Planning & Engagement Manager

About the role

VTA is seeking an experienced Planning & Engagement Manager to lead stakeholder engagement efforts supporting the BART Silicon Valley Program. This position plays a critical leadership role in advancing major capital projects by building strong partnerships with local stakeholders, public agencies, and elected officials.

Responsibilities

• Selects, supervises, leads, trains, motivates, assigns, evaluates, counsels, and disciplines staff; supervises consultant staff as assigned;
• Oversees and coordinates project planning and access throughout project duration for functional area;
• Prepares Board memorandums and official VTA correspondence;
• Captains public outreach for planning in functional area and implementation of Construction Outreach and Education Program including the Construction Transportation Management Plans;
• Prepares and presents items to boards and committees;
• Serves as liaison with cities, other local/regional agencies, and community groups regarding transportation, land use, and related issues; assists with responding to media as required;
• Develops work plans, schedules, and budget estimates for studies and projects;
• Captures and coordinates planning and outreach activities for multiple contracts in functional area involving VTA staff and external partners;
• Manages and coordinates community outreach and education programs for transportation and transit capital projects in functional area;
• Facilitates and coordinates interactions between the public and planning and design staff, consultants, and construction contractors during project planning, project development, and construction phases;
• Develops strategies to engage the public and address community concerns;
• Captures and coordinates with planning, engineering, and construction staff to ensure adequate resources are allocated for community outreach and engagement;
• Participates in the development of contracts and RFPs to ensure that community outreach requirements are incorporated into capital project and transportation planning initiatives;
• Analyzes and evaluates assigned programs for effectiveness; recommends alternatives and implements approved enhancements;
• Represents VTA on boards, commissions, and committees as assigned; represents VTA in engagements with outside groups and before community members at public meetings;
• Plans, writes, and edits material for presentation to various boards and commissions;
• Manages and supervises staff and activities to ensure fulfillment of VTA’s Strategic Plan;
• Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget;
• Serves as a member of the management team in meetings/negotiations with labor unions;
• Prepares confidential reports and correspondence; reviews reports prepared by others;
• Ensures compliance with VTA policies and procedures regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and harassment prevention;
• Ensures and enforces compliance with capital project communications and community outreach policies and procedures;
• Performs related duties as required.

Requirements

• Sufficient training, education, and experience to demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in communications, public relations, urban or transportation planning, or a closely related field, and four (4) years of professional level experience in a community outreach/public relations capacity, with emphasis on large capital projects.
• Experience in a large transit organization, public agency, and/or the construction industry is desirable. Demonstrated lead or supervisory experience is required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of:
• Principles and contemporary practices of multi-faceted community outreach and public engagement programs for major infrastructure projects;
• Concepts, principles, techniques, and legal aspects of transportation planning;
• Methods of research and statistical analysis;
• Current technologies employed in public engagement;
• Computer software common to the planning function (i.e., word processing, spreadsheet, modeling);
• Project management methods and techniques;
• Public transportation funding sources and processes;
• Principles and techniques of communications and public education campaigns;
• Social media and internet technologies as applied to effective public information and media relations programs;
• Principles and practices of organization, administration, budgeting, and personnel management in a public agency;
• Principles of supervision, leadership, training, employee development and motivation, and effective discipline;
• Development of public and private sector working relationships and partnerships.