Salary : $174,000.00 - $183,600.00 Annually
Location : Grand Junction, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:Department: Department of Transportation
Division: CDOT Region 3
Opening Date: 11/03/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 222 S. 6th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: Amanda.Parkhurst-Strout@state.co.us
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department InformationApplications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
This position is at will and carries none of the rights of the State Personnel System.- New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.
Description of Job About the PositionThe Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has a vacancy for a Regional Transportation Director (RTD) for Region 3 in our Grand Junction office. The RTD serves as a key member of CDOT's Senior Management Team, reporting to the Executive Director, and serves as the principal strategist and steward of resources for their region. The person holding this position provides visionary yet practical leadership, builds trust, and openly communicates to deliver credible and sustainable public service without compromising quality.
Region 3 is a multi-modal engineering, planning, roadway maintenance, and operations business. It spans 14 counties in Northwestern Colorado (Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Jackson, Lake, Mesa, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Summit). The Region also has Specialty Units that consist of Business Office, Civil Rights, Environmental and Planning, and Safety. There are four Transportation Planning Regions in Region 3 (Grand Valley, Gunnison Valley, Intermountain, and Northwest) consisting of members (mostly elected officials and city/county staff) that meet with CDOT nearly monthly to develop and carry out the regional transportation plan.
Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:- Provide day to day leadership for the Region's management team to ensure seamless delivery of maintenance operations and construction projects totaling over $70+ million on an annual basis;
- Direct through subordinate managers the activities of 600+ positions which cover a wide scope of complex programs in public transportation planning, environmental clearances and coordination, engineering design and construction, highway maintenance, and business administration functions;
- Collaborate, as a member of the Senior Management Team, on the development and delivery of CDOT's strategic plan and short and long-range policy formulation;
- Work in concert with CDOT's Chief Engineer through a matrix structure to ensure standardized program and project delivery while adhering to CDOT policy, procedures, regulations, and professional standards;
- Provide leadership within the Region to create and sell the vision of an ongoing process improvement culture to multiple stakeholders across the Region and CDOT;
- Represent the Department in dealing with internal and external stakeholders which include CDOT employees, governmental, and business leaders at the local, state, and national level;
- Perform other appropriate duties to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient functioning/operation of CDOT.
- Other duties as assigned.
Work Environment:- You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work
- Travel required, including overnight travel, to Denver and other statewide locations
- Attendance at evening meetings, along with some weekend meetings
- Operate in a politically sensitive environment
- Overnight travel 6-12 times a year throughout Colorado
- Required to operate state vehicles
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsMinimum QualificationsExperience Only:- At least ten (10) years of experience that demonstrate increasing responsibilities in leadership/senior management positions in transportation engineering, transportation planning or maintenance, or transportation management;
- At least two (2) of these years of experience must include managing a large professional staff involved in diverse, complex program areas, and professional public or business administration experience in a transportation related organization that included establishing, high level goals, strategic plans and objectives, as well as resource (budget, staff, etc.) alignment, management, and policy development.
- Career history must clearly demonstrate experience:
- Facilitating and directing work teams towards a shared or common goal
- Planning and coordinating with other public and private organizations, interest groups, elected and appointed officials
- Operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Working in a fast-paced, ever-changing, highly stressful work environment
OREducation and Experience:- A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least ten (10) years.
- Education from an accredited college or university with coursework in a field related to highway or transportation engineering, transportation planning, business or public administration;
- Experience that demonstrates increasing responsibilities in leadership/senior management positions in transportation engineering, transportation planning or maintenance, or transportation management;
- At least two (2) of these years of experience must include managing a large professional staff involved in diverse, complex program areas, and professional public or business administration experience in a transportation related organization that included establishing, high level goals, strategic plans and objectives, as well as resource (budget, staff, etc.) alignment, management, and policy development.
- Career history must clearly demonstrate experience:
- Facilitating and directing work teams towards a shared or common goal
- Planning and coordinating with other public and private organizations, interest groups, elected and appointed officials
- Operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Working in a fast-paced, ever-changing, highly stressful work environment
Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or an official foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. The credential evaluation report must be an official report. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.
Conditions of Employment- Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information is included in the supplemental information section.
- A current valid driver's license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.
Preferred QualificationsTheexceptional applicantwill be an executive or high-level manager with proven ability or accomplishment in the following:
- Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section,
- Highest work/personal ethics and integrity.
- Comprehensive knowledge and experience in public and/or private management of a multimillion dollar program/organization.
- Comprehensive understanding and experience with transportation engineering/maintenance, public transportation planning, or transportation management.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations within a transportation context.
- Creative and strategic ability to address complex issues and execute solutions and approaches that meet the needs of the Region and advances the mission of CDOT.
- Knowledge of CDOT (or comparable) dispute resolution and construction claims process.
- Streamlining business processes, planning and implementing large complex programs, strategic planning, and aligning financial resources and operations with an organization's business requirements.
- Developing, implementing, promoting, and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement.
- Leadership skills developing and implementing change and vision across multidisciplinary groups.
- Strong background in program management/project controls.
- A passion for safety.
- Ability to partner with public and private organizations, special interest groups, elected and appointed officials, in situations which may be politically sensitive.
- Work with general public, professional, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments.
- Negotiation skills to find mutually acceptable solutions; building consensus through give and take.
- Effective interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral.
- Working effectively in both independent and team situations.
- Time and project management skills.
- Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite, SAP, and ability to quickly learn other software systems.
Supplemental InformationApplicant ChecklistComplete Applications must include the following documents:- A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
- A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
- A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
- A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
- If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing completed coursework and credit hours, that your degree has been conferred (if applicable), your name, and the name of your school, or your official NACES credential evaluation report. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all app
