Director of Transportation Planning

Organization: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB)
Salary: The salary range is $160,000 to $190,000 plus exceptional benefits.
Close Date: April 30, 2014

Job Description:

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is seeking a Director to lead its Department of Transportation Planning. The Director provides strategic, programmatic, technical, and administrative leadership and manages a staff of 60 employees.

About COG and the TPB
For more than 50 years, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has helped develop regional solutions to such issues as the environment, affordable housing, growth and development, public health, child welfare, public safety, homeland security, and transportation. Founded in 1957, COG is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit association comprising elected officials from 22 local governments, members of the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and members of the U.S. Congress. COG's Region Forward vision is a commitment by COG and its member governments to create a more accessible, sustainable, prosperous, and livable National Capital Region. COG's mission is to make Region Forward a reality by being a discussion forum, expert technical and policy resource, issue advocate, and catalyst for action. COG is supported by financial contributions from its participating local governments, federal and state grants and contracts, fee-for-service contributions, and donations from foundations and the private sector. COG's annual budget is approximately $27 million.

The TPB is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Washington region and plays an important role as the regional forum and organization responsible for comprehensive and coordinated regional transportation planning. The TPB is housed within and supported by COG; however, the TPB is an independent policy board responsible for preparing plans and programs that the U.S. Department of Transportation must approve in order for federal-aid transportation funds to flow to the Washington region. The TPB also serves as the transportation policy advisory committee for the COG Board of Directors and its involvement helps to ensure that land use, transportation, and environmental planning are well-coordinated in the National Capital Region. Members of the TPB include representatives of local governments, state transportation agencies, the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and non-voting members from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and other federal agencies. TPB’s staff is provided by COG's Department of Transportation Planning.

Position Description and Qualifications
The Director of the Department of Transportation Planning provides strategic, programmatic, technical, and administrative leadership and manages a staff of 60 employees. The Director also serves as the staff director to the TPB, helping elected and appointed officials fulfill their MPO responsibilities for the National Capital Region. The Director of the Department of Transportation Planning is an important part of COG's leadership team and will play a vital role in transportation policy, planning, and programs in the National Capital Region, including overseeing the TPB's $18 million annual budget.

The job requires at least 15 years of broad, progressively responsible experience in the field of transportation planning, ideally experience with regional transportation planning programs and processes; at least 10 years of senior management and supervisory experience; Master’s degree from an accredited university in Planning, Engineering, Public Administration, or related field. Must have transportation planning expertise; prefer experience in local or state government, MPO, or related nonprofit organization.

Ideal candidates will have comprehensive knowledge of public administration, regional transportation planning practices and policies and federal MPO planning regulations; be a highly experienced senior manager with ability to lead and facilitate strategic planning to achieve policy and other outcomes; possess thorough technical understanding of major transportation issues, challenges, and opportunities in the Washington region and nationally; be able to establish and maintain effective relationships with elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, representatives of business, civic and community stakeholders, and media organizations; possess relevant technical skills and/or knowledge of travel demand, simulation, and forecasting models, and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS); and be able to supervise and manage employees, consultants, and department work program activities, prepare and administer budgets, make presentations to diverse groups, and prepare strategic plans and programs.

Comprehensive information about COG and the TPB, including recent studies and reports, is available on the web at www.mwcog.org.

Salary and How to Apply
The search is open until April 30, 2014. The salary range is $160,000 to $190,000 plus exceptional benefits. Beginning salary is subject to negotiation and will be influenced by the selected candidate’s education, training and experience.

Applications should be made electronically. Please submit in confidence your resume, cover letter, and
salary history/requirements to:

Robert E. Slavin, President
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