General Manager, Transportation & Transit

The City of Lethbridge is seeking an accomplished leader to serve as General Manager, Transportation & Transit, with overall accountability for the City’s transportation and transit services. In this senior leadership role, you will lead long-range planning, policy development, operational performance, capital investment and financial stewardship to ensure safe, reliable, sustainable and efficient mobility throughout the community.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Infrastructure, you will provide strategic direction across Transportation and Transit, integrating infrastructure, transit operations and community growth objectives. You will oversee significant operating and capital investments, transportation and transit planning, major infrastructure projects and service delivery. As a trusted advisor to senior leadership and City Council, you will provide evidence-based recommendations while balancing public expectations, financial realities and the evolving needs of the city.

A collaborative and accountable people leader, you will develop and empower high-performing teams while fostering innovation, continuous improvement, safety and customer service excellence. You will build trusted relationships with Council, unions, governments, regional municipalities, community stakeholders and industry partners.

 

Your Primary Responsibilities Will Be Focused On:

• Providing strategic leadership and direction across the Transportation and Transit divisions, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, safety, and service excellence.
• Leading the development and implementation of long-range transportation and transit strategies that support economic development and sustainability.
• Overseeing the City's transportation infrastructure and transit operations, ensuring effective service delivery, operational performance, and continuous improvement.
• Providing executive leadership for transportation planning, network development, transit service planning, ridership growth initiatives, and long-term asset management strategies.
• Advising senior leadership and City Council on transportation policy, service levels, infrastructure priorities, and emerging issues affecting mobility throughout the community.
• Leading the planning, prioritization, and stewardship of multi-year operating budgets and long-term capital investment programs.
• Providing executive oversight of major transportation studies, capital construction projects, and consultant-led initiatives.
• Building strong partnerships with stakeholders to advance transportation priorities and secure funding opportunities.
• Leading labour relations activities while fostering positive relationships with multiple bargaining units.
• Establishing performance measures and leveraging operational data and analytics to improve service delivery and organizational performance.

What You Bring To The Table

As the ideal candidate, you bring significant senior leadership experience in transportation, transit, engineering, infrastructure or municipal operations. You are an experienced people leader with strong knowledge of capital planning and project delivery, and have demonstrated success working within complex, politically sensitive environments.

 

Your Professional Experience and Skillset

• University degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in transportation, transit, engineering, infrastructure, or municipal operations, including at least five years in a senior management role.
• Municipal government experience is strongly preferred.
• Registration, or eligibility for registration, as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with APEGA is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in people leadership, labour relations, and cross-functional management.
• Knowledge of asset management principles, transportation planning, and emerging transportation technologies.
• Strong knowledge of municipal and provincial legislation relevant to Transportation and Transit.
• Proficient in contract management, procurement processes, and capital project delivery.
• Superior written and oral communication skills; ability to present complex information to public, Council, and senior leadership.
• Experience working within a politically sensitive environment and supporting elected officials.
• A collaborative, strategic, and community-focused leadership style.

Why You’ll Love It Here

Lethbridge is Alberta’s third largest city, located two hours south of Calgary and one hour from the U.S. border. This sunny and breezy city offers a unique quality of life by providing the best of both rural and urban lifestyles in one place. From Waterton Lakes National Park to the many ski resorts in the nearby Rockies, this city is at the centre of it all. Within Lethbridge you'll have an opportunity to explore more than 70 parks, 14 pools and arenas, 10 arts and culture facilities and 3 post-secondary institutions. You'll also enjoy a commute that is less than 15 minutes, giving you the opportunity to spend more time doing the things you love outside of work. Life in Lethbridge strikes a balance between the feel of a close-knit community and the services and amenities of a growing urban centre

The City of Lethbridge offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive and well-rounded benefits package, and relocation assistance for candidates moving from outside the area. All of this is designed to support your long-term success and well-being in this on-site role based in Lethbridge.

Step into this rare opportunity to lead two highly visible services that touch the lives of residents every day. With a growing community, evolving mobility needs and significant infrastructure priorities ahead, you will have the opportunity to make decisions and lead initiatives that will have a lasting impact on Lethbridge.

To Apply

Janet Soles and Associates has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of the City of Lethbridge.  For more information about this opportunity or to apply, please send your resume and letter of interest in confidence, with the subject line “GM Transportation & Transit – City of Lethbridge” to apply@jssearch.ca.

                                               

All applicants are thanked in advance for their interest. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

                                                                                                                               

The City of Lethbridge (www.lethbridge.ca) proudly acknowledges that we are located at the heart of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) Territory, home of Kainai, Piikani, Siksika and Amskapi Piikani (Montana, USA) First Nations. Lethbridge is also located within the Métis Nation of Alberta.

 

The City of Lethbridge recognizes the diversity of our community and is working to ensure programs, services, facilities, and employment opportunities are inclusive to all people.

               

Civic Admin Association