Assistant Director, Sustainable Mobility & Operations

Metropolitan Transportation Commission; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional transportation planning agency in San Francisco is seeking an Assistant Director to lead initiatives focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled. Candidates should possess a master's degree in transportation planning or a related field, with strong policy development skills and experience in stakeholder engagement. This full-time position offers an opportunity to significantly impact transportation sustainability in the region.

Qualifications

• Understanding of GHG and VMT reduction research, policies and programs.
• Knowledge of federal and state requirements at the metropolitan scale.
• Three years of related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team focused on GHG and VMT reduction strategies.
• Develop policies that shift single passenger vehicle trips to more energy-efficient modes.
• Supervise and mentor staff, providing guidance on work flow.

Skills

GHG and VMT reduction knowledge

Bay Area transportation landscape understanding

Stakeholder engagement

Policy and program development

Clear communication

Education

Master’s degree in transportation planning or related field

Job description

Overview

Assistant Director, Sustainable Mobility & Operations — Join to apply for the role at Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

About MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is committed to being an equitable and inclusive workplace. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

About the Team

The Sustainable Mobility and Operations (SUMO) Section, established in January 2025, advances an integrated portfolio to improve the transportation system’s operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability while helping customers use the multi-modal system more effectively. This SUMO Unit oversees the development and implementation of transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction strategies in support of Plan Bay Area 2050, the Bay Area’s long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).

About the Role

Under the general direction of the Section Director, the Assistant Director will lead a team focused on researching, developing and implementing strategies and programs that contribute to the reduction of transportation-related GHG emissions and VMT in the region. These strategies and programs support GHG and VMT reduction and implementation of Plan Bay Area 2050, the Bay Area’s long-range RTP and SCS, and include expanding clean vehicle initiatives, expanding proven and targeted transportation demand management (TDM) initiatives, and enabling a seamless mobility experience for Bay Area travelers. The team also supports the implementation of MTC’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy by overseeing the policy’s parking and station access and circulation requirements.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Section Director, the following responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Unit and Program Administration

• Provide leadership to develop and deliver policies, strategies and programs that reduce single passenger vehicle trips to less energy intensive and more system-efficient modes; shift to active and shared modes; accelerate electrification of single passenger vehicle trips; reinforce transportation and land use connections through policy and implementation.

• Lead strategy and program design for the agency’s transportation demand management (TDM) portfolio, including shifting single occupancy vehicle trips to transit, shared modes, walking and biking.

• Lead VMT mitigation policy and project guidance related to Senate Bill 743 and other VMT reduction policies for internal and external project sponsors.

• Oversee strategy development and program design for local agency technical assistance planning and capital grant programs related to mobility hubs, parking management, TOC policy station area access and circulation, transportation electrification, and other needs arising from Plan Bay Area updates, TOC policy implementation and agency TDM strategy.

• Strategic Management and Organizational Leadership

• Develop goals and milestones to enhance unit programs in alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and the MTC/ABAG Equity Platform.

• Collaborate to leverage the MTC/ABAG Strategic Framework for outcomes-oriented work plans.

• Coordinate staff assignments based on the unit’s work plan and prioritize tasks accordingly.

• Work with Assistant Directors and Directors to develop cohesive policy recommendations that advance agency priorities.

• Staff Supervision and Mentorship

• Supervise and mentor staff; monitor work flow; provide leadership and clear direction; review performance and identify growth opportunities.

• Ensure staff assignments are resourced to deliver projects; identify gaps and recommend solutions.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Understanding of GHG and VMT reduction research, policies and programs; knowledge of federal and state requirements at the metropolitan scale.
• Understanding of the Bay Area transportation landscape related to parking management, mobility hubs, TDM, and transportation electrification.
• Understanding of relationships between federal, state, regional, county, and local agencies and NGOs in the Bay Area.

Skills and Abilities:

• Develop and implement policies and programs.
• Engage with a broad set of partners and stakeholders.
• Manage employee performance and mentor staff.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in writing and speech.

Minimum Qualifications

An appropriate combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. Typical qualifications include:

• Education: Master’s degree in transportation planning, project management, public finance, transportation engineering, economics, business, or public administration. Transcripts evaluation may be required for international degrees.
• Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible related experience. A Bachelor's degree and four years of relevant experience is an alternative qualification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in related field is preferred. Transcripts evaluation may be required for international degrees.
• Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible related experience.
• License/Certificate: California Class C driver’s license and a safe driving record, or alternate transportation approved by the appointing authority.

Seniority level

Associate

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Research

Industries

Research Services

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.

THIS JOB POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL A QUALIFIED POOL OF APPLICANTS IS ESTABLISHED AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.

FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL OCCUR ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2025.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY.