Job Description

About Houston-Galveston Area Council 

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than 7 million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day.  

We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being of our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive. 

What will I be doing? 

Overall, you will be managing the transportation project development and delivery efforts of the metropolitan planning organization and the team assigned to these efforts. This includes:

Strategic Leadership and Team Management

üLead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team (5-10 staff) of planners and engineers.

üDevelop and implement a project development and delivery strategic plan that is aligned with H-GAC’s mission and Board priorities.

üFoster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, continuous improvement, and data-informed decision-making.

üProvide coaching, performance management, and professional development; recruit and onboard new team members.

üServe as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and others on project delivery risk and strategy.

üLead workforce planning efforts to ensure team resilience and continuity in project delivery functions.

Project Readiness and Selection

üDemonstrate experience in surface transportation project planning and development by assisting in transportation project selection and scoring.

Project Monitoring

üDevelop, refine and lead processes to assist with and monitor progress towards the implementation of the Transportation Improvement Program, H-GAC 10-Year Plan, and the Regional Transportation Plan.

üProvide oversight of and coordination with project sponsors on ongoing regional project development and delivery efforts.

üIdentify and mitigate risks to project schedules and budgets; troubleshoot implementation barriers in coordination with sponsors.

üTrack project progress utilizing risk matrices, schedule templates and the project information database, along with other tools.

üAssist with the maintenance and the integrity of the project information database and other project management tools.

Project Delivery

üLead efforts to launch a new project delivery program to assist with early implementation transportation projects (ex: preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition, etc.).

üEnsure necessary staffing for this program.

Public Engagement and Coordination

üCoordinate closely with TxDOT, local governments, FHWA, and other regional stakeholders to ensure alignment of project delivery efforts with federal and state policies and funding requirements.

üDevelop committee and Council meeting materials including background papers.

üDevelop and deliver compelling presentations in support of project development and delivery efforts.

üEstablish KPIs and performance metrics for project delivery; produce regular status reports for executive leadership and policy boards.

Key Qualifications 

üExperience successfully managing teams.

üExperience administering surface transportation funding programs at the federal and state levels and knowledge about how the funding relates to the implementation of the Regional Transportation Plan.

üExperience developing project timelines for project programming and delivery efforts that provide ample opportunity for input from the public and stakeholders.

üExperience reviewing surface transportation projects and program cost estimates and assessing project readiness for inclusion in the TIP, 10-year Plan, and the Regional Transportation Plan.

üThe ideal candidates will demonstrate strong teamwork, effective communication in a collaborative environment, an “all hands-on deck” attitude, and be passionate about doing whatever it takes to improve the quality of life for our citizens.

üStrong project management, communication, and presentation skills are crucial for success in this role.

üFamiliarity in transportation project development cycle; including from planning to implementation.

üFamiliarity with the National Environmental Policy Act process to advise project sponsors on best practices for obtaining appropriate environmental clearance.

üProficient in project management software and data tools such as Asana, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, ArcGIS, or similar platforms.

Do you have… 

üBachelor’s degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study 

ü5 years of experience working with local government, nonprofit programs, school or in job related duties?