21391 - Special Project Development Manager

Provide analysis and support on complex projects to assigned program area by planning, developing, monitoring and evaluating projects and programs. Serve as the Deputy Project Manager for specific innovation projects. Assist the Project Manager in ensuring project scope, budget and timelines are developed in accordance with the expectations. Manage the project to deliver the project on time and on budget. Coordinate with all the stakeholders and keep them informed. Be responsible for informing District leadership of new project developments and lead the oversight of AI-based Decision Support System development and deployment.

How you will contribute:

• Financial Accountability: Ensure funds are appropriately expended to maintain assets. Investigate, resolve and diffuse conflict situations. Effect significant changes and assist in implementation to contribute to increased organizational effectiveness. Use negotiation skills in conflicting situations to challenge or support procedures.
• Innovation Champion: Serve as field champion on implementing innovation process and culture to employees’ day to day work. Lead and facilitate regular innovation mini-lab to facilitate the generation of good ideas for solving field issues and serve as a coach for assisting moving good ideas to reality. Serve as a champion for VDOT of Tomorrow initiatives. Lead and manage pilot projects identified by the Office of Strategic Innovation. Apply sound project management principles to manage pilot innovation projects and share lessons learned and success. Coordinate with and proactively engage field staff participation in the innovation project development and implementation. Discover and share field innovation stories. Regularly scan and discover innovation practices in the field and document and share the stories.
• Project Facilitation and Dispute Resolution: Respond to customer requests for service. In coordination with stakeholders facilitate creative solutions to complex design issues.
• Project Management and Communication: Manage communication and coordination between project team members and stakeholders to ensure completion within scope, schedule and budget. Apply thorough understanding of innovation issues, sound public policy and business expertise to resolve complex transportation issues. Identify and work through potential issues that may dampen or impair established transportation programs or projects and studies under development.
• Stakeholder Communications: Communicate with a cross section of stakeholders. Make recommendations and influence locality management and stakeholder groups on global and local issues that affect the Commonwealth, local transportation vision. Facilitate gathering and exchange of information and decision-making between VDOT and jurisdictions. Identify critical issues to prevent escalation or repetition of problems. Participate in and conduct meetings with various public agencies and citizen groups to disseminate or gather information.

What will make you successful:

• Ability to analyze complex financial data, work with detailed numerical data, reach logical conclusions and generate reports.
• Ability to apply sound project management principles to manage pilot innovation projects and share lessons learned and success.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to lead and facilitate regular innovation mini-lab to facilitate the generation of good ideas for solving field issues and serve as a coach for assisting moving good ideas to reality.
• Ability to negotiate and lead discussions to reach desired results.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and manage multiple, concurrent assignments in a timely manner and in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Considerable knowledge of project management tools, techniques, standards and guidelines.
• Considerable knowledge of public policy, local politics and business practices related to transportation issues, as well as VDOT policies, procedures and practices.
• Demonstrated technical, management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to apply administrative, managerial, supervisory, and human resources principles, practices and processes.
• Knowledge of transportation laws, regulations, policies and procedures to include federal, state and local regulations.
• Skill and ability to positively interact with employees, citizens and government officials.
• Skill in interpreting contracts, special provisions and specifications related to transportation issues.
• Skill in maneuvering through complex political situations effectively while demonstrating sensitivity to how people and organizations function.
• Skill in the use of computers and software applications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated supervisory management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Experience overseeing transportation activities for multiple projects of varying complexity.
• Knowledge of administrative, managerial, supervisory and human resource principles, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of project management tools, techniques, standards and guidelines.
• Knowledge of public policy, local politics and business practices related to transportation issues.
• Knowledge of transportation laws, regulations, policies and procedures including federal, state and local regulations.
• Skill in interpreting contracts, special provisions and specifications related to transportation.
• Skill in maneuvering through complex political situations with sensitivity to how people and organizations function, as well as negotiating and leading discussions to reach positive outcomes.

Additional Considerations:

• A combination of training, experience or education in Engineering, Public Administration, Business, Finance, Civil Engineering or related field desired.
• Experience leading project teams in resolving transportation issues.
• Project Management Certification.
• Project management level experience overseeing complex transportation projects.

Click below to learn more about the Competency Model associated with this Position:
Competency Model

Physical Requirements
Physical Requirements

VDOT employees must abide by VDOTs Code of Ethics and the Commonwealths Standards of Conduct.
VDOT Code of Ethics
Standards of Conduct
Physical Requirements
Physical Requirements