Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) Director

About the role

The position serves as the strategic leader and advocate for the Comprehensive Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), guiding the development and implementation of regional transportation policies, programs, and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for CRTPO, guiding development and implementation of regional transportation policies, programs, and initiatives.
• Advocate for transportation investment and policy implementation.
• Oversee development and implementation of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), performance-based planning and programming requirements, public engagement, and all elements of the 3-C metropolitan transportation planning.
• Provide direction for major initiatives, such as the Strategic Plan, Beyond 77 Coalition, Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, Discretionary Grants Program, and multimodal activities.
• Serve as the principal advisor to the CRTPO Board and Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC).
• Facilitate consensus-building among a diverse Board of elected officials and the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC).
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with officials from all member jurisdictions.
• Coordinate closely with NCDOT, Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, Centralina Regional Council, and neighboring MPOs.
• Direct, manage, and oversee the operations of CRTPO, including supervision of a multidisciplinary team of 17 staff members.
• Recruit, hire, develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing workforce.
• Lead implementation of organizational improvements and recommendations identified through the Staffing and Resources Study.
• Lead CRTPO's financial strategy by overseeing the distribution, compliance, and performance of all federal and state funding streams, including the Discretionary Grants Program and transit funding partnerships.
• Guide the development and stewardship of the MPO operating budget and UPWP, ensuring financial integrity and alignment with long range planning goals.
• Maintain high level oversight of the quarterly reimbursement framework.
• Ensure reimbursement outcomes, funding questions, and allocation issues are addressed promptly and in compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Provide executive leadership to the Finance Officer, ensuring effective supervision of the Senior Analyst and alignment of all financial operations with CRTPO's mission.
• Foster collaborative relationships with local jurisdictions and partner agencies to support efficient financial workflows and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Provide executive oversight of consultant procurement, contract management, and project delivery, ensuring consultant performance, compliance, and timely execution of transportation planning initiatives.
• Champion a robust and inclusive public outreach program to ensure transparency and participation from historically underserved communities.
• Serve as the public face of the MPO, communicating complex planning data into actionable insights for the media, business leaders, and the general public.
• Develop and maintain effective communication strategies that build public understanding and trust.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, develop, and retain a high-performing professional staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish priorities, manage competing interests, and guide the team through change while maintaining operational effectiveness.
• Extensive knowledge of metropolitan transportation planning principles, practices, regulations, and funding programs.
• Thorough understanding of federal transportation planning requirements, including 23 CFR 450.300, other additional FHWA and FTA regulations, and applicable federal transportation legislation.
• Knowledge of North Carolina's Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) process, transportation funding mechanisms, and transportation project prioritization methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus among elected officials, government agencies, transportation providers, business leaders, and community stakeholders with diverse and sometimes competing interests.
• Strong political acumen and the ability to effectively navigate complex intergovernmental and multi-jurisdictional environments.
• Experience developing, administering, and overseeing budgets, transportation funding programs, grants, and contracts.
• Ability to ensure compliance with federal and state funding requirements, procurement regulations, and financial accountability standards.
• Strong project and program management skills, including performance measurement and implementation oversight.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex transportation and technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Able to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives while building trust and maintaining productive partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) or PE (Professional Engineer) certification is strongly desired.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four-year degree in Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related degree, with a strong preference that it be supplemented by a master's degree in above fields of study.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in a transportation planning or MPO environment with five (5) years of supervisory experience in the related field preferred.