Smart Mobility Program Manager - City of Alexandria VA

“Preserving the Past, while Innovating our Future!” 
The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work.  About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district.  We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead.  If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Civil Engineer IV position in our Transportation Engineering Division.
 
What we do and how we do it is driven by our 4 Core Values:

1. Respect: We are open-minded and treat all people with dignity 
2. Teamwork: We do great things together
3. Integrity: We are thoughtful stewards of the public’s trust
4. Continuous Improvement: We challenge ourselves to learn and grown

An Overview
The Smart Mobility Program Manager performs highly responsible administrative and professional work in directing the day-to-day activities and implementation of the Smart Mobility Program. The employee in this class is responsible for coordinating of a number of smart mobility programs across the City, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) projects, Adaptive Traffic Signals and Transit Signal & Emergency Vehicle Priority systems. The employee will work closely with the Department of Information Technology to integrate data from Smart Mobility with other City functions. The Program Manager is responsible for collaborating with departments across the city as well as regional and private partners to implement and ensure success of this program.   Work is performed under the administrative direction of the Division Chief of Transportation Engineering within the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services and is performed with considerable latitude for independent judgment.
 
Smart Mobility Program Manager - Major Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategic Vision:
  • Lead and manage the City’s Smart Mobility Program, advancing our award-winning technology testing model that fosters civic, academic, and private partnerships. 
  • Collaborate with regional and national partners, including VA Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), to identify and launch innovative projects through the Smart Mobility Lab.
  • Oversee and mentor the Smart Mobility Program Analyst, fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Program Development and Implementation:
  • Draft and implement the annual Smart Mobility Work Plan, ensuring the timely reporting of accomplishments and metrics. 
  • Direct the interdepartmental Smart Mobility Working Group, aligning cross-departmental efforts and tracking progress through strategic planning.
• Technology and Innovation:
  • Collaborate with DASH, the Fire Department, and other stakeholders to modernize the Radio/GPS-based Transit Signal Priority and Preemption system to a cloud-based solution.
  • Lead the development of a comprehensive data collection and mapping strategy, including the installation of permanent data collection devices at key intersections and the integration of a robust internal data platform (Data Point/Digital Twin effort).
  • Support the adoption of new parking technologies and Curb Data Specifications (CDS), contributing to the development of a mapped inventory of the City’s curbs.
  • Act as the technical lead managing large-scale infrastructure projects, such as fiber installation, Adaptive Traffic Signal Control, and Transit Signal Priority, ensuring alignment with the City’s broader technology goals.
  • Spearhead initiatives to upgrade the Traffic Management Center into a data hub supporting smart mobility and transportation management across the City.
• Collaboration and Regional Engagement: Coordinate with regional partners (e.g., Arlington County, DDOT, Montgomery County, VDOT) to establish a Regional Smart Cities/Mobility Working Group, facilitating the exchange of best practices and the streamlining of efforts across jurisdictions.
• Autonomous Vehicles and Emerging Technologies:
  • Participate in national discussions on autonomous vehicles, including serving on NACTO’s Emerging Technologies Steering Committee. 
  • Collaborate with regional partners to shape state legislation on autonomous vehicle operations.
• Stakeholder Communication and Public Engagement:
  • Communicate program goals, progress, and outcomes to senior management, City Council, and the public through various channels, including presentations, social media, and public meetings.
  • Ensure that all Smart Mobility Program initiatives are well-coordinated, effectively communicated, and aligned with the City’s mission and values.
• Budget and Fiscal Management:
  • Oversee the Smart Mobility budget, currently set at $22 million over ten years, ensuring that capital projects are advancing as planned and that resources are efficiently allocated.
  • Work closely with VDOT and other external agencies to secure and manage grant projects, in partnership with the City Fiscal Team.
• Continuous Improvement and Professional Development: Seek opportunities to enhance organizational processes, employee performance, and morale. Encourage professional and personal growth within the team, identifying opportunities for staff development and innovation.
• Administrative and Policy Support: Prepare and review reports, docket items, and policy recommendations for the City Manager, City Council, Boards & Commissions, and the T&ES Director. Contribute to the development of strategies and policy options related to transportation and smart mobility.

Leadership Philosophy – Every T&ES employee is a leader and capable of assisting the department with turning the City’s mission, vision and values into a reality. The T&ES Leadership Philosophy is the department’s guide to fostering innovation and ensuring a successful workplace.

We are all leaders who create an environment that fosters engagement, collaboration, diversity, and decision making at all levels to achieve our mission by:

• Investing in our people
• Respecting the unique contributions of all
• Sharing information in all directions
• Encouraging opportunities for meaningful and challenging work 

What You Should Bring

•  Accountability and Initiative: A strong sense of responsibility for delivering outstanding services and the drive to take initiative in all tasks.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: A passion for finding innovative solutions to challenges and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Team Collaboration: A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively as part of a team, valuing diverse perspectives and ideas.
• Commitment to Excellence: A dedication to producing high-quality work products that meet our high standards of excellence.
• Humble, Hungry, and Smart: A humble attitude, a strong work ethic, and the intelligence to navigate complex issues and contribute meaningfully to our team.
• If you are passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative, innovative environment, we encourage you to apply and join our team!

The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of modern principles and best practices of civil engineering, roadway safety, and multi-modal roadway design; ability to prepare engineering computations, analysis, estimates, designs, plans, and specifications; ability to conduct engineering research work and write technical and non-technical reports; ability to use engineering software, including CADD, Synchro, and more; ability to provide guidance and assistance to engineers, planners and subordinates; ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships will all people; ability physically to work out-of-doors under adverse conditions; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, relaying technical information in a non-technical way.
 
About the Department
The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the City of Alexandria by developing top-tier infrastructure. To support the city's physical, social, and economic growth, the T&ES team delivers exceptional services in multi-modal, long-range, and transit planning and engineering. They also focus on environmental quality, stormwater management, traffic management, smart mobility, curbside management, street maintenance, and refuse and recycling collection.