Division Manager – Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director

Division Manager – Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under general direction of the Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and in collaboration with the City of Abilene (COA), to serve as Executive Director for the MPO to manage, coordinate, oversee, and administer the personnel, budget, facilities, and projects of the MPO in response to the direction of the MPO Policy Board.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position exercises direct supervision over all Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) personnel.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Administers, implements, reports, and monitors all federally funded MPO activities and other related Federal, State, and local programs.
• Responsible for all internal and external management and stakeholder relations pertaining to the policy direction of the Board. This includes in-house reports, memorandums, and other related correspondences. Manages and maintains all MPO records in accordance with State and Federal regulations. Remains up-to-date on State and Federal legislation and policies and summarizes potential impacts of proposed changes.
• Possesses leadership and management experience in the transportation planning process, as well as knowledge of traffic analysis; travel demand modeling processes; transportation programs and funding; and multimodal planning and programming.
• Manages day-to-day activities of MPO staff and general operations in accordance with fiscal agent/employer of record (COA) policies and procedures. Develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates MPO staff performance plans and training needs. Hires MPO staff, recommends promotions and carries out disciplinary actions, including employment termination of MPO staff.
• Implements a performance-based approach to planning and programming.
• Ensures data for the travel demand model are collected, maintained, analyzed, and prepared for estimates and modeling exercises. Develops and maintains travel demand model, using TRANSCAD, and other State and Federal approved computer applications, including their utilization in evaluating planning alternatives for capacity, congestion mitigation, operation and turning movements, and safety issues.
• Coordinates, oversees, and participates in the compilation and maintenance of transportation and demographic databases.
• Develops and calibrates computerized transportation planning models as well as develops and codes thoroughfare and transit networks.
• Provides technical assistance upon request to participating member agencies of the MPO.
• Conducts data analysis and develops planning documents, including a Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a Ten-Year Plan, a short-range capital plan (the Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP), and a planning and research work program (the Unified Planning Work Program, or UPWP). Prepares year-end reports including the Annual Performance and Expenditure Report, the Annual Listing of Obligated Projects, and any others. Assists in reviewing and monitoring plans and related documents to ensure compliance with applicable state or federal requirements and conformance to acceptable professional standards.
• Monitors and ensures project selection, scope, and funding are accurate for highway and transit projects in the MPO area. Assists with planning, development, and management of strategic planning efforts related to transit issues.
• Assists in the development of highway and transit forecasts for local and regional transportation alternatives analysis.
• Performs research and literature review and shares results with other agencies as requested and necessary.
• Monitors assigned projects and provides feedback regarding their impact; analyzes needs/changes/enhancements and makes recommendations.
• Responsible for maintaining effective and highly successful relationships with the MPO’s Policy Board and Technical Advisory Committee, local and state agencies, the transit agency (CityLink), the City of Abilene, the City of Tye, the City of Impact, Taylor County, Jones County, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This position requires frequent contact with local elected officials, state and federal government officials, local media press, Taylor-Abilene Geographic Information Community, and the public.
• Conducts meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee and provides data.
• Provides financial oversight of the MPO budget. Includes effective management of grant processes, timely reporting and accounting for resources; developing and managing scope of work for outsourced consultant services; ensuring the development and implementation of the Unified Planning Work Program; ensuring compliance with fiscal requirements and presenting accurate, timely financial reporting to the Policy Board. Coordinate and pursue timely billing cycles of invoices received from vendors and reimbursements requested from agencies, with the fiscal agent.
• Prepares, plans, evaluates project methodologies, and conducts technical studies, inside Taylor and Jones counties (within the MPO urban area boundary) both in-house and outsourced to qualified consultants.
• Develops scope of services for work to be outsourced, including the hiring of qualified consultants, negotiation of fees, undertaking project management responsibilities to monitor their progress, timeline, budget, quality assurance, and acceptance of final deliverables.
• Conducts outreach to involve the public and interested parties in the region’s metropolitan transportation planning process according to the Public Participation Plan and applicable Federal and State guidelines.
• Continually evaluates the organizational structure and makes changes, as necessary, to ensure optimum effectiveness of programs/staff services.
• Provides programs and services that reduce costs and takes advantage of multi-jurisdictional economic strength.
• Plans, prepares, schedules, and implements regular MPO meetings with PB, TAC and external agencies, including preparation of reference material, agenda, minutes of meetings, drafting of resolutions, when required.
• Works toward the MPO’s transportation equity vision by engaging traditionally underrepresented populations in regional transportation planning and ensuring these populations are not discriminated against in MPO activities, including the planning and programming of transportation projects and studies.
• Operate a motor vehicle to attend meetings and MPO activities.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES

• Assists with monitoring funds through application, contract review/approval, procuring equipment, and billing and reporting.
• Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Program management and budget administration principles and practices.
• Methods for mentoring, training, and supervising staff.
• Transportation planning software and a working knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS, Transportation Demand Modeling, TransCAD, Transportation Analysis, and other technical tools to make effective management and task delegation decisions.
• Applicable federal and state transportation legislation.
• Demographics and modeling principles and practices.
• Metropolitan transportation planning process and transportation funding programs.
• Policy development methodologies and procedures.
• Performance measurement principles and practices.

Skill to:

• Use Microsoft Office and Google Suite related applications.
• Utilize planning methods, techniques, and strategies.
• Manage budgets and maintain finances.
• Research, evaluate, and interpret complex information. Analyze, prepare, and organize technical/statistical reports and documents.
• Maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups.
• Prioritize and organize work assignments.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with executives in other organizations, including but not limited to: City Managers, County Administrators, Executive Directors, state agency department or division heads and the business community.
• Manage office operations, supervise staff, and motivate team members.
• Take initiative in performing additional duties to ensure the continued operation of the Abilene MPO.
• Perform mapping and graphics work.
• Create and present technical presentations to small and large groups.
• Manage multiple tasks, re-prioritize in response to changing circumstances, and meet established deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Use basic office equipment and operate a PC to use a variety of planning, plotting and mapping software packages including TransCAD, ArcGIS, Adobe Acrobat, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Problem solve by researching, suggesting appropriate alternatives, and implementing solutions.
• Interpret and effectively communicate written and verbal information including rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.
• Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
• Lead, manage, and perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:

Experience:

• Four (4) years of progressive experience in transportation planning and/or urban planning and development is required.
• Previous experience in transportation planning with an MPO, COG, local government, or state or federal agency involved in metropolitan planning is preferred.

Education/Training:

• A Bachelor’s degree in urban/regional/transportation planning or civil engineering is required.
• Graduate level education in urban/regional/transportation planning, civil engineering, public administration or a closely related field may be recognized in place of a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and may substitute for one year of experience.
• License or Certificate:

A valid Texas driver’s license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required.

Special Requirements:

• Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
• HazCom and HIPAA Compliance training within sixty (60) days of employment is required.
• Exposure to outdoors.
• Ability to travel to different sites.

With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:

___ Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds

___ Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds

_X_ Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds

___ Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds

___ Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes: The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:

Codes for how often:

N = No

E = Extensive (100 – 70% of the time)

M = Moderate (60 – 30% of the time)

I = Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time)

A = Almost Never (<10% of the time)

Code / Task

_M__ Standing

_E__ Sitting

_M__ Walking

_I__ Lifting

_I__ Carrying

_I__ Pushing/Pulling

_I__ Overhead Work

_E__ Fine Dexterity

_I__ Kneeling

_I__ Crouching

_A__ Crawling

_I__ Bending

_I__ Twisting

_A__ Climbing

_M__ Balancing

_E__ Vision

_E__ Hearing

_E__ Talking

___ Other: _____________________