The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is seeking a seasoned planner with a combination of "big picture" vision, on the ground implementation experience, and strong leadership skills to fill the role of Department Manager of Mobility Planning and Goods Movement. Under general direction of the Deputy Director of Transportation, this position will assume full responsibility for the Mobility Planning & Goods Movement department including leading the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities in addition to managing work plans related to the development, implementation, and coordination of long-range plans. The successful candidate will possess experience in a broad spectrum of areas, including transit/rail, active transportation, transportation demand management, goods movement, and aviation with a proven track record of managing large teams.

The Mobility Planning and Goods Movement Department focuses on improving mobility, optimizing the goods movement network, and expanding transportation choices. The department achieves its goals through demand management, multimodal system integration, and initiatives aimed at enhancing economic efficiency, safety, and air quality. It is divided into two business units: Goods Movement & Aviation and Multimodal Integration. The Multimodal Integration business unit engages in planning for active transportation and complete streets, transit and rail, multimodal corridors, and transportation demand management. The business unit works to create a seamless multimodal transportation system that meets the needs of all people, by managing demand, increasing safety, efficiency, and reliability, and expanding sustainable multimodal options. The Goods Movement and Aviation business unit analyzes and optimizes the goods movement network through increases in economic efficiency, congestion mitigation, safety and air quality improvements, mitigation of community impacts, and enhancements to system security. The business unit also leads the development of plans and strategies for aviation and airport ground access, advanced air mobility, and the enhancement of travel and tourism.

In this role you can expect to:

• Lead the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Mobility Planning & Goods Movement department consistent with agency-wide priorities
• Manage work activities related to the development, implementation, and coordination of long-range plans
• Work with the County Transportation Commissions, subregional council of governments, freight industry stakeholders, and others to advance the development of Connect SoCal
• Present and provide support for communication of technical and policy matters related to the department's work at Regional Council, Policy Committee, and technical committee meetings
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of work services and procedures to identify opportunities for enhancements
• Manage department staff including providing direction, assigning and reviewing work, providing coaching and guidance, and conducting performance evaluations
• Create and manage departmental and cross-departmental agency activities and planning and policy initiatives
• Manage and participate in the development and administration of the department and division's annual budget and forecasts additional funds needed for staffing, consultants, and other resources
• Develop associated budget proposals and seek external grant and partnership opportunities
• Collaborate and advise SCAG executive management in the development and coordination of regional planning and policy proposals/strategies
• Lead the development and coordination of planning initiatives, serving as a liaison with the public and private sectors and engaging in relevant forums
• Ensure SCAG's compliance with policies and contracts, as well as Federal, State, and local regulations
• Perform other duties as assigned

What you'll bring to this role:

A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be with 7 years of work experience in urban planning with 4 years of management or direct supervisory experience and a Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration, or a related field.

Any combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may also be considered.

We'll be a great match if you also have:

• Knowledge of multimodal transportation, including passenger travel, goods movement, and aviation
• Experience in long-range planning and familiarity with the RTP/SCS process
• Experience leading the work of staff, establishing clear expectations for deliverables
• The ability to develop and coach employees
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical concepts for a broad audience with limited technical knowledge on the subject matter
• The ability to be a strategic thinker with effective problem solving and analytical skills
• Political astuteness, with the ability to engage with members of executive management, members of the Regional Council and Policy Committees, and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of relevant local, state, and federal laws, policies, and planning practices
• Knowledge of principles and practices of leadership, with experience implementing performance measures and participating in budget development and administration
• Familiarity with travel and demand modeling concepts
• The ability to use basic to intermediate features of Microsoft Office suite