Job Description
Position Summary
The position entails management of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Activities unit and staff within MassDOT's Office of Transportation Planning (OTP); OTP lead on financial program planning and strategies for MassDOT Divisions, the MBTA and external agencies such as the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA); oversight of the federally certified planning activities for the Commonwealth's ten (10) Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and three (3) Transportation Planning Organizations (TPO); OTP lead on federally required Performance Based Planning and Programming (PBPP);.and oversight of federal programs and grants such as Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ). It also includes representing MassDOT at MPO and TPO meetings; and through various statewide and national planning organizations and events.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Oversight of MPO and TPO Federal Certification Activities
- Oversight of regional transportation planning activities executed by Massachusetts' 10 MPOs and 3 TPOs, including the development and implementation of long-range regional planning through their respective Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTPs).
- Oversight of short range, federal aid project programming and prioritization through each organization's annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
- Annual development of each respective Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and regular updates of their Public Participation Plans (PPPs).
- Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with MassDOT and Urbanized Zone Area (UZA) agreements with partnering MPOs, Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) and Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs).
- Acts as the MassDOT OTP primary contact for the Federal Highway Administration Division Office and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region 1.
- Oversight of the coordination among the MPOs and coordination of the MPOs with state and federal policies and requirements with all 3C planning activities and previously mentioned documents, such as adhering to the requirements of the Commonwealth's Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).
Capital Planning and Federal Programming Strategies
- Develops financial planning/policy/program sizing guidance and recommendations for consideration to the Secretary and CEO of MassDOT, Highway Division Administrator, Director of Capital Planning.
- Develops financial policy and recommendations to external agencies such as the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA).
- Director and Deputy Director of Planning on program sizing and fiscal solvency.
- Acts as OTP's primary liaison to the Highway Division leadership on federal aid planning/programming, including the Administrator, Chief of Staff, Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, and Chief Administrative Officer; and is OTP's primary liaison to the MBTA and Rail and Transit Division on federal aid programming.
- Oversees the development of the Commonwealth's five year, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) on behalf of MassDOT and the MBTA, a crucial component of the annual Capital Investment Plan (CIP).
Administrative oversight of federal programs, grants and equity compliance
- This position oversees the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program development, solicitation of projects, programming and the SRTS Program Coordinator; Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Consultation Committee; USDOT Scenic Byways Program development, solicitation of projects and the Scenic Byways Coordinator; and Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) and FLAP Coordinator.
- This position also ensures compliance with state and federal regulations for Title VI and Environmental Justice (EJ), including, but not limited to: perennial Title VI reports from the 13 RPAs to the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR), and compliance with Title VI and EJ activities for MassDOT led research and planning projects, such as the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan (SLRTP).
- Provides briefings and recommendations for MassDOT policy to the Executive Director in response to new federal proposed rules, regulations, and grant award opportunities.
Performance Based Planning and Programming
- This position oversees MassDOT OTP's performance-based planning and programming efforts, adhering to USDOT rules and regulations regarding Transportation Performance Management (TPM) and coordinating the implementation of the Commonwealths Performance Based Planning and Programming (PBPP) agreement.
- It entails coordination on federal performance measure data sharing; target setting; and adoption between MassDOT, all thirteen of the Commonwealth's MPOs, and fifteen RTAs for the federally-required Transportation Performance Management (TPM) processes, including but not limited to: Highway Safety Targets; Bridge and Pavement Condition; Emissions Factors; Transit Asset Management (TAM) Targets and Public Transit Safety Plans (PTSPs).
- It also includes working directly with the Office of Performance Management and Innovation (OPMI) on the development of MassDOT's Performance Tracker and assisting MassDOT and the MBTA Divisions on program sizing in the STIP and CIP that adheres to short and long term performance targets.
Administrative oversight of planning contracts
- This position oversees the development and implementation of MassDOT contracts with the Commonwealth's 13 RPAs and the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) for implementation of their 3C planning activities; processing monthly invoices and direct expense requests of the aforementioned contracts; maintaining, updating and ensuring adherence and compliance to MOU and UZA agreements.
Preferred Qualifications
While there is an expectation that the individual in this role will still have room to develop and hone some skills, the ideal candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate the following skills or interests:
- Project management - an ability to assist the group in the management of administrative tasks associated with consultant support projects, including the development of work scopes, procurement of consultant services, management of consultant teams, budget oversight, etc. The Office uses public resources to complete transportation planning studies and reports, and also often employs private consultants in these efforts. It is imperative that the candidate know how to manage a budget and schedule on-time and within budget.
- Strong communication skills - an ability to write clearly and efficiently in white papers, memos, and emails for a range of public audiences and internal and external stakeholders; an ability to communicate messages visually through assorted graphics and PowerPoint presentations for internal and public audiences; confident public speaking skills. The diversity of information and audiences relevant to this position make the ideal candidate one who can both understand and communicate across a range of topic areas, but also learn and appreciate the perspectives of these varied audiences.
- Analytical skills - an ability to review, digest, and draw conclusions from data related to a range of transportation planning or policy issues, particularly those related to the MBTA and other public transit providers in the Commonwealth; a comfort manipulating data and conducting analysis using excel, GIS, and other analytical tools.
- Professional work ethic - a proven capacity and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment characterized by multiple and overlapping deadlines; an ability to be flexible and respond to changes in direction from MassDOT/MBTA leadership; an ability to independently execute tasks both with direct support as well as with more limited oversight.
- Encourage and sustain positive team dynamic -The nature of transportation planning requires collaboration and teamwork. The ideal candidate should like to work in teams and know how to create and improve team dynamics to ensure good transportation planning.
- Demonstrated interest and passion for improving public transportation in Massachusetts - including an understanding of the factors that make public transportation competitive; a familiarity with the political, media and government context within which the MBTA and other public transit providers in the Commonwealth operate; and an interest in creatively pursuing their own ideas to improve the experience of transit riders.
About MassDOT
The 4,000+ employees of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) take great pride in connecting the Commonwealth's residents and communities. MassDOT is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating transportation policies and projects for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to efficiently plan, design, construct, and maintain a safe statewide transportation system which effectively meets the transportation needs of the Commonwealth. Information about MassDOT's inclusive culture and career opportunities can be found at mass.gov/massdot-careers.
MassDOT's divisions include Highway, Registry of Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, and Rail & Transit. Headquarters (Planning & Enterprise Services) provides business and administrative support and policy leadership for each of the four (4) divisions.
Qualifications
This requisition will remain open until filled; however, first consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Current MassDOT employees should use their internal MassCareers account to apply.
All job applications must be submitted online through MassCareers to be considered.
Please provide a complete, accurate and current resume / application for MassDOT to review in order to determine if your submitted materials meet the minimum entrance requirements for the position.
Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
- For questions regarding the job posting, please email the MassDOT Talent Acquisition Team at talentacquisition@dot.state.ma.us.
- For general questions regarding MassDOT, call the Human Resources Service Center at 857-368-4722.
- For a disability-related reasonable accommodation or alternative application method, call the ADA Coordinator, Lucy Bayard, at 857-274-1935.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.