Planning and Development Director, Seattle

Planning and Development Director
Sound Transit
Location:Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States
Posted on: May 20, 2011
Category: Planning / Land Use
Transportation
Urban Design
Experience: 7-10 years
Sound Transit
Planning & Development Director

DESCRIPTION:
Under general direction, plans, directs, manages, supervises, and coordinates the activities and operations of the Office of Planning and Development; develops capital projects for commuter rail and express bus systems, including environmental documentation and preliminary design; manages and directs the development of long range systems plans and incremental voter approved funding plans for the Agency; oversees development and implementation of Transit-Oriented Development programs; provides Agency advice in plan, program, and service delivery; communicates Agency policy and plans to internal and external stakeholder groups; ensures technical competence of policy, planning, regional fare integration and transit oriented development products; provides leadership and direction for the development of new business opportunities, rider market development; represents the Agency in regional, state, or national forums; and provides support to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, as directed.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

In area of assignment:
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Coaches, trains and motivates staff; coordinates and/or provides staff training; and manages employee relations; manages the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures the performance of the department and all related staff and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; implements or recommends corrective actions, discipline and termination procedures as appropriate/necessary.
• Plans, directs, and manages the development of the evolving regional high capacity transit (HCT) system vision and plan; oversees efforts to integrate regional fare collection and policies between Sound Transit and multiple local transit service providers; directs the development of policy initiatives within the Agency at executive or Board direction; provides leadership and direction for the development of new business opportunities such as public-private partnerships to enhance ridership and the customer experience, new rider market development and research, alternative revenue and system pricing, planning and implementation of new transit innovations, transit market research, and general public policy analysis and development.
• Directs the planning and preliminary engineering of capital projects contained in the regional HCT plan, such as Sounder Station access expansion and operations and maintenance facilities for commuter rail and regional express bus.
• Oversees implementation of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program. This includes providing TOD planning support during all agency capital project development activities, market assessment, disposition of surplus properties, and development of proposals and agreements necessary to achieve TOD program goals.
• Plans, directs, and manages the development of long range systems plans and incremental voter approved funding plans; provides Agency guidance and advice in plan, program and service delivery; communicates Agency policy and plans to internal and external stakeholder groups; ensures technical competence of policy, planning, regional fare integration and transit oriented development products; manages regional coordination between local or state planning activities and Agency project and policy development and delivery; coordinates with other state, regional, and local plans and planning organizations.
• Manages and oversees the development, solicitation, proposal review, award, and management of consultant contracts; directs division consultants and contractors in the administration and implementation of projects and/or project phases; ensures that projects, services, and operations of the Division are completed within the scope, schedule, and budget and that all objectives are successfully met.
• Oversees development, negotiation, execution and administration of inter-local and other partner agreements necessary to support program responsibilities.
• Develops, administers, maintains, and oversees the division's annual budget; makes recommendations and forecasts for future funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; reviews and approves division expenditures and implements adjustments.
• Provides support to the Department on matters as directed; reviews internal work products for technical and strategic decision-making; participates in or occasionally leads senior Agency management meetings; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Bachelors Degree in urban planning, engineering, transportation, urban geography, public administration, or closely related field and six years of experience in planning and project development addressing urban transportation system planning (transit and roadway) and design that includes three years of staff supervisory, budgetary, and management responsibility; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:
None.

Required Knowledge of:
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of the Office of Planning and Development.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Urban transportation systems analysis and management.
• Transportation planning and traffic engineering concepts, practices, procedures, and policy issues.
• Travel demand forecasting.
• Transit technologies and their application to specific projects and services.
• Negotiation and consensus building principles and practices.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Research methodologies.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Advanced principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Strategic policy management principles and practices.
• Negotiation principles and practices.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Required Skill in:
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Performing negotiations and effectively partnering with other departments and groups.
• Conceptualizing, influencing, developing, and administering goals, objectives, guidelines, and procedures for the Policy & Planning Division.
• Managing large, complex projects and making decisions in fast-paced, difficult environments.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Maintaining confidentiality and communicating with tact and diplomacy.
• Responding to inquiries and in effective oral and written communication.
• Researching, analyzing, and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Applying advanced project management techniques and principles.
• Working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.
• Developing and monitoring departmental and program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules.
• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:
• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.

Apply online:
http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/Jobs.xml