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Director Samtrans Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Director Samtrans information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director at SamTrans, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director at SamTrans, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, and public transportation management experience, often supported by a relevant degree and senior-level management background. Familiarity with transit operations, budgeting software, regulatory compliance systems, and project management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making skills help build consensus and drive organizational goals. These competencies are crucial for ensuring efficient transit services, maintaining regulatory standards, and advancing the agency's mission in a complex public environment.

What are the primary challenges a Director at SamTrans might face in leading a public transportation agency?

A Director at SamTrans often encounters challenges such as balancing budget constraints with the need to improve transit services, responding to evolving community needs, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The role also involves navigating complex stakeholder relationships, including local government, transit partners, and the public. Effective leadership in this position requires adaptability, strategic planning, and strong communication skills to foster collaboration and drive organizational improvement.

What is the difference between Director Samtrans vs Operations Manager Samtrans?

AspectDirector SamtransOperations Manager Samtrans
CredentialsBachelor's degree, often with leadership or transportation certificationsAssociate's or Bachelor's degree, relevant experience in transportation operations
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, high-level decision making, overseeing multiple departmentsSupervising daily operations, managing staff, ensuring service efficiency
Employer & Industry UsagePublic transit agencies, transportation authoritiesTransit companies, public transportation agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference between Director Samtrans and Operations Manager Samtrans lies in their scope of responsibilities. The Director focuses on strategic planning and high-level oversight, while the Operations Manager handles daily operations and staff management. Both roles are essential in the transportation industry and often work closely to ensure efficient transit services.

What are Director SamTrans?

A Director at SamTrans is a member of the Board of Directors for the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), which oversees public bus and transportation services in San Mateo County, California. Directors help set policy, approve budgets, and guide the long-term vision for transit operations. They represent public interests, work with local agencies, and ensure SamTrans meets the community’s transportation needs. The Board typically includes representatives from various cities and the county, ensuring diverse perspectives in decision-making.
More about Director Samtrans jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Samtrans jobs? The most popular types of Samtrans jobs are:
Infographic showing various Director Samtrans job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Principal Transportation Planner/Principal Transportation Engineer (Major Corridors)

Principal Transportation Planner/Principal Transportation Engineer (Major Corridors)

San Mateo County Transit District

Millbrae, CA • On-site

$114K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

General This is an exciting and rare opportunity to help shape transportation improvements along some of the Peninsula's most important corridors through complex, high-visibility projects that require strong coordination across agencies, jurisdictions, and stakeholder groups. Limited-Term Appointment: This is a limited-term position. The duration of the assignment is contingent upon project length and funding availability.

The Principal Transportation Planner/Principal Transportation Engineer (Major Corridors) will play a key role in advancing Reimagine Dumbarton, an effort to create a faster, more reliable transit connection between East Palo Alto and Redwood City while improving access for people walking and biking. This position will also help advance work on El Camino Real through the Grand Boulevard Initiative, where SamTrans is partnering with corridor cities, Caltrans, and other public and community partners to implement major safety and mobility improvements. Reporting to the Manager, Major Corridors, this position will serve as a project manager or deputy project manager on these and related efforts, helping move major multimodal projects from planning through environmental review, design, and construction.

SamTrans is seeking a collaborative and experienced professional who can lead complex technical work, build strong partnerships, and deliver corridor improvements that respond to regional growth, changing travel needs, and increasing demand for safe, reliable, and connected transportation options. Essential Functions & Duties Lead and advise on long-range transit and multimodal corridor plans and projects from conceptual planning through design and construction. Manage and procure consultant contracts; approve and monitor project schedule and budget; direct and review consultant work.

Develop and maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance planning projects and initiatives. Present SamTrans projects and initiatives to internal and external audiences, including project goals, objectives, and recommendations. May supervise staff as needed.

Hire, mentor, and take appropriate corrective and/ordisciplinary action. Ensure EEO and affirmative action policies and procedures are followed. Participate in selection, coordinate staff training, and professional development.

Establish performance objectives, monitor, and evaluate employee performance. Examples of Essential Duties: Design and review complex and varied transportation projects, plans, and policies, and provide meaningful input and recommendations that promote transit priority and complete streets. Oversee development of major capital project design phases extending from conceptual planning through final design, and review design plan sets for consistency with SamTrans policies and guidelines.

Analyze, compile, and evaluate data, and/or supervise the work of others; integrate principles of transportation and land use planning, utilizing transit best practices and equity-focused approaches into planning projects and studies. Lead and facilitate meetings and workshops, prepare reports and presentations to senior staff, board members, and outside agencies and committees. Coordinate project teams, including staff and consultants, and provide technical guidance and mentorship to staff, as needed.

Review and comment on technical drawings and specifications, project plans, and schematics for roadway projects, including complete streets and transit priority projects. Develop sound project goals, objectives, and methodologies for creating and prioritizing project outcomes and recommendations. Develop and/or supervise development of public outreach plans and conduct field outreach.

Oversee request for proposal (RFP)/request for qualifications (RFQ) processes with contracts and procurement, including writing scopes of work, developing cost estimates and evaluation criteria to procure consultant services for projects. Monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; consult with senior management regarding policies and procedures. Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect yourself, your fellow employees, and the public from injury or harm.

Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents. Perform other duties as assigned. Supervision: Work under the general supervision of the Manager, Major Corridors, who establishes goals and objectives, monitors and evaluates performance.

Minimum Qualifications Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through, but not limited to: Bachelor's degree in urban planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, geography, economics, public policy, civil engineering, or related field. Four(4) years of full-time progressively responsible transportation planning experience, including design phase through to completion.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working at/with a public transit operator on corridor planning projects. Experience leading complex transit priority and/or bicycle and pedestrian projects through planning, environmental and design phases. Experience developing engineering drawings, schematics, and plans.

Experience in technical grant writing and project scoping. Experience working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on permitting and project approvals. Strong presentation skills with Boards and committees and experience facilitating meetings and workshops.

Experience with AutoCAD, GIS, and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Fluent in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), or other language often spoken in San Mateo County. Holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license The selection process may include a panel interview, written and skills test assessments, or supplemental questions.

Only those candidates who are the most qualified will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to continue in the process. How to Apply Complete an online employment application by 11:59 p.m

of the listed closing date. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that applications are completed with all relevant information (experience, education, certifications, licenses, references and/or other information).

The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request. If you have a need for an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace environment.

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Women, Persons with Disabilities and Veterans are encouraged to apply.