SENIOR DIRECTOR, COUNTYWIDE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (PASSENGER/COMMUTER RAIL, GOODS MOVEMENT) - Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

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.

Examples of Duties

• 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, including systemwide elements to ensure integration of individual rail/bus lines or highway/roadway projects into a coordinated system, integrated urban environment, urban design, and regional mobility plan
• 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, including developing messages, identifying the appropriate stakeholders, and crafting an engagement plan
• 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, and provides guidance and technical assistance to staff in other Metro departments
• Develops, reviews, and evaluates contractor proposals; negotiates award amounts; evaluates operating standards and work products; and ensures productive use of contractors
• Directs and prepares comprehensive studies, evaluations, cost estimates, and reports needed to support Board of Directors' policy decisions; advocates funding needs of Metro's transportation programs; and assesses future financial trends, opportunities, and constraints
• 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; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
• 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

Minimum Qualifications

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

• 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

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of any of the following 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 (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• 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 (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• 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 screen

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

(SH)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.  Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.