The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks an Assistant Director of Transportation who will support the Transportation Director in overseeing the Department. The Assistant Director will work on a variety of planning activities and policies to advance sustainable mobility, smart growth, and transportation equity in Greater Boston. The Assistant Director will report to the Transportation Director and will help manage department staff and budgets, support regional transportation planning at the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), manage technical assistance projects, and other activities to advance the transportation components of Greater Boston’s regional land use and policy plan, MetroCommon2050.
About MAPC
MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our mission is to promote smart growth and regional collaboration. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.
MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office.
MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.
This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org.
About the Transportation Department
The Transportation Department works on diverse planning topics, including bicycle and pedestrian plans, Complete Streets, off-road paths and trails, bus priority improvements, parking, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Transportation Demand Management (TDM), transportation finance, public transit fare equity, decarbonization, first and last mile solutions, and many others. The Department also supports the work of the Boston MPO to develop a transportation vision for Greater Boston—from public transit to pedestrian/bicycle needs to roadway projects—and then dedicate federal and state funding to specific transportation improvements.
Responsibilities (including but not limited to)
Supervise professional planning staff and/or teams of staff;
Lead the development of new place-based planning and technical assistance projects, including interdisciplinary projects in consultation with other departments at MAPC;
Establish processes to improve department products, including presentation materials, website and newsletter content, and final reports;
Apply for grants, requests for proposals, state and federal resources, and other funding opportunities;
Work with the Boston MPO, including the development of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and other MPO activities (MAPC serves as Vice Chair of the Boston MPO);
Lead project tracking, evaluation, and reporting processes;
Manage several planning projects annually, including scoping, budgeting, data collection, analysis, presentation of findings, and final reports;
Facilitate working groups with diverse stakeholders in the region, including municipalities, state agencies, the private sector, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups;
Collaborate with other Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) throughout Massachusetts on joint projects and state-wide priorities;
Develop and recommend changes in state policies, programs, and funding priorities to advance sustainability and equity throughout the Commonwealth; and
Undertake other responsibilities as needed to achieve the goals of MetroCommon2050.
Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are a responsibility for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account and BlueBikes membership.
Qualifications
Candidates for this position must have either a Master’s degree plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience OR a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in transportation planning, city/regional planning, civil engineering, public policy, or a related field. AICP preferred, but not required. Candidates must have at least one year of experience directly supervising one or more staff.
The successful applicant will demonstrate all or most of the following:
Deep knowledge of transportation and land use planning concepts;
Strong transportation planning experience, including ability to make placed-based and policy recommendations;
Knowledge of or experience working on transportation justice and equity issues, including but not limited to issues specifically impacting the BIPOC community;
Project management experience, demonstrating ability to prepare work plans, budgets, reports, and meet deadlines;
Experience writing and applying for, and managing grant funding or contracts;
Experience with community engagement, facilitation, and working effectively with community-based organizations, state agencies, municipalities, advocacy groups, and communities of color;
Strong writing skills, including ability to prepare technical memos, whitepapers, and reports;
Strong presentation and public speaking experience;
Experience conducting fieldwork and data collection;
Experience working in and/or with communities located in Massachusetts; and/or
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Additional desired skills and experience (a plus, but not required):
Data visualization skills, experience with software such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign;
Experience working with the Boston MPO or MPOs generally;
Experience managing consultants or consultant teams; and/or
Experience applying for federal grants.
Per MAPC COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, all employees, including remote employees, must be fully vaccinated. This position will require the selected candidate to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, including the Bivalent booster. MAPC is an equal opportunity employer and will consider reasonable accommodation to those individuals who are unable to be vaccinated consistent with federal, state, and local law.
Compensation and Benefits
Starting salary ranges from $100,000 – $110,000 depending on experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
How to Apply
Apply online (see Link below). The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States. A Criminal Offenders Records Information (CORI) request must be completed if offered this position. A criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at MAPC, but it will be reviewed in light of the position and other elements of an applicant’s resume.
We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead. For more information on MAPC’s culture of equity, see our Equity at MAPC page.
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