Director of Planning & Development

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $100,000 - $175,000 Annually

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

Non-Represented Employment Opportunity

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, please visit norta.com/jobs

This bulletin is posted to establish or add to a qualified list of candidates

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) gets people moving around New Orleans. Our transit services bring hard-working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools and fun seekers to entertainment, shopping areas and restaurants. We provide mobility to residents of the city, as well as its many visitors. NORTA’s system includes five streetcar lines, 34 bus routes, two ferry routes and paratransit services. Our passengers take more than 19 million rides every year. NORTA has entered an exciting period of transformation and modernization as a fully public agency well underway implementing its Strategic Mobility Plan including a recently completed network redesign in late 2022; over $55 million awarded to build passenger facilities, and acceptance into Capital Investment Grant program for its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

REPORTS TO
- Chief Planning & Capital Projects Officer

TITLES OF POSTIONS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THIS JOB
- Manager of Service Development
- Senior Planning & Scheduling Analyst
- Planning & Scheduling Analyst II
- Service Analytics and Innovation Analyst
- Senior Transportation Planner

JOB SUMMARY
NORTA is seeking a Director of Planning & Development to lead the team of planners and analysts responsible for developing service plans and schedules, strategic plans and initiatives, and performance insight to deliver transformative transit service in the New Orleans region, in line with the agency’s vision and goals. The position reports directly to the Chief Planning & Capital Projects Officer and is responsible for organization, coordination, and oversight of route scheduling, service planning, and capital planning to develop safer, faster, more convenient and comfortable public transportation services throughout NORTA’s service area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Direct the NORTA’s planning team in development and implementation of long- and short-range transportation service planning initiatives and capital projects, including development of funding sources for the execution of such plans.
• Direct the NORTA’s scheduling team, in coordination with the Operations and Asset Management divisions, region’s other transit agencies and local community, to develop system plans and service adjustments as may be necessary to address the transportation needs of NORTA’s service area.
• Oversee the progress of implementing the Strategic Mobility Plan, recently updated in 2023, and recommendations of the Comprehensive Operations Analysis, in coordination with the executive team, to fully execute the strategic vision of the Authority as provided in these guiding documents.
• With the Director of Capital Projects, coordinate the development and annual updates of the 5-year Capital Investment Program (CIP), including integration of capital project needs from the RTA’s Transit Asset Management Plan.
• Coordinate service planning, scheduling, and run-cutting activities with the Operations and Asset Management divisions to ensure a continued positive working relationship with represented labor organizations as required by the US Department of Labor and the Federal Transit Administration.
• Supervise collection and analysis of internal data as may be determined appropriate for the performance and impact of NORTA’s transit service for the benefit of improved service delivery, management and administration.
• Guide strategy and development of RTA’s emerging Transit Oriented Communities program.
• Support implementation of service delivery software modernization initiative.
• Ensures department policies, including Fixed-Route Service Standards, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being utilized by teams and makes recommendations to update, improve and add new policies and SOPs as needed.
• Provides policy recommendations, technical assistance, and information to the Board Commissioners, executive management, and departments involved in transit service, asset management and the prioritization of capital project decision making.
• Represents the Authority at public hearings and meetings, advisory boards and committees, other governmental agencies, and the public.
• Manage and help create documents that explain work outputs and analysis – for technical and non-technical client audiences.
• Keeping skills current by learning new practices, approaches and techniques. Ensuring the same for direct report employees.
• Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.
• Other duties and departmental supervision may be assigned.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises and manages a team and/or management processes including the full range of management duties.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, and appraises employees (performance evaluations) on their productivity.
• Delegates and oversees the daily workflow of the department.
• Motivates, guides, mentors, and coaches employees in their development.
• Recommends to senior management internal promotions and changes including discipline and terminations of employees in accordance with company policy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Theories, principles and practices of transportation planning, finance, transit operations, and transit asset management
• Public administration principles and methods, including goal setting, program and budget development and implementation.
• Understand, interpret and apply related applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing budgeting and funding for a public transportation agency, including FTA policies.
• Complex financial modeling, especially public finance and real estate development
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing transit projects.
• Business process improvement and change implementation.
• Modern leadership and management practices.
• Planning, organizing, and directing the work of a department with various organizational functions.
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions.
• Communicating effectively in writing, in meetings and in public presentations.
• Preparing comprehensive reports and correspondence.
• Manage and provide oversight of a program of projects.
• Develop and implement objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to manage data.
• Familiarity with transit planning and scheduling software and CAD/AVL systems.
• Read, write, speak and understand English

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban / Transportation Planning, Engineering, Public Administration, Business or related field from an accredited college or university.
• A Master’s degree in public administration, engineering or urban planning, is preferred, and may be considered in lieu of up to two (2) years of experience.

EXPERIENCE
Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or more of the transit departmental functions of asset management, operations, project management of major transit capital projects, engineering or planning. Minimum of five (5) years of management experience.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS/DEMANDS

• A valid Louisiana Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) preferred
• Must provide proof of being fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine before start date.
• Must submit to criminal background check, the results of which must meet hiring criteria for the role.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Normal office environment.

May need to work outside normal work hours (i.e. evenings and weekends).

Travel may be required to other NORTA locations or other external sites.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions upon request

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT
NORTA is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on job-related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.

This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority. This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.