The City of Bellevue Transportation Department is seeking a motivated leader to fill our Right of Way Manager position. In this role you’ll provide direction and leadership for the Right of Way Division with responsibility for the review, permitting, and inspection functions, as well as oversight for franchise management, small wireless facilities, and innovative technology and other use proposals for the public rights of way. Reporting to the Assistant Transportation Director for Mobility Services, you will serve on the Mobility Management leadership team with peer Division managers. You will also be part of the Development Services line of business and serve on key Development Services management and leadership teams.
The Right of Way Manager provides direction and leadership to staff and oversees projects, budgets, and contracts for the division. This key position also serves as a community liaison, provides complex management and decision-making, makes presentations to Council and internal/external stakeholder groups, and facilitates the resolution of issues with contractors, businesses, and other agencies. Facility use agreements for franchise utilities and data/telecommunication companies is a dynamic work item that requires continual improvement and oversight as well.
Bellevue is a dynamic, international and multicultural, future-focused, diversity driven, high performing City. Our Council vision is: "Bellevue welcomes the world, our diversity is our strength." We value all employees and their contributions. The City invests in its employees and encourages and rewards employee growth and development by building on our commonalities and our differences. Bellevue is noted for its diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. We work collectively to make it a place where you want to work, live and play.
This position is hybrid work eligible with two days a week on site at Bellevue City Hall typical.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage the Right of Way Division and Bellevue’s public street rights of way. Develop Division goals, objectives, and work plans.
Directly supervise the work of the Permit Review Section staff, and manage the Inspection Section including directly supervising the Inspection Supervisor.
Plan, organize, evaluate, coordinate, and direct the work of staff.
Select, hire, coach, and counsel staff and make other personnel decisions; prepare and deliver performance evaluations.
Provide policy direction and guidance to staff and determine staffing needs; provide mentoring and development opportunities to staff.
Identify issues that require policy direction; conducts research, review and preparation/implementation of policy.
Serve on the Mobility Management leadership team with Assistant Directors and peer managers to ensure effective and informed decision making and communication on Mobility Management, Development Services, and Transportation Department issues.
Serve on the Permit Services Management Committee (PSMC) and DS Leadership teams to facilitate coordination between the Development Services line of service departments.
Prepare agenda memos and presentations for the City Council; present to other stakeholder groups in a clear, understandable way.
Communicate with developers, contractors, and the public regarding right of way use policies, permit conditions, and inspection/traffic control related issues.
Resolve politically sensitive issues and disputes in a proactive and timely manner.
Ensure staff is providing expertise and guidance regarding project impacts, including staging areas, order of work, night work, noise, truck hauling, parking, detours and road/lane closures, sidewalk closures, and traffic delays.
Oversee all Right of Way Use Agreements with telecommunication providers and Franchise Agreements with utility companies; ensure on-going coordination and that agreements are updated and renewed in a timely and accurate manner.
Oversee the small wireless facilities (SWF) program. Provide interdepartmental coordination with Legal, Information Technology, and Development Services to develop business plans and strategies for establishing new agreements. Manage agreements and inventories once agreements are established.
Oversee the evaluation of requests for new technology and innovative approaches within the right of way. Provide coordination with requesting entity and interdepartmentally.
Ensure standard operating procedures (SOPs) are updated regularly.
Provide staffing to and direction for the city’s “special events” committee for the planning and implementation of special events in street rights of way.
Oversee the maintenance and update of the city’s Right of Way Code.
Oversee the permitting and leases associated with the sidewalk café and on-street dining programs.
Participate in the budget process including proposing and justifying staff positions to meet division and city objectives.
Perform quarterly operating budget monitoring and revenue projections from Right of Way Use agreements and leases. Perform quarterly workload projections for all permit/inspection revenue supported positions.
SUPERVISION:
Works under the general supervision of a Transportation Department Assistant Director.
Exercises supervision over professional and technical staff including engineers, technicians, and inspectors.
Qualifications
Knowledge and Abilities:
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to present technical information clearly and accurately to elected officials, internal and external stakeholders, and the media.
Ability to negotiate effectively with employees, other business units and departments, outside agencies, utility and telecommunication companies, and the general public.
Ability to plan, organize, and monitor the work and activities of self and staff members.
Understanding of civil engineering practices, principles, and methods.
Understanding of transportation operations, construction practices, and methods.
Knowledge of applicable city policies, laws, and regulations affecting department activities.
Ability to plan, organize, and monitor activities according to priorities, established schedules, and deadlines.
Ability to provide leadership, counsel, motivation, and constructive performance reviews to staff members, securing their respective commitments to the department’s goals.
Education, Experience, and Other Requirements:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in civil engineering or related technical field.
Seven years’ progressively responsible experience in public works with some Transportation experience preferred.
Experience supervising employees or leading individuals or teams.
Any combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Washington State Professional Engineering license preferred but not required.
Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:
Work involves walking; talking; hearing; using hands to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reaching with hands and arms.
Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, or carry up to 40 pounds.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet in the office and moderately loud in the field.
Hiring Process: To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible. We do not accept resumes and cover letters.
Answer the Supplemental Questions included as part of this employment opportunity.
Only electronic applications are accepted.
For questions regarding this position please contact Mark Poch at 425-452-6137 or at mpoch@bellevuewa.gov.
The City of Bellevue offers diverse employment opportunities for those that want to work for the community. We offer a robust benefits package, an eco-friendly work environment, and state-of-the-art technology.
