Traffic Control Manager

Traffic Control Manager

Salary: $80,000 - $120,000 per year

Location: Riverside, CA

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Traffic Control Manager to oversee daily traffic control operations supporting heavy civil, roadway, utility, and infrastructure construction projects throughout Southern California.

This is a hands-on operations leadership role responsible for dispatching crews, coordinating trucks and equipment, managing field personnel, and ensuring traffic control operations are performed safely and in compliance with Caltrans, California MUTCD, agency, and project-specific requirements.

The Traffic Control Manager will oversee daily scheduling and dispatch while maintaining regular field involvement to monitor crew performance, traffic control setups, lane closures, and overall jobsite execution.

Approximately 75% of the position will focus on dispatch, scheduling, and operational coordination, with approximately 25% spent in the field supporting active projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily traffic control operations across multiple active heavy civil and infrastructure projects.
• Dispatch traffic control crews, trucks, signs, arrow boards, message boards, and other equipment based on daily project requirements.
• Develop and coordinate daily crew schedules and equipment assignments.
• Adjust manpower, equipment, and assignments in response to callouts, schedule changes, emergency work, and changing field conditions.
• Communicate job scope, traffic control requirements, schedules, and site-specific instructions to Foremen and Crew Leads.
• Track crew locations, start and stop times, equipment movement, and daily job status.
• Coordinate lane closures, flagging operations, detours, temporary traffic control, and work-zone setups.
• Review Traffic Control Plans (TCPs) and ensure field installations comply with approved plans.
• Conduct regular field visits to evaluate crew performance, safety, productivity, and traffic control compliance.
• Verify proper placement and maintenance of signs, cones, barricades, channelizers, temporary barriers, and other traffic control devices.
• Coordinate traffic control operations around active roadway, utility, grading, paving, concrete, and heavy civil construction activities.
• Communicate with contractors, customers, agency representatives, inspectors, and field personnel regarding project-specific traffic control requirements.
• Coordinate with Superintendents and Project Managers regarding upcoming work, lane closure requirements, manpower, and equipment needs.
• Identify staffing shortages, equipment conflicts, scheduling issues, and operational risks before they impact project execution.
• Collect and review crew timecards, field reports, work orders, and daily documentation for accuracy.
• Assist with incident reporting and documentation when required.
• Ensure company safety procedures and traffic control standards are consistently followed.
• Support emergency and priority traffic control requests when necessary.
• Mentor Foremen, Crew Leads, and traffic control personnel to improve field performance and operational consistency.

Preferred Project Experience

• Caltrans Projects
• Heavy Highway Construction
• Roadway & Freeway Improvements
• Underground Utility Construction
• Water, Sewer & Storm Drain
• Asphalt Paving
• Earthwork & Grading
• Structural Concrete
• Bridge & Structure Construction
• Lane Closures
• Road Closures & Detours
• Public Works
• Municipal Infrastructure
• Transportation Infrastructure
• Emergency Traffic Control

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of traffic control operations experience.
• Previous experience in a Traffic Control Manager, Traffic Control Supervisor, Dispatch Manager, Operations Manager, or similar leadership position preferred.
• Strong knowledge of traffic control plans, lane closures, work zones, detours, and flagging operations.
• ATSSA Traffic Control Supervisor (TCS) certification required.
• Strong working knowledge of: California MUTCD, Caltrans Standards, Traffic Control Plans, WATCH Manual, Work-Zone Safety Requirements.
• Strong understanding of traffic control operations supporting active heavy civil construction.
• Proven ability to dispatch and coordinate multiple crews and equipment simultaneously.
• Ability to make quick operational decisions as schedules and field conditions change.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with field crews, contractors, inspectors, and clients.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Must be willing to work early mornings, nights, weekends, and varying schedules when project requirements dictate.
• Out-of-town assignments and occasional overnight stays may be required.

Operations & Dispatch Experience

Candidates should have strong experience with:

• Crew Dispatching
• Workforce Scheduling
• Equipment Coordination
• Traffic Control Plans
• Lane Closure Operations
• Flagging Operations
• Temporary Traffic Control
• Work-Zone Safety
• Crew Leadership
• Field Operations
• Emergency Response
• Equipment Tracking
• Daily Field Reports
• Timecard Review
• Customer Coordination
• Agency & Inspector Coordination

Caltrans & Traffic Control Knowledge

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of traffic control requirements associated with Caltrans and California public works construction.

This includes familiarity with:

• California MUTCD Requirements
• Caltrans Standard Plans
• Caltrans Traffic Control Requirements
• Lane Closure Procedures
• Temporary Traffic Control Devices
• Construction Area Signs
• Flagging Procedures
• Detours & Road Closures
• Pedestrian Traffic Control
• Work-Zone Safety
• Traffic Control Plan Implementation

Preferred Certifications & Qualifications

• ATSSA Traffic Control Designer (TCD) certification
• Flagger Certification
• OSHA safety training
• First Aid / CPR
• Previous Caltrans project experience
• Previous heavy civil construction experience
• Prior traffic control dispatch experience
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a hands-on traffic control operations leader who understands both dispatch and field execution.

The successful candidate should be able to manage a busy morning dispatch, coordinate last-minute crew and equipment changes, communicate with Project Managers and Superintendents, and then visit active jobsites to verify that traffic control setups are safe, compliant, and being executed correctly.

This position requires someone who can maintain control of multiple moving pieces while keeping safety, compliance, crew performance, equipment utilization, and customer service at the forefront.

Work Environment

• Full-time, exempt position.
• Approximately 75% yard/office/dispatch coordination and 25% field operations.
• Regular travel to active construction projects.
• Early morning, night, weekend, and emergency work may be required.
• Out-of-town work and occasional overnight stays may be required.
• Company vehicle provided.
• Must be able to work around active construction operations and traffic environments.
• Candidates must successfully complete applicable pre-employment requirements, including background screening, drug testing, and a post-offer physical examination.

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