Environmental Policy & Planning Intern
State of Iowa
RecentPosted Jan 21
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Posted: February 2, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Policy & Partnerships Bureau Director
State of Iowa
645 Iowa Department of Transportation
Location
Iowa, 50319
Salary
$54.32 - $77.25
per hour
Type
Full Time
More Management & Supervision jobs →Closes
February 23, 2026More State jobs →
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job is for a senior leader who will guide a team in creating and applying policies for driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, and related services across Iowa, while managing training programs and building partnerships with local counties and industry groups.
It involves overseeing more than 30 staff members and supporting over 900 employees to ensure smooth, compliant service delivery.
A good fit would be an experienced manager with strong leadership skills, a focus on people and customers, and the ability to handle complex regulations and relationships.
Key Requirements
- Proven leadership experience in managing teams and providing strategic direction in policy or regulatory environments
- Expertise in analyzing, drafting, and implementing state and federal laws, rules, and policies
- Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and partnership management, especially with government and industry partners
- Experience in developing and overseeing training and development programs for frontline staff
- Ability to advise senior executives on regulatory issues, policy shifts, and operational improvements
- Demonstrated commitment to core values like safety, customer focus, servant leadership, and integrity
- Background in compliance, eligibility reviews, and customer service in transportation or public sector
Full Job Description
Motor Vehicle Division – Iowa Department of Transportation
The Iowa DOT’s Motor Vehicle Division is seeking an experienced, strategic, and people-centered leader to serve as the Policy & Partnerships Bureau Director.
This senior leadership role reports directly to the MVD Director and oversees a bureau of 30+ professionals who support more than 900 DOT and county employees delivering driver’s license, vehicle, and motor carrier services statewide.
While supporting the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission of Making Lives Better Through Transportation, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
The PPB Director provides vision, direction, and operational leadership across three core areas: (1) policy creation, analysis, and implementation; (2) escalated eligibility review and statewide training/learning strategies; (3) partnership management with county treasurers and industry stakeholders.
This position plays a critical role in ensuring that the Policy and Partnership Bureau supports customer experience, regulatory compliance, and the credibility of the Motor Vehicle Division.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Creation, Analysis & Implementation
- Lead a team of compliance and executive officers responsible for analyzing, drafting, interpreting, and implementing state and federal laws, administrative rules, policies, and procedures.
- Advise the MVD Director on emerging regulatory issues, major policy shifts, and implementation strategies.
- Serve as the division’s point of contact during rapidly evolving policy situations, including directing Corrective Action Plans and executive updates.
- Integrate policy requirements into workflows and decision trees to reduce ambiguity and improve customer outcomes.
Training Portfolio and Escalated Transaction Support
- Provide executive oversight of statewide training, learning, and development strategies for frontline staff and county partners.
- Set training priorities based on stakeholder needs, service delivery challenges, and leadership direction.
- Lead the Advanced Customer Experience (ACE) and Vehicle Information Partners (VIP) teams that support escalated driver and vehicle service transactions for over 900 frontline staff.
- Establish standards, service-level expectations, and escalation processes for complex eligibility and compliance reviews.
- Reduce unnecessary hand-offs by improving triage practices and strengthening staff expertise.
Stakeholder & County Treasurer Partnership Leadership
- Serve as the primary executive lead for county treasurer partnerships, resolving escalated issues affecting driver and vehicle service delivery.
- Advise the MVD Director on county and industry relationships, systemic concerns, and governance improvements.
- Build strong relationships with key industry and governmental partners, including IMTA, ISBA, IADA, IIADA, FMCSA, and others.
- Use stakeholder feedback to inform policy adjustments, training priorities, and operational improvements.
- Executive Leadership & Agency Collaboration
- Serve as a member of the MVD leadership team, contributing to division-wide and agency-wide initiatives.
As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:
- Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
- Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2025 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
- Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
- Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!
You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply now!
The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us
Reasonable accommodation such as interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.
The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.
For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six and one-half years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2) Ten and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3) All of the following (a and b): a. Six and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Four and one-half years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education. 5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1.
For additional information, please click on this Job Class Description - 04251
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