Department Manager - Regional and Active Transportation Planning

Overview

Why OCTA:

Discover work that moves you in a dynamic and innovative setting. Be part of a team delivering Orange County’s transportation network of today and creating a vision for the future.

OCTA is the county’s transportation planning commission and public transit operator. With a focus on safety and accountability, we plan, fund, and implement countywide projects that include bus and rail transit, freeways and express lanes, rideshare, microtransit, paratransit, active transportation, and environmental programs.

We’re passionate about creating a balanced, equitable and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. 

Our employees rated OCTA as a top workplace in Orange County. Come join us on our mission of keeping Orange County moving.

Overview:

Under the general direction of the Director of Transportation Planning & Analysis and the Executive Director, Planning, manages the Regional and Active Transportation Planning Department. Under minimal supervision, the Regional and Active Transportation Planning Department manager oversees the Active Transportation and Corridor Studies functions. The Corridor Studies responsibilities include long-range transportation planning activities and developing and updating short-term action plans.  Manages corridor and project planning activities. The Active Transportation responsibilities include collaborating internally and externally with stakeholders across the region to deliver active transportation planning, education, and outreach projects and initiatives to the residents of Orange County.

Prepares written reports and budgets. Actively participates and presents at various internal/external technical advisory committees, Board Committees, and OCTA Board meetings. Interfaces with internal and external technical staff, stakeholders, and elected officials.

This is an exempt position in Salary Grade ­­260: Min $162,784 – Mid $195,341 – Max $227,897 annually. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

The application deadline for this position is Monday, April 21, 2025.

Responsibilities

This list is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and is not designed to be interpreted as an exhaustive listing of all tasks required of employees assigned to this job.

Displays High Integrity & Honesty: Takes personal responsibility, acts with honesty and consistency.

Has Technical and Professional Expertise: Has the technical skills, product knowledge and professional skills to do the job.

• Provides policy, active transportation planning and corridor studies, and program support to executive management, other divisions, and external stakeholders.
• Understands applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing active transportation planning, transportation and land use planning, and programming for a public agency.
• Manages the annual budget for the Department, which includes budget allocation for professional services and contributions to other agencies.
• Supervises the work of professional staff to ensure adherence to project scope, budget, and schedule requirements. Provides periodic status reports and resolves issues in a timely manner.
• Participates in all aspects of contract procurement. Duties include preparing scopes of work, independent cost estimates, evaluation criteria, participating as an evaluation panel member, negotiations, and providing debriefings.
• Collaborates with transportation agencies, local agencies, healthcare industry, and other stakeholders.
• Communicates effectively and strategically at a senior management level in both written and oral presentations, reports and collateral materials.

Champions Change: Leads projects or programs that support organizational goals so that others support them.

• Represents and coordinates Authority plans with local, regional, and federal agencies including the California Department of Transportation, Southern California Association of Governments, and Air Quality Management District.
• Represents and collaborates internally and externally with stakeholders across the region to deliver active transportation planning, education, and outreach projects and initiatives to the residents of Orange County. This work is framed by the Authority’s regional planning documents such as OC Active, the Long-Range Transportation Plan, the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan, and the E-bike Safety Action Plan.
• Collaborates with other managers and staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Oversees the preparation of conceptual planning/engineering studies for highways and arterials. Oversees other planning assessments of Orange County roadway and transit systems. Builds consensus among local jurisdictions and makes presentations to the Authority Board of Directors.

Communicates Powerfully & Prolifically: Shares insights on issues/problems, clarifies purpose and links that purpose to actions.

• Represents the Authority to the professional community, including making oral and graphic presentations or preparing materials for presentations to the Authority, committees, staff, and interested groups related to transportation planning and modeling issues. Oversees the preparation of Board reports by professional staff.
• Documents transportation model development and provides periodic status reports to Authority management.

Develops Strategic Perspective: Knows how immediate work relates to organizational strategy, translates into actionable steps.

• Manages Regional Planning: manages the work of professional staff responsible for the preparation of long-range and corridor studies; and oversees technical studies such as feasibility studies, joint use development, mobility hubs, project initiation documents, and arterial analysis to maintain consistency with the Master Plan of Arterial Highways.
• Manages Active Transportation Planning: manages the work of professional staff responsible for active transportation planning efforts including coordination with the Orange County Health Care Agency and other healthcare providers. Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders on emerging issues such as e-bike safety.

Solves Problems & Analyzes Issues: Has and applies problem analysis and problem-solving skills on a technical and interpersonal level.

• Will lead and mentor a team of six planners/analysts, providing guidance on regional and active transportation planning while setting clear goals to ensure the team operates efficiently. Aligns program delivery goals with external stakeholder and general public expectations.

Works in a Collaborative Manner with Others: Works in a collaborative manner with others, helps resolve unproductive conflict.

• Supervises, directs, and manages Corridor Studies and Active Transportation professional staff.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Transportation Planning, Engineering, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or related field with a minimum of eight years of relevant planning experience.  A minimum of four years of experience in the management of planning is required.  A master’s degree is preferred.  

Working Conditions/Physical Activities:(The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. OCTA provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

Positions in this class typically require:

• Work may be performed in a stressful, fast-paced office environment, depending upon assignment.
• Requires ability to understand verbal communication and to respond effectively.
• Positions in this class typically require: Reaching, Finger Dexterity, Grasping, Feeling, Talking, Hearing, Seeing, and Repetitive Motions in computer use.

Compensation and Benefits:

OCTA offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision health insurance programs, flex time (may be available), paid sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement, deferred compensation plan, educational reimbursement, excellent in-house training programs, free transportation passes for the employee and dependents, wellness and ergonomic programs, and much more. OCTA has a hybrid remote work program. Eligibility is dependent on manager’s approval.

OCTA is an equal employment opportunity employer that recruits, hires, and promotes qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, military and veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Salary : $162,784 - $227,897