SENIOR DIRECTOR, COUNTYWIDE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (PASSENGER/COMMUTER RAIL, G

Directs, manages, and executes the performance of an assigned organizational unit or function within the Countywide Planning and Development Department associated with the development, implementation, and management of policies, programs, plans, and projects countywide.

• Directs the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of projects, programs and policies within the organizational unit.
• Oversees preparation and management of contract documents, including scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and various contracts and agreements.
• Provides policy, planning, and program support to internal management, staff, and various internal departments and outside agencies.
• Directs the technical management, analysis, and evaluation of transportation systems and options.
• Coordinates within Countywide Planning and with other departments to ensure consistency in the planning, designing, and implementing of transit or highway projects/elements to ensure systemwide continuity and branding.
• Develops urban design plans to ensure integration of the Metro system into the surrounding urban form.
• Develops sub-regional plans in coordination with outside agencies, jurisdictions, and other affected parties.
• Coordinates policy, technical, and funding interaction with local, regional, state, and federal entities.
• Develops and expands the systemwide planning program, including asset management, bus/rail interface, operations capital improvements, station design, and highway/roadway projects.
• Directs the development, application, and evaluation of analytical, quantitative and statistical methods and tools.
• Directs and advises staff on coordination with other Metro departments, municipalities, elected officials, and the broader stakeholder community.
• Directs the preparation of written and oral reports, research projects, and solicitations.
• Determines the impact of proposed and enacted federal, state, and local policies, legislation, and regulations on the work program of the organizational unit.
• Manages agency policies, plans, programs, and projects to ensure compliance with appropriate laws and regulations.
• Negotiates and executes major cooperative agreements and interagency funding plans.
• Manages competitive countywide grant programs from application development, project selection, through implementation and close-out including internal and external coordination.
• Administers funding policy and allocations for various programs.
• Partners with Community Relations and outside consultants to direct stakeholder engagement.
• Presents the work of Metro and the organizational unit to the Metro Board, Metro management, as well as other internal and external stakeholders.
• Represents Metro in broad internal and external interagency initiatives.
• Establishes, supervises, and manages priorities of work for staff and consultants to ensure high quality results.
• Ensures professional development opportunities for staff of the organizational unit.
• Develops, reviews, and evaluates contractor proposals; negotiates award amounts; evaluates operating standards and work products.
• Directs and prepares comprehensive studies, evaluations, cost estimates, and reports needed to support Board of Directors' policy decisions.
• Develops, forecasts, and manages budgets to complete various plans, projects, and programs.
• Leads special task forces, committees, panels, and peer groups on major issues as required.
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals.
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out.
• May be required to perform other related job duties.

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Engineering, Business Administration, Planning, or a related field; Master's degree in a related field preferred.

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience in transportation planning or programming, project management, grants management, capital development, financial planning, transit planning, or developing and implementing large scale, highly complex, multi-faceted transportation or highway/roadway projects or programs.

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience leading a regional strategic planning effort or multiagency initiatives that require working collaboratively across teams and overseeing consultants.
• Experience leading planning efforts, developing and analyzing policies related to goods movement, regional/intercity/commuter rail, and multimodal transportation systems.
• Experience working with goods movement and passenger rail stakeholders, such as ports, freight railroads, passenger/commuter rail agencies, trucking companies, etc.
• Experience developing consensus with and communicating with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders, such as Board members, committees, local agencies, community-based organizations, consultants, and the public.
• Experience leading strategic planning efforts and developing near-term and long-term priorities, programs, and projects, including developing and implementing equity and sustainability considerations.

Knowledge of

• Theories, principles, and practices of transportation and land use planning, architecture, urban design, environmental planning, sustainability planning, grants management, project management, civil engineering, funds programming, contract administration and negotiation, and business and public administration.
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing transportation policies, urban development practices, and funding sources for a public agency.
• Organization policies and procedures of local, state, and federal government entities, including legislative and funding policies and procedures.
• Financial, analytical, and statistical processes and procedures.
• Modern management theory.
• Applicable business software applications.

Skill in

• Managing and providing strategic direction to a large, multidisciplinary team.
• Developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls.
• Formulating strategies to achieve goals and objectives.
• Reviewing legal and contractual documents.
• Reviewing architectural and urban design documents and/or transportation related plans.
• Reviewing and synthesizing financial, analytical and statistical processes, procedures, and results.
• Understanding and analyzing complex planning concepts.
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Interacting professionally with various levels of employees and outside representatives.
• Conducting community outreach and engagement.
• Mediating and negotiating with a variety of stakeholders, including peers, consultants, and the public.

Ability to

• Plan, organize, and direct the work of specialized transportation projects and programs.
• Develop and lead transportation and/or urban planning studies, programs, and projects.
• Manage tight time constraints and deadlines.
• Identify and communicate the individual and cumulative effects of projects or programs on the transportation system.
• Develop and expand systemwide programs to ensure an integrated transportation network.
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
• Plan financial and staffing needs; and make financial decisions within a budget.
• Represent Metro before the public.
• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff.
• Read, write, speak, and understand English.

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation.
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screens.

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table.
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium.
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions.
• Communicating through speech in the English language required.