Environmental Programs Manager (Transportation Planning Manager)

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority seeks an Environmental Programs Manager to lead environmental planning and compliance for transit and roadway projects. The role requires CEQA/NEPA mastery, staff supervision, and program-wide coordination across multiple divisions.

Ideal candidates bring experience managing complex environmental portfolios, sustainability initiatives, and interagency collaboration to advance safe, accessible transportation in Santa Clara County.

Qualifications

• Must have graduation in a relevant field and 5 years of progressively responsible environmental program experience.
• Experience with CEQA and NEPA processes for transportation projects is required.
• Ability to manage a diverse staff and multiple environmental initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct professional staff in environmental analysis, compliance, and clearance for VTA programs and projects.
• Oversee environmental documentation, mitigation programs, and regulatory permits.
• Lead and mentor Environmental Programs Department staff and coordinate with other divisions.
• Represent VTA in environmental regulatory matters and interagency coordination.

Skills

Supervision and leadership

Budgeting and resource planning

Communication and public engagement

Environmental regulatory compliance

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, natural or physical sciences, planning, social sciences, or a related field

Masters degree or equivalent in transportation planning, urban planning, business, or public administration may substitute for one year of experience

Job description

VTA's Engineering and Program Delivery (EPD) Division is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Environmental Programs Manager (Transportation Planning Manager)!

What You'll be Dong:

Definition

Under general direction, the Environmental Programs Department Manager (Transportation Planning Manager - Environmental Resource Planning) plans, organizes, and directs professional staff involved in environmental analysis, compliance, and clearance for VTA programs and projects, and manages environmental resources on VTA properties.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This class has overall responsibility for managing the activities and functions of the Environmental Planning and Resources Department including compliance with local, State, and Federal environmental laws and regulations, Federal Congressional Acts, and Executive Orders; the preparation of environmental documents; the acquisition of permits; the management of mitigation programs; the supervision of VTA conservation mitigation properties, and coordination of the Development Review Program.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished environmental planning and sustainability leader with demonstrated experience overseeing a broad portfolio of environmental planning and sustainability functions that support complex infrastructure initiatives across multiple transportation modes. The selected individual will bring exceptional organizational and communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to lead diverse activities within VTA’s Environmental Programs Department in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will have recent, relevant experience managing CEQA and NEPA environmental documentation and review processes for a wide range of roadway, public transit and transit facilities projects. Upcoming and ongoing projects of particular interest include the BART Silicon Valley Phase II, zero emission bus infrastructure, wildlife crossings of State highway facilities, multimodal enhancements for roadways, and pricing systems on the State highway system.

Additional beneficial experience includes leading a public agency sustainability program, preparing and implementing agency-level sustainability and climate action plans and reports, and managing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit program. The ideal candidate will also have experience overseeing environmental mitigation sites and compliance with the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit for Non-Traditional Permittees.

The ideal candidate will be aligned with VTA’s and the division’s commitment to mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development. This includes working closely with the Division Chief and department managers to design and deliver creative, effective staff engagement activities and development initiatives.

Above all, the ideal candidate will be motivated by VTA’s mission and demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing safe, accessible, and impactful transportation improvements for the residents of Santa Clara County.

Engineering and Program Delivery Division

The Engineering and Program Delivery (EPD) Division is responsible for delivering VTA’s capital projects and managing a diverse portfolio of programs. Its capital project responsibilities span the full lifecycle, from conceptual planning through environmental documentation, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and closeout, for transit, transit facility, highway, roadway, and transportation technology projects. The division is comprised of a robust mix of agency staff and in-house consultant staff with the division led by a management team including the Environmental Programs Department Manager.

The division consists of five departments with staff located at VTA’s headquarters campus and at two field offices that support construction activities. These departments are Transit Engineering & Construction (Transit), Technical Services (Tech Services), Environmental Programs (Env Programs), Toll Systems & Traffic Engineering (TSTE), and the Highway Program (Highways). In addition to the Env Programs department that is described in the Ideal Candidate Statement, the following are short descriptions of the four additional departments:

The Transit department leads the delivery of improvements and rehabilitation projects for VTA’s transit systems and facilities working with VTA’s Operations Division and other divisions, including work at the agency’s three bus yards and the light rail maintenance yard. The department is currently managing construction of the $650 million light rail extension along Capitol Expressway as well as over 80 other capital projects.

The Tech Services department provides essential engineering and technical support functions, including project controls, environmental engineering, utility coordination, quality management, and mapping and surveying. These services support capital project delivery within the EPD Division and other divisions across the agency.

The TSTE department leads VTA’s efforts related to traffic engineering and operations in coordination with local and regional partners. This work includes the deployment of transit signal priority for buses and light rail, as well as supporting a wide range of traffic engineering initiatives with partner agencies. The department also operates and manages the Silicon Valley Express Lanes Traffic Operations Center, which monitors and controls tolling systems on Santa Clara County freeways, and provides systems engineering for the development of express lanes projects.

The Highways department develops improvements on the State highway system in Santa Clara County, working with Caltrans in an oversight capacity and partnering with local agencies that sponsor some of the projects. A primary funding source is the $750 million Highway Interchanges Program from the 2016 Measure B sales tax. The department has about 20 projects in development at any given time and currently has five projects in construction supported by teams located at headquarters and two field offices. The project portfolio for the department has now expanded to include Caltrain grade separation, wildlife crossing, complete streets, safe routes to school and other projects not on the State highway system.

