Image Courtesy: NVTC

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission seeks a resourceful, transportation professional skilled in bringing teams together across transportation agencies on technology projects and planning efforts. This position will work with NVTC’s jurisdictions which include Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. Combine your skills in project management and knowledge of policy and planning to support regional efforts to expand capacity, improve connectivity and ensure high quality transit service in Northern Virginia. The Projects and Policy Manager will coordinate a regional working group on the New Electronic Payments Program, other contracts and state and federal grants as well as support regional planning activities.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The position combines planning, coordination and project management of contracts and state and federal grants for six jurisdictions and the region as a whole. Existing projects include bus rapid transit (BRT), Metrorail station improvements, light rail and other multi-modal facilities. The position will develop funding strategies for ongoing and new initiatives as well as preparing all phases of funding applications. The Projects and Policy Manager will facilitate regional working groups, participate in planning activities of other regional working groups, and support the work of Commission. This position reports to the Director of Programs and Policy.
The ideal candidate will have experience with local or state government, project management, and transit and related fields including communications, research & analysis, regional transportation planning, and federal contracts and grants management. This position requires a college degree and at least five years of relevant experience supported with strong references. Excellent written and oral communication, experience in facilitation/meeting management, and skills in spreadsheets and graphics are mandatory.

DUTIES INCLUDE
 Manage New Electronic Payments Program (NEPP) project including:
o Facilitating regional partners working group o Serving as Project Manager for the regional Technical Assistance contract
o Staffing grant applications and procurements
o Serving as the liaison with WMATA and their contractor for NEPP

 Manage other projects, which may include the following:
o Vanpool Alliance Program
o National Transit Database (NTD)

 Represent NVTC on regional studies & with other regional organizations
 Develop partnerships on collaborative research and technology efforts
 Manage and/or provide oversight for approved NVTC contracts
 Identify new projects and develop applications for state/federal funding
 Draft requests for proposals and invitations for bids for new NVTC projects, direct selection and procurement, and manage contractor performance and payments
 Work with the Executive Director and board members on special projects
 Serve as DBE compliance officer
 Prepare informative materials for commissioners, local staff, and regional partners on new and existing NVTC projects including memoranda, web content, and e-newsletter text
 Participate in ongoing strategic planning efforts and organize outreach efforts on behalf of NVTC and regional projects

SELECTION CRITERIA
Mandatory:
 Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, planning, transportation, economics, business management, civil engineering, or related field, plus five years of professionally progressive experience with project management in transit, planning, or a related field.
 Demonstrated interest in transit or rail project development, policy, or finance.
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
 Experience in meeting management and facilitation.
 Skills in graphics and spreadsheets.

Desirable:
 Advanced degree in economics, public sector management/administration, public policy, planning, technology policy and law or related field;
 Additional work experience beyond the minimum five year requirement;
 Experience with FTA grant and contract requirements highly desirable;
 Experience in writing talking points, preparing presentations, meeting agendas, and drafting reports, analyses, and recommendations for board action and comments to legislative and regulatory agencies;
 Experience with local or state government;
 Experience with developing and making presentations to elected officials, business leaders and community groups;
 Experience in designing and/or conducting community outreach efforts; and
 Experience working closely in a small team environment.

How to Apply
The job will remain open until filled. NVTC is an equal opportunity employer. Please provide a complete resume including your salary history and requirements, as well as a letter describing your qualifications and interest in this specific position. Please describe examples of your relevant experience, include links to or attachments of relevant work product:

Email: opportunities@nvtdc.org
Director, Programs and Policy
NVTC
2300 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 620
Arlington, VA 22201

ABOUT NVTC
NVTC has a small staff located in offices in the Court House area of Arlington. NVTC is a leading expert on performance metrics and transit finance, coordinates regional planning studies and evaluations, partners with other regional entities including the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. NVTC encompasses six cities and counties, Virginia Railway Express (a commuter rail service), six bus systems including MetroBus, Metrorail and the Vanpool Alliance.

SALARY and BENEFITS
Outstanding benefits are provided (life, health, dental, disability insurance; pension; pre-tax child care and medical cafeteria plan; free parking or parking cash-out; tax-free transit benefit). The competitive salary depends on experience and qualifications.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, work hours may vary based on business needs and may include evening and occasional weekend hours as necessary.

Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews will be scheduled with those candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Job at a Glance

• Job Category: Transportation Planning
• Job Level: Mid I (1-4 years)
• Salary Range: $45,286-$66,406 DOQ
• AICP Certification: Not Required

Job Description

• Transportation Planner II (Grade 6): $45,286-$60,369
• Transportation Planner III (Grade 7): $49,814-$66,406

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is seeking a Planner II or III for the Program Coordination Team. The Program Coordination Team supports the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the federally designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Washington, D.C. region. The TPB plays an important role as the regional forum for transportation planning in the National Capital region, and prepares plans and programs that the federal government must approve in order for federal-aid transportation funds to flow to the Washington region. The successful candidate will perform professional level planning activities on a wide range of activities, such as:

(1) Support the development, analysis and documentation of the Financially Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan (CLRP) which could include:

• Updating regional maps showing the major projects in the CLRP;
• Analyzing travel demand data to describe the performance of the plan and creating clear and concise charts and graphics;
• Writing content for websites, brochures and reports; and
• Providing website support for on-line public comment periods.

(2) Assist with regional transportation and land use scenario planning which could include:

• Analyzing additional scenarios with travel demand output data, developing high-level maps and graphics, and writing reports and website content; and
• Conducting cost-benefit analysis of additional transportation and land use scenarios.

(3) Support the environmental consultation and mitigation efforts, which could include:

• Assisting with efforts to meet federal requirements for environmental consultation on the development of the Financially Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan (CLRP) with environmental resource agencies which includes research, data collection, mapping of natural resources and transportation projects and getting feedback from environmental agencies;
• Researching climate change and adaptation issues for MPOs; and
• Assisting with expanded environmental consultation activities such as helping form a task force to better coordinate transportation and environmental planning and the research for and creation of a toolkit on advanced mitigation;

(4) Provide staff support to the other TPB activities and committees as needed, such as:

• Quarterly meetings of the TPB Regional Taxicab Regulators Task Force and the Access for All Advisory Committee;
• Assisting with the monthly TPB electronic mail-out;
• Developing regional transportation grant applications; and
• Promoting regional bike sharing.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Requires (1) knowledge in the principles and practices of metropolitan transportation; knowledge in environmental planning or science a plus; (2) strong software skills in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), ArcGIS, and the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Photoshop); experience with travel demand modeling software and Microsoft Access a plus, (3) strong analytical and writing skills; presentation skills a plus; and (4) ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees, elected officials and the public.

Transportation Planner II: Requires a master’s degree in urban planning, environmental or natural science, public administration, or an appropriate related field and two years’ of working experience in planning or a related field. Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills, and abilities will be considered.

Transportation Planner III: Requires at least three years’ working experience in planning or related field, and master’s degree in urban planning, environmental or natural science, public administration, or an appropriate related field. Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills, and abilities will be considered.

Contact Information

Phone 202-962-3200
Fax 202-962-3715
Email resumes@mwcog.org
Website www.mwcog.org
Postal Address Human Resources – MWCOG
777 North Capitol Street
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002