Manager - Regional Planning

About the role

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country, serving 13 counties and over 7 million people. We address issues that span across city and county boundaries, impacting transportation, safety, job access, disaster recovery, water quality, and more.

Responsibilities

• Solve regional transportation issues and lead a multimodal planning team for the fourth-largest Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the country.
• Lead development, maintenance, and implementation of the region’s long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) in compliance with federal and state transportation planning requirements, including financial planning and coordination with air quality conformity staff.
• Ensure transportation planning processes align with federal performance management requirements, environmental considerations, equity objectives, safety goals, and regional priorities.
• Direct consultant teams and internal staff in preparation of technical analyses, planning documents, public engagement activities, and project development efforts.
• Develop and manage program budgets, scopes of work, schedules, grant requirements, and consultant contracts related to planning initiatives.
• Manage multimodal transportation planning initiatives encompassing roadway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, resilience, and emerging mobility systems.
• Ensure engagement with regional stakeholders through subcommittees, project stakeholder groups, and other grassroots outreach efforts.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate planning staff while fostering collaboration, professional development, and operational excellence within the department.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of key functions of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and demonstrated experience with Metropolitan Planning Organizations or relevant organizations such as state Departments of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and policies related to transportation planning.
• Experience preparing technical transportation documents, managing projects, and personnel budgets.
• Exceptional project management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Understand the needs of key transportation planning stakeholders, along with the ability to build consensus among diverse groups.
• Experience developing statements of work, managing contracts, and other procurement-related activities.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a diverse staff in the hybrid work environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience collaborating and working with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study.
• 5 years of experience working with local government, nonprofit programs, school, or in job-related duties.
• Preferred qualifications include:
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field of study.
• 8 years of experience working in transportation planning and related project management.
• Experience working with the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
• Comprehensive understanding of transportation policies, best practices, and federal and statewide planning regulations.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field of study.
• 5 years of experience working with local government, nonprofit programs, school, or in job-related duties.
• Experience working with the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
• Comprehensive understanding of transportation policies, best practices, and federal and statewide planning regulations.

Key Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of key functions of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and demonstrated experience with Metropolitan Planning Organizations or relevant organizations such as state Departments of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and policies related to transportation planning.
• Experience preparing technical transportation documents, managing projects, and personnel budgets.
• Exceptional project management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Understand the needs of key transportation planning stakeholders, along with the ability to build consensus among diverse groups.
• Experience developing statements of work, managing contracts, and other procurement-related activities.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a diverse staff in the hybrid work environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience collaborating and working with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Benefits

All employees of H-GAC are required to reside within the agency’s region of service to support our commitment to excellence in service of our region. H-GAC is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or protected veteran status.