About VTA

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County’s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation‑related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit‑oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community‑focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.

VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.

As the county’s congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit oriented development.

VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.

As we continue to implement our VTA Forward Plan, we aim to strengthen and increase our workforce to take on future opportunities and challenges by elevating our people and our services.

For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForward

Family‑Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)

The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.

Family‑friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family‑friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.

Typical Tasks

• Selects, supervises, trains, counsels, and disciplines staff;
• Hires consultants and directs and reviews their work as well as monitoring and managing contracts;
• Establishes standards and procedures for work unit activities;
• Develops, monitors, and manages unit budget and participates in budget related activities;
• Reviews and approves scope, cost and schedule for all sizes and types of environmental compliance;
• Reviews environmental legislation and NEPA and CEQA case law for possible impact on VTA programs and projects;
• Negotiates wildlife conservation measures with regulatory agencies;
• Identifies requirements, inventories potential acquisitions, and assists in negotiations and purchase of resource conservation properties;
• Responsible for oversight of the long‑term management of the conservation properties consistent with regulatory requirements;
• Manages the environmental clearance for properties involved with VTA Joint Development – Transit Oriented Development Program;
• Serves as VTA Management Team representative in the development and implementation of regional and county‑wide environmental initiatives including habitat conservation plans and programs;
• Represents VTA before elected officials, Governing Body Liaison Group meetings on habitat conservation planning;
• Represents VTA on statewide environmental regulation streamlining task force committee;
• Oversees the development and implementation of mitigation monitoring and programs for VTA capital projects including sensitive historical and cultural relocation activities;
• Assists VTA management in formulating policy relating to environmental regulatory compliance and other environmental matters;
• Reviews environmental impact reports for adherence to laws and regulations;
• Represents VTA before the Board of Directors, and other local, regional, State, and Federal agencies, boards, and commissions, and before citizens in public meetings and hearings;
• Attends and represents VTA at hearings, public meetings, and interagency meetings;
• Presents and explains VTA activities, plans, policies, and positions on issues;
• Advises legal counsel on environmental matters and settlement agreements, and may serve as an expert witness;
• Prepares a variety of correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other documents;
• Manages the review of public and private land development referrals;
• Manages the preparation of official VTA responses for all land development referrals;
• Performs other related work as required.

Employment Standards

Training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in environmental studies, natural or physical sciences, planning, social sciences, or a related field and 5 years progressively responsible professional experience in administering a major environmental program including the analysis and preparation of NEPA and CEQA environmental documents. At least two years of this experience must be demonstrated project management experience (a Masters Degree in transportation planning, urban planning, business or public administration, or related field may be substituted for one year of the required five years of experience).

Knowledge of:

• Local, State, and Federal environmental laws and regulations and their implementation as they pertain to public development and transportation projects;
• Methods of environmental assessment and mitigation;
• Principles of biology, botany, zoology, and other natural sciences;
• Principles and techniques of program and personnel management, budget preparation, and management;
• Principles of supervision, training, and constructive discipline;
• Community and agency consultation methods and procedures;
• Principles of analysis used for air quality, traffic, noise, land use, visual and aesthetic, hazardous materials, and cultural resource studies;
• Principles of conservation land acquisition and management;
• Land development regulations and procedures;
• Legal and practical aspects of exaction, dedication, and fees as they relate to local government and the land use and the development process.

Ability to:

• Direct, supervise, train, develop, motivate, and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel;
• Prepare and control a budget;
• Deal effectively with a variety of government and community officials;
• Develop creative and practical solutions to complex and difficult problems;
• Manage the coordination of VTA's review of environmental documents and development applications;
• Analyze the impacts of development on the transportation system and transportation facilities;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Prepare and review comprehensive reports and correspondence and make presentations;
• Represent VTA and the Development and Congestion Management Division in meetings with other departments, local agencies, elected officials, consultants, vendors, and the public;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Conditions of Employment

Final candidates must successfully complete a Livescan background check, reference checks, verification of education or certifications, and a criminal history review before appointment.

For safety‑sensitive positions, VTA requires all safety‑sensitive positions to have a 6‑month DOT physical clearance. Obtained at the time of preboarding from a VTA‑contracted Concentra Location.

Eligibility List

The established Eligible List from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur. Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

VTA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment and examination process. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at [phone] or email [e-mail] at least five business days before the test.

Veterans’ Preference Program

VTA welcomes and encourages the employment of veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Qualified veterans may be eligible to receive additional veterans’ preference credit in the selection process for this recruitment.

To be considered for Veterans’ Preference credit, please attach a PDF copy of your DD Form 214 (Service Copy 2) or other official discharge documentation showing your enlistment and discharge dates and character of service (i.e., type of discharge) in the Attachments section of your application. Applicants requesting preference based on a service-connected disability, please submit Standard Form 15 (SF-15) along with any required supporting documentation.

Veterans’ Preference credit will only be applied after the required documentation has been received and eligibility has been verified.

Equal Employment Opportunity

VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national, origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.