Description

Recruitment #251017-5940MP-001
Location: Newington, CT
Date Opened: 10/21/2025 12:00:00 AM
Salary: $151,950 - $207,189/year
Job Type: Open to the Public
Close Date: 11/12/2025 11:59:00 PM

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is seeking qualified candidates for Bureau Chief of Public Transportation to develop, manage, and grow Connecticut’s bus, rail, taxi and livery, and river ferry systems.

Position Highlights

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• First shift
• Location: Newington, CT
• Hybrid work environment (telework and in office)

Who We Are

The mission of the CTDOT is improving lives through transportation.

The Role

CTDOT is seeking an experienced transportation professional to lead the Public Transportation Bureau for CTDOT. The Bureau Chief of Public Transportation will play a critical role in taking CTDOT’s rail and transit infrastructure and service to new levels of quality and volume that will complement the State’s ambitious transportation program.  This position is part of the Department’s executive leadership team, and the ideal candidate will be an accomplished leader with a demonstrated record of achievement in the public transportation sector.  Superior skills in organizational development, oral and written communications, policy formulation, legal and regulatory compliance, and knowledge/experience with bus and rail operations are required.

The Bureau Chief will lead a large team of 130+ talented and dedicated professionals with a wide range of experiences and skills in transportation, all dedicated to managing and planning a safe, efficient, and extensive statewide public transportation system.

The Bureau is organized into two offices, each with distinct functions: Office of Rail and the Office of Transit and Ridesharing.
 
Office of Rail: The Office of Rail employs staff at two locations (New Haven and Newington) and indirectly more than 6,700 contractor employees with an annual state appropriations operational budget (excluding capital) of about $300 million. CTDOT staff manages capital planning, railroad engineering and construction force account work, rail operations, safety and security, signal and power, rail equipment, maintenance of way, station operations, property management, legal and support services. CTDOT’s railroad operations include the ownership and oversight of the New Haven Line (NHL) and its branch lines, the nation's busiest commuter rail line operated under contract with Metro-North Railroad. The State owns over 100 route miles of passenger lines and nearly 300 freight route miles. The Office of Rail manages the services on the Amtrak–operated Shore Line East commuter rail service, as well as the Transit America Services (TASI) operated Hartford Line intercity passenger rail service. Responsibilities also include oversight of the CTDOT-owned freight operations and working with the private freight operators. The Rail Office manages PRIIA 209 service, coordinates PRIIA 212 service and works closely with the Northeast Corridor Commission, AASHTO and APTA on Corridor and PRIIA issues.

The State owns or operates over 50 passenger rail stations supported by over 500 coaches, locomotive and EMU’s. The passenger rail system managed by this office carries about 30 million passengers annually.

Office of Transit and Ridesharing: The Office of Transit and Ridesharing employs staff at the Newington headquarters and indirectly more than 1,500 contractor employees with an annual state appropriations operational budget (excluding capital) of about $300 million. CTDOT staff manages capital programs, transit operations, fleet management, facility design, construction and operations, planning, communications, customer experience and marketing, support services, and river ferry operations. The team is responsible for both the management and development of the CTtransit, CTtransit express and CTfastrak services as well as coordination with locally-operated transit districts. The office is also charged with testing new on-demand microtransit service and one of the nation’s largest fleet electrification programs, as well as regulating and inspecting the state’s taxi, livery, and household goods companies.
 
The State owns 17 bus and/or paratransit operations and maintenance facilities supported by over 650 buses. The bus system managed by this office carries about 35 million passengers annually.

In this key role, you will:

• Oversee and manage the two offices that constitute the Bureau of Public Transportation;
• Help CTDOT adapt to evolving state and federal priorities relative to future public transportation needs, issues, and best practices;
• Partner with the contracted service providers to deliver safe, clean, and efficient public transportation services to sustain and build ridership and customer satisfaction levels;
• Play an integral role in reducing transportation emissions by increasing utilization of public transportation;
• Lead the preparation of the state’s long-term strategic vision for public transportation;
• Fulfill all planning, data collection, and reporting requirements as called for in state and federal laws and regulations;
• Help shape the Department’s long-term vision, strategy, and programs for serving the mobility needs of Connecticut’s residents and businesses while supporting economic growth, strong communities, and a healthy sustainable environment;
• Focus on innovation to improve the customer experience and evolve transit services to be more responsive to the changing needs and expectations of riders;
• Build the capacity of the Bureau of Public Transportation team through staff development, coaching, mentoring and team building opportunities.

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to remove transportation barriers for the traveling public, enhance the environmental sustainability of the state's transportation systems, and help shape CTDOT policies and plans that will chart the future of transportation in Connecticut and along the Northeast Corridor.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

This position is responsible for overseeing the agency’s public transportation initiatives and coordinating, planning, and managing the operation and growth of the state’s bus and rail systems.  This entails overseeing operations and maintaining functions in the Bureau of Public Transportation, which include administering staff and operations of the bureau; developing, implementing, and evaluating bureau policies, goals, and objectives to meet public transportation needs; designing and developing bureau programs and activities; implementing new procedures and procedural revisions pertaining to policies, personnel regulations, expenditures, and administrative methods; preparing bureau budget; and maintaining contacts with department, state, federal, and local individuals regarding policy or program activities.

This position also serves as policy advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner; represents the Department at public meetings and legislative hearings; and may be asked to speak to the media.  In addition, this position is responsible for administering collective bargaining agreements and major personnel decisions including staffing, hiring, firing, evaluation, promotion, and training of employees; and performing other duties as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Leadership experience with a demonstrated record of achievement in the public transportation sector
• Experience with public transportation operations, transit industry best practices, emerging technology, and transportation policy
• Experience leading a multidisciplinary professional team to deliver large projects or programs
• Experience in organizational and staff development and involvement in collaborative initiatives
• Experience working in government to include experience with legislative and public budgeting processes
• Experience interacting and coordinating among high-level stakeholders across various levels of government
• Experience communicating effectively in both written and verbal formats
• Experience with complex negotiations

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Twelve (12) years of professional experience in the planning, engineering or operations phase of a large scale transportation program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity with responsibility for planning, implementing or coordinating public transit activities.

NOTE:

• This capacity is interpreted as planning, supervising, organizing, directing and/or controlling resources of a major subdivision of an agency or organization.
• For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Transit Manager or Transportation Assistant Planning Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in urban or transportation planning or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.