office setting. However, incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions while outdoors visiting various site locations.

Other Significant Facts

Tour of Duty: Varies- Incumbent may be required to work weekends, evenings, and in on-call situations.

Pay Plan, Series and Pay Grade: MS-2101-16

Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential

Duration of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service (MSS) - at will. All positions and appointments in MSS serve the pleasure of the appointment authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union): This position is not in a collective bargaining unit.

Position Designation(s): The position has been deemed security-sensitive, pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background and traffic records, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks, and traffic records for the duration of your tenure.

Emergency Designation: This position has been designated as an essential employee position under District Personnel Manual's provisions, Chapter 12. As such, your services may be required in emergency situations to perform crucial duties, i.e., snow removal, debris removal, transportation, shelter operations, food distribution, and communication. These duties may be performed when the government is closed or when most employees are dismissed early.

Residency Requirement Statement: If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

Benefits May Include:

DDOT is an employer of choice for any job seeker who has passion, energy, and enthusiasm about our city.  Employee benefits include:

• Health and life insurance benefits and retirement benefits (More information about these benefits is available on the D.C. Department of Human Resources (DCHR) website at www.dchr.dc.gov.)
• Complimentary Capital BikeShare Membership
• Continued professional development, and professional growth through d.University, the in-house training available for all DDOT employees
• Flexible work schedule (team and role dependent)
• Employer assisted housing loan program, providing payment and/or closing cost financing for first-time home buyers (restrictions apply).

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,  pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.