Planning Manager

Description
The Planning Manager is responsible for executing the agency's long-range planning efforts and strategic initiatives including regional transportation infrastructure planning, regional service, trail expansion and service innovation including fleet electrification while assisting the agency with the program development and implementation involving Mobility as a Service, autonomous vehicles and other advanced mobility concept exploration. This position will leverage transportation planning skillsets, coordinate with local, regional, state, federal and transit agency partners as well as the private sector. It is critical for this position to have a knowledge of transportation planning, bicycle and pedestrian systems, state and federal regulatory policies, available funding programs, municipal financial processes, contracts, and grants. The Planning Manager will manage regional transportation planning initiatives, identify and secure funding for agency programs, as well as maintain strategic relationships with various local, county, regional, state and federal agencies and will serve as the agency's primary liaison for regional planning and funding initiatives with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and will represent the agency on the NCTCOG Surface Transportation Technical Committee (STTC).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

• Direct and manage the preparation of short and long term planning studies; ensures the accuracy and adequacy of technical work and the soundness of principles used in planning projects.
• Manage project/program schedules, deadlines, quality and implementation strategies for all Planning contracting mechanisms that support the agencies short and long term goals.
• Facilitate project coordination with the regional MPO, support regional planning initiatives, identify and secure funding mechanisms while ensuring agency inclusion in the MPO's planning processes including the Mobility Transportation Plan.
• Lead the development and execution of long-range service plan and some near-term regional planning initiatives to improve mobility and connectivity between Denton County, Collin County, Tarrant County and the rest of the North Texas region including rail expansion and commuter bus with partner transit agencies, the regional MPO, member cities, non-member cities, and large employers.
• Leverage "out of the box" planning for the creative development, financing and implementation of agency strategic initiatives, including regional transportation infrastructure, service expansion and emerging technology mobility solutions.
• Assist in the enhancement and development of livable communities, transit-oriented development (TOD), sustainability, and additional projects that may impact mobility with support as appropriate from member and non-member cities, private sector, state, and federal partnerships.
• Play an active role in the annual budget preparation process and the agency's 20-year financial planning.
• Seek and secure various local, regional, state and federal funding programs to assist in the execution of agency objectives, develop project scopes, schedules and budgets for grant submittals.
• Leverage available resources for travel demand forecasting, financial modeling, market analysis and data analytics for future transit initiatives, land use, and demographics during the development of multimodal transportation project plans.
• Represent agency at various public stakeholder events, local and regional transportation planning meetings and industry conferences.
• Coordinate with contracted consultants and collaborate with internal departments on planning initiatives as it relates to operations, finance, procurement and marketing.
• Maintain, support, and promote a safe work environment while complying with DCTA's safety rules, policies, and procedures.
• Establish systems which institute interactive tools for data-driven, enterprise-wide planning and decision making.
• Work closely with operations team to develop effective data collection and processing procedures which enable efficient, accurate reporting within DCTA and to its partners including member cities, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), NCTCOG, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
• Research alternative fare collection and passenger counting methods and technologies.
• Work with North Texas transit partners to establish data collection and analysis procedures which are consistent across agencies.
• Support development of regulatorily-compliant reports for FTA triennial reviews.
• Manage special data collection efforts including, ride-checks, origin-destination studies, parking occupancy and duration, bicycle/pedestrian counts, and on-board surveys.
• Work closely with Data Manager to extract data points and produce tables, graphs, and dashboards that help inform and enable decision making.

Requirements
Knowledge of:

• Transportation funding programs and related financial processes, contracts, grants and regulatory compliance.
• Federal, state and local laws and regulations governing transportation alternatives programing and funding.
• Principles and practices of transportation planning, emerging mobility solutions, land use planning, program development, public administration and project management.
• Principles and practices relating to travel demand modeling including land development, economic development, environmental impacts, socioeconomic demographics, travel behavior and transit demand concepts.
• General principles and practices of transit operations including current and emerging mobility services and fleet options.
• Microsoft Office suite (including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Trimble Sketchup, CAD, GIS and any transportation planning software.

Ability to:

• Leverage "out of the box" thinking during development, coordination and implementation of project planning.
• Identify, establish and maintain effective working relationships during the coordination of strategic initiatives with key individuals including internal departments and other government staff and officials, municipal and regional agencies, community groups, consultants and other members of the private sector.
• Share the agency's vision with stakeholders, funding partners, industry leaders to align agency goals and objectives with potential partners for the development of mutually-beneficial project partnerships.
• Provide technical insight, data analytics and project financing options during the development and/or implementation of projects.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations and assist in the development and application of departmental policies during planning and implementation processes.
• Identify and understand DCTA transit capital and operational development, delivery procedures as well as departmental operating policies, procedures, systems, and methods.
• Perform and manage advanced professional transportation planning work with minimal supervision.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all internal and external stakeholders, including the general public and elected officials.
• Collect, compile and analyze technical and financial information in order to prepare reports for the public, board and stakeholders.
• Represent DCTA to external organizations and public professionally through the development and delivery of superior presentations and written materials for a variety of audiences and multiple venues.
• Compile and interpret technical data and prepare reports, grants, proposals and correspondence.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences or proposed actions and develop recommendations in support of goals.
• Research, analyze and evaluate innovative service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Plan, organize and schedule work priorities and manage multiple projects, some with aggressive program schedules.
• Apply collaborative work strategies and gain the cooperation of employees at all levels of the organization while fostering a cooperative environment when working with peers in other organizations.
• Perform a wide range of complex work assignments.

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess a positive attitude, and practices good judgement, while open to receiving/providing feedback
• Hold the ability to get along with others, individually and in a large group. Has the desire to care for the organization's well-being and for the co-workers he/she interacts with. Interested in partaking in group development and team building activities
• Be open to collaborate and work in a team-oriented and helping environment
• Possess an influential and welcoming communication style
• Foster a culture that values critical thinking and problem solving; and encourages constructive feedback, engagement, inclusion, and diversity at all levels

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Any equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, transportation planning, engineering, economic development, business, finance or other related discipline.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience involving public administration, economic development, long range planning, transportation planning or urban planning. Public transportation experience is highly desirable.

Preferred Certifications: American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Project Management Professional (PMP)
Special Requirements: Hold a current valid Texas Driver's Licenses or can obtain one upon entry into the position.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:
Physical activity includes, but is not limited to: on a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; lift moderate weight; reaching above the waist, reaching below the waist, and reaching waist to shoulder to reach inventory on shelves; repetitive motion and fingering when using a computer keyboard; talking and hearing when dealing with customers; and observation of transit projects and operations during field work.