Department Manager - Transit Planning

American Public Transit Association; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to enhancing transportation in Orange County. As the Transit Planning Department Manager, you will oversee essential service planning and regional rail functions, ensuring compliance with regulations and optimizing bus services. This role requires strong leadership and collaboration with various stakeholders to develop and implement strategic plans. With a focus on safety and accountability, you will play a key role in shaping a sustainable transportation future for a diverse community. Embrace the opportunity to make a significant impact in a top-rated workplace.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Vacation

Flexible Spending Accounts

Retirement Plan

Educational Reimbursement

Free Transportation Passes

Wellness Programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 8+ years of experience required.
• Strong understanding of transportation and transit planning laws.

Responsibilities

• Manage Transit Planning Department and oversee service planning functions.
• Prepare budgets and reports, and communicate with stakeholders.

Skills

Transportation Planning

Budget Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Policy Development

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration

Bachelor’s degree in Economics

Job description

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 Transit Planning Department. Under minimal supervision, the Transit Planning Department Manager oversees the Service Planning and Regional Rail Planning functions. The Service Planning responsibilities include developing plans and programs to optimize OC Bus service, ensuring service compliance with local, state, and federal mandates, coordinating bus service changes with Operations and peer transit agencies, providing estimated annual Revenue Vehicle Hours to inform the fiscal year budget development process, and directing the work of technical consultants. The Regional Rail Planning responsibilities entail overseeing and conducting regional rail planning studies, including conducting assessments, feasibility studies, and conceptual engineering studies. Oversees and prepares scopes of work for contract documents for advertisement as well as develops funding and budget requests for Board of Directors consideration to support the regional rail planning effort.

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$162,784.00 – Mid $195,341.00 – Max$227,897.00 annually. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

The application deadline for this position is Thursday, May 22, 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, planning, and program support to executive management and other divisions.
• Understands applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing transportation and transit 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 and transit agencies, local agencies, 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 Metrolink, Amtrak, Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor, North County Transit District (NCTD), California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), and others.
• Represents and collaborates internally and externally with stakeholders across the region to deliver optimized OC Bus and rail service as well as improving service reliability.
• Collaborates with other managers and staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Oversees the preparation of rail and transit studies.

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 issues. Oversees the preparation of Board reports by professional staff.
• Documents service planning 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 Transit Planning: manages the work of professional staff responsible for planning and preparing new and modified bus transit service, schedules, and related reports and materials; oversees transit studies such as feasibility studies, corridor analysis, and service enhancements; coordinates closely with Bus Operations and Scheduling and the Finance and Administration Division; implements service changes, currently at four per calendar year.
• Manages Regional Rail Planning: manages the work of professional staff responsible for regional rail planning efforts including complex regional rail strategic plans. Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders such as Metrolink, Amtrak, LOSSAN, NCTD, CHSRA and others.

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 five planners/analysts, providing guidance on project development and service 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 Transit and Regional Rail Planning professional staff.

Qualifications:

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public or Business Administration, Economics, Financial Management, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field with a minimum of eight years of experience related to the duties and responsibilities of this position is required.

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.