VP, Long Range Planning

Job Description

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

As CapMetro enters its next phase of rapid growth, we are looking for a dynamic, innovative, and results-focused strategic planner who will evolve Long Range Planning team ensuring the agency is an organization that lives its values, delivers on its strategy, and seeks to develop the community public transit needs for the future. The Vice President of Long Rang Planning is a critical role responsible for the strategic planning of long-range goals. Reporting to the EVP, Strategic Planning and Development Officer, the VP, Long Range Planning is responsible for the development of long-range transit plans, major investment studies, environmental assessments and impact statements, preliminary engineering studies; coordination with transit-oriented development plans and other activities related to long-range transit development.

Responsibilities

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Note: The duties and primary responsibilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this job and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties.

• Manage long-range technical planning studies, including major investment studies, environmental assessments and studies, preliminary engineering studies, and other related activities. Responsible for ensuring the projects are completed within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Develop and review project/plan design, project definition/criteria, scheduling, preliminary cost, and scope of services for long-range planning projects, including development and review of project options and recommendations based upon input of major stakeholders and the community.
• Work with major institutional stakeholders, business and community leaders, and neighborhoods to advance major technical planning studies, work to achieve consensus for recommendations that are cost-effective, responsive, and affordable.
• Conduct oversight, daily management, and leadership for consultants and staff working on long-range planning and transit-oriented development projects.
• Serve as agency lead for developing the transit component of Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (CAMPO) Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
• Provide guidance and direction to Transit-Oriented Development staff and ensures their work is coordinated with and supportive of broader agency goals and objectives.
• Coordinate long-range planning with other CMTA departments, local, State, and Federal governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Perform technical reviews of projects and prepares reports, analysis, and correspondence.
• Make formal and informal presentations to the Capital Metro Board of Directors, staff, consultants, governmental agencies, and our customers on long-range planning issues and activities.
• Support Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) process by following safety and security policies, considering safety in every action and reporting safety and security concerns.
• Perform other duties as required and/or assigned.
  
  
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor And/or Leadership Exercised

Manages staff in project delivery, long range planning, NEPA reviews overseeing employee work assignments, authorizing, coordinating, and scheduling work with vendors and consultants, conducting personnel actions, including, hiring and interviewing, and overseeing hiring, training, work assignments, and performance evaluations.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, architecture, engineering, geography, or closely related field. Master’s is preferred. Related experience may substitute for educational requirements on a year for year basis up to two years. AICP preferred.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in transportation/transit long-term planning or closely related field, including five (5) years management experience required.
• Significant experience in transit project development best practices, alternatives evaluation, and some experience NEPA based environmental review through federal. State and local processes
• Demonstrated experience managing complex transportation projects as PM or independent capacity.
• Experience making presentations to public groups and governing boards.
• Familiarity with federal transportation funding programs and processes.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of transit and transportation planning practices, particularly required processes and procedures for major transit investment projects, and knowledge of both bus and rail technologies and programs.
• Superb interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with senior business leaders, managers, and peers. Exceptional written and oral communication skills with strong negotiation and influencing skills. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with senior staff (internally and externally), policymakers and others who are positioned to help advance major planning projects and initiatives.
• Knowledge and understanding of Federal and other requirements and processes for long-range projects, with specific focus on Federal Transit Administration New Starts process and requirements.
• Knowledge of travel demand forecasting, community and land use planning, and joint development strategies.
• Excellent people and project management skills, including ability to manage both staff and consultant projects and activities.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to make persuasive and clear presentations to both internal and external audiences in potentially challenging situations.
  
  
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is generally performed in an office environment in which there is only minimal exposure to unpleasant and/or hazardous working conditions. This position works with multiple project timelines and is responsible for managing employees performing work of a complex nature.  

Incumbent must be able to stand and sit frequently throughout an eight-hour period, reach vertically for overhead use and horizontally. Must be able to use a telephone or headset equipment. Incumbents must be able to lift and move material weighing up to 20 lbs., perform work at a computer terminal for 6-8 hours a day, and function in an environment with constant interruptions.  

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions as previously described.

Mobility Status

As a Mobile position, the incumbent is expected to work in the office as needed. There will be access to touchdown/collaboration spaces when on site. Must be in-office for socialization, strategic collaboration, supervision, oversite, and accountability as needed.

About Us

CapMetro is Austin's regional public transportation provider. We've been around since 1985 and work every day to give residents, commuters, and visitors the best possible transit options available to match their busy everyday lives.

We're always on the move, connecting people with jobs, schools, restaurants, shops, festivals, and other great places to hang out. In fact, we have more than 31 million boardings each year.

About The Team

At CapMetro, we work to empower, enhance, and serve the region and its communities through the responsible delivery of safe, reliable, high-quality transportation. We are driven by a culture of Safety, Equity, Transparency, Sustainability, and Innovation. These values guide us in our daily activities, and decision-making and position us to be a great community partner and to better serve our riders who trust us to get them where they’re going!

What’s In It For You

• Work with a diverse, collaborative, and energetic workforce whose focus is to bring innovation into the industry and how we serve our customers and team members. 
• Utilize our free and reduced-fare transit service to get to the office and then plan to hit the gym (for free) and work with our onsite trainers, before heading back home.
• If you have children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old, enroll them in the onsite award-winning Childcare and Learning Center.
  
  
  

…and much more!  

What You Should Know 

CapMetro is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and committed to creating a welcoming and diverse environment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, pregnancy, age, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. CapMetro makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs at the time.