Program Director; Travel Forecasting and Emissions Analysis

Description
The Program Director leads the Travel Forecasting and Emissions Analysis (TFEA) Team within the Department of Transportation Planning (DTP) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). This team develops and applies travel demand forecasting models and mobile emissions models to support regional transportation and air quality planning in the metropolitan Washington region. These models are commonly adopted by state and local planning agencies for sub-area studies, corridor studies, and project planning. The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) serves as the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the metropolitan Washington region. The TPB is staffed by COG DTP staff.

The Program Director oversees two major work activities under the MPO’s Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP): Travel Forecasting and Mobile Emissions Planning. Travel Forecasting includes developing and applying travel models and creating forecast-year transportation networks. Mobile Emissions Planning involves using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) MOVES model to estimate and forecast air pollution from the on-road transportation sector and conducting regional studies such as air quality conformity analyses of the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); performance analyses of the LRTP; regional scenario studies; and providing forecasts of air pollution from the on-road transportation sector, which are used to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs), which ensure compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

The TFEA Team provides technical services to both internal and external customers, including COG, TPB, the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), other teams within DTP, local governments, state DOTs, and consultants. The Program Director serves as an expert advisor to the DTP Director, COG, and TPB regarding travel demand modeling and mobile emissions modeling. The Program Director coordinates with fellow DTP Program Directors and with staff in other COG departments, including COG’s Department of Community Planning and Services (DCPS), which is responsible for developing land activity forecasts, and COG’s Department of Environmental Programs (DEP), which is responsible for coordinating with state environmental agencies on matters relating to mobile emissions modeling. The Program Director must possess a high degree of resourcefulness in carrying out project initiatives in support of TPB policy interests and DTP program objectives. The role requires a demonstrated track record of professionalism, political sensitivity, and well-honed judgment when working with elected officials, senior transportation leaders, and the media.

Duties / Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership and Administration
• Provide strategic leadership and foster collaboration within the TFEA Team and across departments.
• Effectively lead a team of approximately 15 professionals, including developing staff and conducting performance reviews.
• Prepare and implement annual UPWP activities aligned with resources and TPB initiatives.
• Allocate resources, develop staff budgets, define schedules, and communicate deliverables.
• Conduct regular team meetings to monitor progress and ensure deadlines are met.
• Technical Oversight
• Oversee development and maintenance of travel modeling inputs, including land activity forecasts and multimodal networks.
• Ensure travel modeling methods and policy assumptions are properly calibrated, validated, documented, and communicated.
• Respond to technical data requests and provide guidance on modeling practices.
• Keep abreast of current developments in travel forecasting and emissions forecasting via attendance at conferences and forge collaborative relationships with peer MPOs and federal agencies.
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Coordinate with federal, state and local planning agencies to address data and technical support needs.
• Collaborate with COG’s Department of Community Planning and Services (DCPS) on Cooperative Forecasts of households, population, and employment.
• Collaborate with COG’s Department of Environmental Programs (DEP) on emissions forecasting activities.
• Committee Management
• Administer the TPB Travel Forecasting Subcommittee (TFS) and present technical topics to TPB and COG committees and policy groups.
• Represent COG/TPB at conferences and maintain relationships with peer MPOs and federal agencies.

Requirements
Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in transportation engineering, civil engineering, transportation planning, urban planning, computer science, data science, or a related field, plus 10 years of applicable experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus 12 years of applicable experience.
• At least five years of supervisory/management experience in a similar environment.
• Experience should include the analysis and interpretation of demographic, transportation survey, and transportation systems data that typically support regional travel demand modeling.
• Ability to write, speak, and present effectively, including:
• Ability to present technical results in terms understandable to policy officials and staff. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to respond verbally and/or in writing to common inquiries or complaints from TPB members, stakeholders, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, negotiate, and secure the cooperation of others in executing plans.
• Proficiency in the use of office productivity software, such as Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Knowledge of urban transportation and mobile emissions modeling methods, including awareness of emerging research relating to these models and methods.
• Knowledge of federal planning requirements that are relevant to MPOs with respect to travel demand forecasting and air quality conformity.
• Familiarity with mobile emissions forecasting practices and State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for attaining air quality standards.
• Familiarity with statistical methods typically associated with travel demand forecasting, travel surveys, and other observed transportation data sources.
• Familiarity with travel demand forecasting software (e.g., Bentley Systems Cube), statistical analysis packages, computer programming languages (e.g., R or Python), and version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub).
• Familiarity with database management systems (DBMS) and geographic information systems (GIS).
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and practices.
• Knowledge of traffic engineering and transit operations principles and theory.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, federal rules and regulations, and legal documents.
• Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical and statistical operations to assess travel demand modeling performance and travel survey accuracy, and to interpret travel modeling outcomes.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Experience with conducting and documenting research activities.
• Knowledge of transportation surveys.
• Familiarity with transportation systems and agencies in the Washington, D.C. region.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervisory experience and responsibilities:

• Managerial responsibility for a team of 15 professionals.
• Daily supervisory responsibilities, performance management, personnel, budgeting, and contracts management.
• Administrative duties will include hiring and training employees, promoting professional growth, planning, assigning, directing work activities, appraising performance, rewarding employees, disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Oversee contracting work and possibly temporary personnel.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s administrative policies and applicable laws.