Associate Director for Planning and Sustainability

This position is in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Transportation Planning Administration (PDA), Planning and Sustainability Division (PSD). PSD has four branches:

The Environmental Program Branch (EPB) provides oversight for the environmental review processes, supports DDOT staff with project delivery from project planning to construction and maintenance/operations; and coordinates sustainability initiatives from air quality planning to climate change efforts.

The Neighborhood Planning Branch (NPB) promotes safety and mobility across neighborhoods in the District through a variety of efforts focused on high-quality multimodal transportation options, well designed public space, and placemaking.

The Safe Routes to School and Sidewalks Branch manages the Safe Routes to School program and the Sidewalk Gap program.

The Sustainable Transportation Programs (STP) Branch manages programs that encourage and provide safe and sustainable transportation options to residents, employees and visitors in the District of Columbia.

The Associate Director for Planning & Sustainability services on the agency’s senior leadership team and provides executive leadership and management for the Division and represents the agency both internally and externally on planning matters.

Works under the general direction of the Chief Transportation Planning Officer, who provides general administrative direction in terms of broadly defined program functions of the Administration. The incumbent independently plans, develops, manages, and completes projects, studies, and other programs related to Administration work. Exercise a high degree of independence and initiative in completing such work. Consults with the Director, as required, regarding programming impact and sensitive and controversial issues affecting the Division. Completed work is considered technically authoritative and is normally accepted without significant changes. Performance is assessed in terms of, and any reviews conducted by the supervisor revolve around, accomplishing the Department's goals and objectives; timeliness of actions; and the efficient and effective use of resources (e.g., employees, fiscal materials, etc.).

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides overall policy direction and guidance for the Planning and Sustainability Division. The Associate Director plans, organizes, budgets, schedules, directs, coordinates, evaluates, and significantly strengthens the effectiveness of all the multi-modal Planning activities in developing and maintaining the District's transportation policies and plans. Manages the performance of a predominately professional workforce of 40 employees; including community and transportation planners, environmental specialists, program analysts, and civil engineers allocated to several branches.

Provides the full range of technical guidance to the staff engaged in long-range and short-range planning, development and programming of District of Columbia Department of Transportation projects, and in the generation, utilization, and provision of transportation data. Develops, as necessary, planning alternatives for projects contemplated by federal agencies and other jurisdictions when their proposals have strong transportation implications for the District. Works directly with the sponsoring agency/jurisdictions involved to develop innovative solutions to issues. Through subordinate Branch Managers, the Associate Director leads, manages, coordinates, synthesizes, and recommends the development of transportation and public space policy. Manages the agency’s review of private real estate development, District of Columbia Government development proposals, and prospective federal agency projects to assess their impact on the transportation network. Directs professional analysis of the type, location, intensity, and phasing of transportation and development projects.

Represents the agency and contributes to the formulation of regional transportation policy by serving bodies such as the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TRB), the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee and the Partnership for Regional Excellence, and other regional committees. Utilizes the policy forged by these bodies to periodically evaluate and modify the Department's underlying planning philosophy.

Manages the development of policies that encourage innovative projects and programs to utilize local and federal funds for transportation activities. Marshals’ professional resources and focuses them on the production of long-range multi-modal transportation plans. Makes the full range of management contributions in implementing the office's long-range planning functions. Ensures the planning criteria developed guarantees realistic assessments of expected environmental, social, and economic impacts of all proposed regional transportation infrastructure and considers the District through an equity lens. Ensures assessment of the environmental compatibility of each proposed project through adherence with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

Directs a broad investigation into the effects that the project can reasonably be expected to produce. Anticipated impacts on conservation and the preservation of natural and cultural resources, community concerns, business and residential displacement, air, noise, and water pollution, and aesthetic values are identified and assessed in substantial depth during project development. Develops annual budgets, prepares position descriptions, and recruits staff for the Division Approves purchase requisitions for supplies and equipment. Approves travel and training requests. Performs annual performance evaluations of staff.

Qualifications and Education

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Mastery of knowledge of the mission, functions, objectives, and goals of the District Department of Transportation, its policies, regulations, and procedures related to multimodal transportation plans and projects.

Mastery knowledge of analytical evaluative methods, and a thorough understanding of how public transportation laws policies and regulations are administered, to select and apply appropriate evaluation and measurement techniques in developing program priorities.

Master’s degree in urban planning, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, civil Engineering or related field preferred.

Minimum ten (10) years of managerial experience with increasing responsibility, preferably in transportation and urban planning, management development review, bicycle and pedestrian planning, are highly desirable.

Preferred Experience: Experience related to the work but are not limited to directives for conducting program studies, evaluations, analyses, and assessments; and trending and tracking methods or research trends and patterns to develop new methods, criteria, or propose new agency policies.

Licenses and Certifications

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

American Institute of Certified Planner certification is desired.

Working Conditions/Environment

The work is often performed at a desk in an office environment but will also require field and system observation under all applicable safety guidelines and standards.

Other Significant Facts

Tour of Duty: Varies

Pay Plan, Series, and Grade: MS-0301-15

Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential.

Duration of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service (MSS): At-will employment applies to the MSS. All positions and appointments in the MSS serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Collective Bargaining Unit: (Non-Union): This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.

Position Designation: This position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability - Security Sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.

Emergency Designation: This position has been designated as an emergency employee position under the provisions of District Personnel Manual, Chapter 12. As such, your services may be required in emergency situations to perform crucial duties, i.e., snow removal, debris removal, transportation, shelter operation, food distribution, and communications. These duties may be performed when the government is closed or when most employees are dismissed early. Employees are required to work rotating shifts, to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Employees are considered emergency personnel and are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Residency Requirement Statement: If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.