Director Economic Development - Dallas Area Rapid Transit

• Manages economic development activities and joint development projects for DART and provides technical support to DART member cities and the development community.
• Supervises, coordinates, and develops special planning projects, station area planning, and economic development studies.
• Coordinates with other DART staff and consultants on planning projects with a focus on real estate and development impacts within the DART service area.
• Assists with periodic updates of DART’s inventory and assessment of surplus real property with TOD potential, recommends strategic acquisition and disposal of properties.
• Prepares and presents briefings and agenda items for approval by the DART Board as needed.
• Identifies, pursues, develops, and manages joint development opportunities around and at DART properties and transit facilities in coordination with the other departments across the agency.
• Negotiates, drafts, and administers development agreements with public and private entities under the direction of the AVP of Economic Development and in coordination of DART legal counsel.
• Serves as the primary point of contact to city economic development staff; provide guidance and collaborates closely with city officials on economic development opportunities.
• Serves as a valuable resource of knowledge and expertise regarding all economic development matters for DART internal and external stakeholders.
• Works with external public and private agencies, associations, and special interest groups regarding development potential around transit facilities.
• Assists with development strategies encouraging transit-supportive land uses.
• Identifies, evaluates, and advises on station and site design modifications, as appropriate, that would better allow good joint development outcomes and take advantage of underutilized DART properties in coordination with other DART departments.
• Develops methods, techniques, and processes for researching, evaluating, collecting data, and publishing results regarding the direct and indirect financial benefit of TOD to DART.
• Identifies, evaluates, and implements the process to select a development partner for joint development opportunities (such as RFP, RFI, RFQ, unsolicited proposal, etc.)
• Manages and supervises consultants, including data adequacy reviews, approval of methodologies, approval of deliverables, compliance with project budgets and schedules, and quality control.
• Makes public presentations and represents DART in community meetings, city council meetings, zoning and other economic development-related committee meetings, and transit-related conferences and events.
• Collaborates with other DART departments to publicize the agency’s economic development activities and achievements internally and externally.
• Monitors federal rules and program opportunities and consults with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials to ensure compliance.
• Seeks grant funding and other resources to support programs and projects related to DART’s economic development activities.
• Preserves and grows DART’s economic development-related expertise, relationships, and institutional knowledge.
• Manages DART’s economic development records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

Note: An equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted for the below stated minimums excluding High School Diploma, GED, Licenses, or Certifications.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Transportation, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Finance or related field.
• Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in Real Estate Development, Transportation, or Urban planning, economic and joint development projects, coordinating activities between multiple public and private entities, departments and disciplines, federal programs, and standard transportation planning practices, to include experience supervising staff or consultants. Preferred experience in one or more of the following: large scale property development/implementation, real estate development and finance, commercial real estate brokerage activities.
• Pass a physical (medical) examination that includes a drug screen to operate DART non-revenue vehicles.
• Knowledge of budget development/analysis and operational cost factors.
• Proficiency of PC software applications to include Microsoft Office and other related software applications.
• Analytical and creative skills to find solutions to complex interpersonal, technical, and administrative problems.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to be mobile and occasionally, 15%-25% of work time, lift objects weighing 5-30 pounds such as books, computer binders, or files.
• Outstanding ability to read a situation quickly through focused listening and providing meaningful feedback to effectively lead and negotiate difficult agreements and settle disputes equitably. Can find common ground and get cooperation with minimum noise.
• Ability to demonstrate a fiduciary obligation to DART in handling materials and information of a confidential nature.
• Ability to be dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external DART stakeholders; establishes and maintains effective relationships with stakeholders and gains their trust and respect; ability to effectively navigate politically sensitive situations and topics.
• Ability to blend people into teams when needed. Creates strong morale and spirit in his/her team. Fosters open dialogue. Defines success in terms of the whole team. Creates a feeling of belonging in the team.
• Ability to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; interpersonal skills to sensitively communicate with all levels of supervisory and non-supervisory employees, government and civic leaders, Board members, and others inside and outside of DART; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
• Ability to marshal resources to get things done; uses resources effectively and efficiently; can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal.
• Ability to use rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; can see hidden problems.
• Ability to quickly develop technical understanding; is good at learning new industry, company, or technical knowledge.
• Ability to accurately scope out length and difficulty of tasks and projects. Sets objectives and goals. Breaks down work into the process steps. Develops schedules and task/people assignments. Anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks. Measures performance against goals. Evaluates results.

Working Conditions:

Works in an environment where there is minimum exposure to dust, noise, or temperature. May be moderately exposed to unpleasant working conditions to include dust, noise, temperature, weather, petroleum products, and chemicals while visiting DART's operating facilities, assuming incumbent is observing all policies and procedures, safety precautions and regulations, and using all protective clothing and devices provided.