Salary : $115,252.80 - $163,904.00 Annually
Location : Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-00855
Agency: 645 Iowa Department of Transportation
Opening Date: 09/22/2026
Closing Date: 10/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-DNP
Point of Contact:
To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to Garrett Pederson at [email protected] no later than 11:59 PM on 10/01/2026.

Job Description
Job Title: Director of the Systems Planning Bureau

Reports To: Iowa DOT Transportation Development Division Deputy Director of Planning and Programs

Position Type: Confidential, At-Will

Location:Ames, Iowa

Shift Requirements: Day shift, Monday - Friday, 8 hours typical (may be flexed), mostly in-person but telework is available, some overnight and in and out of state travel is required.

The Transportation Development Division is seeking a director for the Systems Planning Bureau. This is an at-will position that reports to the Deputy Director of Planning and Programs.

What you'll do:

As Director of the Systems Planning Bureau, this position will lead the bureau and provide direction and oversight of approximately 36 full-time employees. There are four teams in the bureau: Traffic Collection & Analysis; Modeling, Forecasting & Telemetrics; Planning; and Mapping & Geographic Information.
The Systems Planning Bureau Director is responsible for the development of modal transportation plans and the state long-range transportation plan. These plans guide the department's investments in all modes of transportation within the state of Iowa. The development of plans requires close and extensive consultation with other bureaus and divisions within the department, the department director, the Transportation Commission, other state agencies, regional/metropolitan planning organizations, and the federal government. In addition, the Director will be responsible for utilizing a participatory planning process to develop plans that involve internal as well as public, private, and citizen interests. As part of the planning efforts, the Director manages data collection, analysis, and mapping and visualization activities that are critical to the development of transportation plans and projects.
The Systems Planning Bureau Director is also responsible for overseeing and administering Iowa's regional/metropolitan planning process, which includes the administration of planning funds that support that process and the development and implementation of planning guidance. This involves close coordination and communication with Iowa's 18 Regional Planning Affiliations and nine Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
The Director has a key role in the department's responsibility to provide services of value and excellence to customers inside and outside of the department. The Director is expected to strive for personal and work unit excellence by continuous improvement, understanding and communicating customer needs and priorities, building a work environment of trust and respect, and improving work processes and systems. The Director is further responsible for the recruitment, retention, and career development of assigned staff and is responsible for the assigned resources.
We're looking for candidates who have:

• Commitment to customer service
• Effective leadership and management experience
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Highly effective communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Commitment to meeting established deadlines
• Ability to simultaneously lead multiple programs and priorities

It is imperative that this person is a visionary and values openness, fairness, innovation, transparency, accountability, safety, and diversity.
Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment and costs can be reviewed
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the !

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six and one-half years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2) Ten and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3) All of the following (a and b): a. Six and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Four and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education. 5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1.

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