Assistant Director of Transportation and Land Use Programs

The Mid-America Regional Council, Greater Kansas City’s metropolitan planning organization, seeks a qualified, progressive individual to serve as Assistant Director of Transportation Planning. The successful candidate will have the leadership skills and technical expertise needed to help maintain and further develop effective and sustainable long-range transportation plans for the growing region.

Description

Primary responsibilities will be to assist the Director of Transportation in the development of long-range goals, objectives, organizational structure, and overall direction for the department. Assist with monitoring, reviewing, and implementation of the department's strategic plans to ensure that long-range goals and objectives are met.

The successful candidate will lead, plan, direct and supervise core program areas within the agency's integrated transportation, environmental and land use programs including regional policy and plan development, coordination and planning with local and state governments and transportation agencies, public participation activities to engage and involve the broader community, and project programming and related activities for all travel modes; assists with ensuring the agency fulfills its responsibilities as the region's federally and state-designated metropolitan planning organization and responds to transportation needs throughout the MARC area.

Illustrative examples of work

The following represents the essential functions of this position. Additional duties may also be assigned and be essential to the successful performance of this position.

  • Supervise professional staff, including sub managers; monitors staff performance and coaches, counsels, mentors, trains, and advises department employees for the dual goals of meeting department goals and promoting employee career development.
  • Confers with upper management to keep them informed on key issues and progress toward objectives, to gain their support and approval, and makes recommendations to assist management in making needed improvements.
  • Collaborates, persuades, and negotiates with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
  • Manages the development of comprehensive transportation plans and programs to address transportation challenges in the region and to address and fulfill the requirements under federal law of the metropolitan planning process.
  • Conducts and coordinates regional transportation systems planning, transportation systems management and operations activities, transportation safety planning, freight planning, project programming, and related activities for all transportation modes, in concert with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
  • Manages specific regional transportation programs and initiatives to help the region accomplish its transportation goals and objectives.
  • Manages the involvement and engagement of the public in the agency’s transportation planning activities to ensure they reflect and respond to community values and opinions.
  • Manages the conduct of transportation-related studies and technical analyses, such as transit alternatives analyses, corridor and sub-area studies, travel surveys, origin-destination studies, travel time studies and coordination of multi-jurisdictional projects.
  • Manages development and maintenance of transportation databases, analytical models and tools, and related information systems, including: traffic counts; crash data; travel times; travel speeds; traffic forecasts; and roadway, transit system, bikeway and aviation infrastructure characteristics.
  • Assists with Identification, research and analysis of state and federal legislative issues affecting regional transportation interests in legislative, regulatory and funding arenas; develops and recommends appropriate policy positions for MARC and lobbies at the state and federal level.
  • Prepares and delivers presentations to various-sized groups on multiple topics; presents information and provides staff support to various committees and boards, including MARC Board, Total Transportation Policy Committee, various MARC committees and community boards and organizations.
  • Maintains network of professional peers, and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by participating in seminars, conferences, workshops and training programs and reading applicable trade and professional journals and publications.
  • Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

The position requires a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Engineering, or a related field; four or more years of progressively complex and responsible related work experience, which includes two years of managerial/supervisory experience, in order to effectively develop and manage specific department mission and operations; or any combination of education and experience which produces the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

In addition, experience with public policy development and physical planning; excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills; the ability to deal with diverse constituencies; strong organizational skills; thoroughness and attention to detail; the ability to handle multiple demands; proficiency with MS Office software, database programs; and a team player, in order to effectively develop and manage specific department mission and operations managing projects involving resource or energy conservation, sustainability, or any equivalent.

Experience in land use and transit oriented development policy, planning and project development and the attainment of an American Institute of Certified Planners (A.I.C.P.) certification or Professional Engineer (P.E.) license are preferred.

How to Apply

Starting salary is $83,290 - $106,190, depending upon qualifications. MARC offers an attractive team-oriented work environment along with a competitive fringe benefit package. For more information about the program and to apply please visit our website at EOE Employer /M/F/V/D.