Transit & Parking Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The City of Rochester invites applications for the position of: Transit & Parking Director Transit and Parking Department
Recruitment Brochure



The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.

We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.

It takes us all working together

Nature of Work:
The Transit & Parking Director is responsible for the delivery of a fiscally sustainable transportation system with high levels of ridership that encourages mode shift for City residents and visitors. As a member of the City's Development Services and Infrastructure Leadership Team, the Director is responsible for advancing the vision of the City's Comprehensive Plan by providing strategic leadership and direction for the overall administration and management of municipal services related to transit and parking. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: performing high-level administrative functions in the management of programs/policies, preparation of budgets, and oversight of grant administration for the City's transportation network; managing the Capital Improvement Program funding and recommending project schedules for transit, and parking; leading, managing and directing the work of assigned employees; and providing internal and external customer service. The Director also represents the City in relationships with residents, property owners and other agencies.

For more information, view our recruitment brochure here!
2026 annual salary range is $141,808 - $202,583.
To have your application considered in the first round of interviews, please apply by February 9,2026, at 11:59 PM CST. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*Provide strategic leadership in the development of programs and policies for transit and parking functions.

• Regularly evaluate and prioritize the City’s transit services, including ridership levels, external funding changes, greenhouse gas emissions, and inclusive growth management. Ensure that this optimization is reflected in future Transit Development Plan updates and the forthcoming request for proposals for transit operations.
• Establish the overall direction of the operations and maintenance of the transit services and parking management.
• Anticipate future transit and parking needs and trends while leveraging current systems to improve mobility options.
• Provide oversight and professional expertise to leaders and teammates performing the following job functions Developing, implementing, and reviewing transit and parking related policies and procedures.Developing, reviewing, and initiating agreements, contracts and conveyance documents and the maintenance of all data.
• Develop, submit, and manage various federal and state grants.
• Develop and implement metrics to evaluate programs, policies and operations. Recommend and monitor the operating budget/expenditures for designated areas of oversight,
• Coordinate the prioritization and implementation of transit and parking initiatives, including project team setup/resourcing, data collection and retention, software implementation and training, applications, workflow integration, asset management and maintenance.
• Collaborate with other City departments to implement transit and parking programs to achieve common goals.
• Facilitate operating meetings on a regular basis for parking contracts to discuss training needs, customer issues, and safety/security.

*Manage the Capital Improvement Program funding and recommend project schedules for transit and parking projects

• Develop and administer an annual budget and Capital Improvement Program for the Department.
• Manage Capital Improvement Program project plan, specification review, and approval processes for transit and parking projects. Including monitoring the budget of the projects.
• Review and approve funding requests for Federal and State funds allocated to CIP projects .
• Oversee a condition study on all parking facilities on a cyclical basis; manage the resulting restoration projects.
• Ensure the completion of parking facility maintenance that falls outside of service contract parameters as needed.

*Lead and implement a strategic vision and plan for the Department that is in alignment and supportive of the City's strategic goals and objectives.

• Lead the development of a strategic vision that enhances the community, and motivates and inspires Department employees; create a strategic plan for the Department to address future service delivery needs.
• Apply organizational and management best practices to the periodic analysis and evaluation of work programs, procedures, policies, and operational needs of Department functions.
• Create performance metrics to ensure each Division is achieving goals and objectives.
• Conduct Department leadership team meetings to facilitate information sharing, develop team goals and objectives, work through key decisions and/or issues affecting the Department, and focus on leadership development.
• Participate actively on the City's Leadership Forum and collaborate with them to fulfill the City's strategic plans and objectives.

*Exercise a leadership style that fosters teamwork, promotes team initiative, and provides professional growth opportunities for Department employees.

• Foster a collaborative leadership style that encourages inclusion, teamwork, promotes staff initiative, and provides professional growth opportunities for all departmental employees.
• Develop and implement effective employee coaching and performance management strategies to ensure the achievement of organizational priorities and create an environment that encourages innovation, teamwork, employee engagement, fiscal responsibility, and high-quality work.
• Oversee the recruitment, hiring, and orientation processes for new employees and ensure strategies are implemented to obtain and maintain a diverse workforce.
• Prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment, hiring and development of a diverse workforce
• Champion a positive organizational culture, teammate inspiration, and teammate engagement.

*Provide internal and external customer service and represent the Transit & Parking Department in relationships with businesses, citizens and other agencies.

• Oversee professional transit and parking contracts that provide operational services which includes direction on administration of policies and procedures and achieving overall goals.
• Respond to high level inquiries, complaints and requests for information regarding transit and parking issues.
• Assist and coordinate with City teammates and agencies on contracts, claims, and other transit and parking related matters.
• Act as a resource to the City on transit and parking issues, supporting collaboration with other governmental agencies including county, state and federal agencies.
• Make presentations of complex nature, including detailed technical support, research, analysis, cost estimates, engineering reports, and professional recommendations to City Council, Commissions, neighborhood groups, and professional organizations.
• Provide information on important CIP projects to department managerial and technical employees.
• Confer with owners of property on requests for information on private property improvements and/or transit and parking improvements.
• Represent the City regarding transit and parking issues and act as a liaison to contracting agencies and organizations.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

* ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
A Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field from an accredited college or university and seven years of increasingly responsible professional experience working in public transit, urban planning, and/or parking including at least two years of supervisory experience.
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

Licenses and/or Certifications
Valid Minnesota driver's license or valid driving privileges within the State of Minnesota.

Desirable Qualifications
Master's degree in Business Administration, Transportation Management, Engineering, Urban Planning, or related field.

Nationally recognized job-related certifications such as: Certified Community Transit Manager; Certified Administrator of Public Parking; or Certified Parking Professional.

If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform the office work requirements of this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform the field work requirements of this position, the work is best described as Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:
Frequent demands: standing, sitting, walking, and continuous/repetitive movements of the arms, hands, and fingers.
Occasional demands: lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling, crouching, bending, twisting, climbing, and balancing.

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, and touch.