Coordinator, Senior, Government Affairs

TriMet; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 96,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

TriMet is seeking a Senior Coordinator for Government Affairs to help shape public policy and advocate for the agency’s objectives at federal, state, regional, and local levels. The role involves coordinating annual plans, performing data-driven policy analysis, and representing TriMet in national and local forums.

The position requires the ability to work in-person at least three days per week, with some remote options depending on department policy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Master's Degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as TriMet's primary policy liaison and track planning and policy efforts by federal, state, regional, and local jurisdictions that may impact the agency.
• Provide staff support and data analysis for special projects including developing and implementing TriMet’s sustainability programs, federal, state and regional policies and requirements and other projects as assigned.
• Track and analyze federal, state and local legislation related to transportation, land use, sustainability and livability policy and funding, and provide recommendations to Director of Planning & Policy, Director of Government Affairs, Executive Director of Public Affairs and General Manager on TriMet positions.
• Participate in the development and implementation of a visionary mobility program, including demand management, shared mobility, mobility as a service, data infrastructure, personal mobility, personalized transportation services, and behavioral economic strategies that meet TriMet's transportation and livability goals. Explore ideas to commercialize TriMet's assets.
• Provide data analysis support to the General Manager, Executive Director of Public Affairs, and Director of Planning & Policy including research, organizing data in charts and spreadsheets, and preparing presentation materials as requested.
• Respond to requests for information related to TriMet policies and performance-based planning and sustainability-related efforts from elected officials, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, and national and international peers.
• Develop recommendations for continued improvement of the transit system for consideration by the General Manager, Executive Directors, and the Director of Planning & Policy.
• Represent the TriMet and the General Manager at national and local meetings on performance-based planning and sustainability and serve as the General Manager’s liaison to national and local performance-based planning and sustainability working groups. Exercise independent judgment to ensure working groups’ outcomes reflect TriMet’s and the General Manager’s goals. Make presentations on behalf of TriMet and the General Manager at national conferences (e.g., APTA, Railvolution).

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Help Shape the Future of Public Transit — Join TriMet as a Senior Coordinator for Government Affairs. Are you passionate about politics, public policy and the future of urban mobility? TriMet is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking professional to join us as Senior Coordinator for Government Affairs. In this role, you’ll help to represent TriMet’s interests and advocate for the agency’s objectives at the federal, state, regional and local levels of government as a member of our Government Affairs team. From developing and advancing policy changes to pursuing funding for agency projects, your work will contribute to the TriMet programs and projects that move our communities forward. Bring your analytical skills, political acumen and passion for public service to an agency committed to delivering safe, equitable, and innovative transit.

The Senior Coordinator, Government Affairs, plans and coordinate the development of TriMet's strategic and long-range goals and policies. They communicate and work to implement those goals and policies through federal, state, and regional partnerships and coordination. The Senior Coordinator works to coordinate with the relevant TriMet Directors to develop annual plans and strategies.

This position represents TriMet interests with state, regional, and local government policy staff, with national and state interest groups, and with Metro, various jurisdictions, agencies, and the public. They assist with researching, analyzing, and implementing performance-based planning and sustainability-related policies, procedures and projects, both for the agency and in the transit industry at large. This position works to explore new mobility strategies and their associated commercial opportunities to leverage TriMet's assets.

This positions requires a minimum of three (3) days in-office per week.

Ensure a commitment to safety through consistent and professional behaviors in performance of job requirements. Safety is a fundamental value that guides all aspects of our work. Perform related duties as required.

Serve as a good steward of TriMet and maintain a strong and current understanding of customers’ experiences and of TriMet’s product and service offerings. Reliable in-person attendance is an essential function of all positions.

TriMet is an in-person first organization, with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, customer service, and safe and efficient operations. Some positions may be able to work up to two days remotely depending on department policy, business needs, and manager discretion.

1. Act as TriMet's primary policy liaison and track planning and policy efforts by federal, state, regional, and local jurisdictions that may impact the agency. Brief TriMet staff and leadership, including the Board of Directors, on developments related to transit industry trends, especially related to sustainability and new mobility,
2. Provide staff support and data analysis for special projects including developing and implementing TriMet’s sustainability programs, federal, state and regional policies and requirements and other projects as assigned. Work directly with front line employees to solicit information and ideas.
3. Track and analyze federal, state and local legislation related to transportation, land use, sustainability and livability policy and funding, and provide recommendations to Director of Planning & Policy, Director of Government Affairs, Executive Director of Public Affairs and General Manager on TriMet positions.
4. Participate in the development and implementation of a visionary mobility program, including demand management, shared mobility, mobility as a service, data infrastructure, personal mobility, personalized transportation services, and behavioral economic strategies that meet TriMet's transportation and livability goals. Explore ideas to commercialize TriMet's assets.
5. Provide data analysis support to the General Manager, Executive Director of Public Affairs, and Director of Planning & Policy including research, organizing data in charts and spreadsheets, and preparing presentation materials as requested.
6. Respond to requests for information related to TriMet policies and performance-based planning and sustainability-related efforts from elected officials, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, and national and international peers.
7. Develop recommendations for continued improvement of the transit system for consideration by the General Manager, Executive Directors, and the Director of Planning & Policy.
8. Represent the TriMet and the General Manager at national and local meetings on performance-based planning and sustainability and serve as the General Manager’s liaison to national and local performance-based planning and sustainability working groups. Exercise independent judgment to ensure working groups’ outcomes reflect TriMet’s and the General Manager’s goals. Make presentations on behalf of TriMet and the General Manager at national conferences (e.g., APTA, Railvolution).

A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree is required.

A Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts is preferred.

A Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or Planning is preferred.

A minim um of four (4) years total credited experience.*

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in municipal administration and development of public policy are required.

Two (2) years of working knowledge of transit, or experience at a transit agency, are preferred.

Or any equivalent combination of training or experience.

*The amount of credit a candidate receives for prior years of experience is based on the relevancy of that experience to the required or preferred prerequisites of the job description. Experience is prorated based on hours worked. LRHR assigns and validates the "credited experience".

Salary offers will be determined by a candidate's education, training and relevant experience. A complete work history will be required for this purpose at the time of offer; any omitted work history will not be considered after hire. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above. For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet's salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.

Type of Position / Grade / FLSA

Grade 15, Exempt, Non-Union, Full-Time

Salary Range

• Minimum: $96,124.00
• Maximum: $144,186.00

Selection Process

1. Application Review
2. Panel Interviews
3. Professional Reference Check
4. Degree Verification

TriMet is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and sensitive to the needs of the diverse community we serve, including veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

If you are a qualified veteran and would like to apply for veterans' preference points, you will need to reflect your status on the application and attach supporting documentation at the time of application submission.

ADA Statement

As applied to the workplace, applicants and employees must be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions may include required job functions performed infrequently as well as production standards related to the quality and quantity of work. If a person with a disability could meet job qualifications with a reasonable accommodation, TriMet will work with the employee to accommodate the need. If TriMet's accommodation is effective in allowing the employee to perform the essential functions of the job, it need not be the employee's preferred accommodation.