Director of Planning, Programming, & Transportation Services

Sccrtc; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SCCRTC seeks a senior leader to oversee the Planning, Programming, and Transportation Services department, directing planning studies, project funding, and service delivery for transportation coordination in Santa Cruz.

The role leads legislative program development, grants administration, and compliance with federal, state, and regional requirements to secure funding. The position requires setting department goals, policies, and delivering timely guidance to the Executive Director.

Qualifications

• Leadership and management experience in public planning functions.
• Strong understanding of transportation planning, funding, and policy.

Responsibilities

• Assumes full management responsibility for all Planning, Programming, and Transportation Services department functions and activities.
• Serves as functional manager overseeing program and project manager work; prepares reports and recommendations on transportation-related planning studies and projects.
• Directs development and implementation of RTC's legislative program; researches grants and policies; drafts reports on legislation impact.
• Directs strategy and manages grant applications and administration from other agencies.
• Directs pass-through and competitive grant funding programs and interprets federal/state/regional rules on funding usage.

Job description

Description

Position is open until filled with a priority screening date of September 18, 2026

Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, provides administrative and functional direction and oversight for, and participates in the activities and functions of the Planning, Programming, and Transportation Services department; leads the production of the agency's planning studies, project funding activities and delivery of transportation services; prepares, manages, and conducts professional transportation planning, programming and service delivery work in the field and office for planning, land use and transportation coordination, allocation of funding, production of funding requests for all types of projects, and effective delivery of services to the community; leads the development and implementation of the legislative program; interprets and enforces various planning rules, codes, regulations, and guidelines; develops and implements department goals and objectives; develops and enforces policies, procedures, and standards; ensures that the agency meets all federal, state and regional planning and programming requirements to ensure that projects, programs and services secure funding needed for implementation; provides expert professional assistance and support to the Executive Director.

Requirements

• Assumes full management responsibility for all Planning, Programming, and Transportation Services department functions and activities.
• Serves as planning, programming, and transportation services functional manager overseeing and managing program and project manager work, including preparing reports, correspondence, and written recommendations concerning transportation-related planning studies and projects; research issues as requested.
• Directs the development and implementation of RTC's legislative program; research local, State, and Federal grant programs, legislative processes, policies, rules, and regulations related to transportation planning programs; drafts written reports regarding legislation impact on transportation programs, activities, and funds; interprets and advocates for transportation legislation consistent Commission established goals.
• Directs strategy and manages preparation of grant applications and administration of grants from other agencies for departmental assignments.
• Directs the pass-though and competitive grant funding programs operated by the RTC and interprets and provides direction on Federal State and regional rules and regulations regarding the use of funds and programmatic requirements.

Please review recruitment brochure for full details