Duties Description Under the general direction of the Chief of Staff, the incumbent will provide leadership to the Department's Operations Division. The incumbent will be a strategic partner within the Department's Executive Management Team and will work in a collaborative manner to advance the mission and goals of the Department. The incumbent will build and maintain relationships internally, within state government, elected officials, and external stakeholders.
The Operations Division handles a significant workload, including highway and bridge maintenance, fleet administration, traffic safety and mobility, transportation management, emergency transportation operations, Intelligent Transportation System, and truck/bus/rail safety and security. These responsibilities require leadership, managing and reacting quickly to emergency events, as well as implementing and overseeing the operations and maintenance of the transportation system statewide. In addition to day-to-day operations and emergency response efforts, which are 24/7/365 requirements, the Division has core competencies such as Traffic Engineering and Modal Safety responsibilities.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Provide direct supervision to the Directors of the Offices within the Operations Division.
• Oversee the implementation of new technological and operational innovations to improve the safety and effectiveness of the State's transportation network.
• Manage the Department's maintenance and operations of the State-owned highway and bridge system, including the provision of critical safety efforts to preserve the system's effective functioning during winter snow and ice events and other natural and human-made disasters.
• Ensure that the Department's emergency response to all events that threaten the provision of the State's transportation system is effective and timely.
• Guarantee that the Department's motorized equipment fleet is sufficiently available and functioning at a level which supports all essential agency activities.
• Oversee and provide direction on the safety of other modal programs, including rail, truck, and private and public bus systems.
• Provide essential leadership in the Department's efforts to incorporate intelligent transportation systems into the operations of all modes of the State's transportation network including, where appropriate, facilities owned and operated by municipalities and public benefit corporations.
• Evaluate overall resource needs for the Operations Division's activities and establish priorities in the use of resources to produce quality projects and programs completed on schedule and within budget in coordination with other Divisions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Commissioner or the Chief of Staff.
Responsibilities may include serving a role within the Incident Command System to support the department's response to regional and statewide emergency situations.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree and ten years of relevant experience.*
*Substitutions: four years of specialized experience or associate's degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelor's degree; J.D. or master's degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.
Additional Comments Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Name Heather Childs
Telephone
Fax
AddressStreet NYS Department of Transportation
Personnel Bureau
City 50 Wolf Road
State NY
Zip Code 12232
Notes on Applying Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest, a current resume, and a copy of required transcripts (if applicable), titled by last name, with the Notice Number MO-26-364 and last name in the subject line and referenced in the letter of interest no later than October 19, 2026 to:
NYS Department of Transportation
Personnel Bureau
Attn: Heather Childs
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12232
[email protected]
