Manager - Regional Transportation Planning

Houston-Galveston Area Council; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston-Galveston Area Council is seeking a Manager for the Metropolitan Planning Organization to lead regional transportation planning, guide multimodal initiatives, and manage a cross-functional team.

The role emphasizes budgeting, staff development, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with federal and state requirements, with a hybrid work model and region-wide impact.

Qualifications

• Experience with MPOs or equivalent transportation authorities.
• Ability to interpret laws and policies related to transportation planning.
• Experience preparing technical transportation documents, managing projects, and budgets.
• Strong project management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Experience developing statements of work and managing contracts.
• Ability to lead and manage staff in a hybrid work environment.
• Demonstrated leadership in fast-paced, dynamic settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, maintenance, and implementation of the region’s long-range RTP in line with federal/state planning requirements.
• Ensure planning processes meet federal performance management, environmental, equity, safety, and regional priorities.
• Direct consultant teams and internal staff in analyses, planning docs, public engagement, and project development.
• Develop and manage program budgets, scopes of work, schedules, grant requirements, and contracts.
• Oversee multimodal planning including roadway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, resilience, and new mobility.
• Engage regional stakeholders through subcommittees, stakeholder groups, and outreach.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate planning staff, promoting collaboration and excellence.

Skills

MPO knowledge

Policy interpretation

Project budgeting

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Contracts management

Hybrid leadership

Leadership experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in Urban Planning

Job description

About Houston-Galveston Area Council

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than 7 million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day.

We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being of our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive.

What will I be doing?

As a Manager for the Houston-Galveston Area Council Metropolitan Planning Organization, you will be solving regional transportation issues and leading a multimodal planning team for the fourth-largest Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the country.

• Lead development, maintenance, and implementation of the region’s long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) in compliance with federal and state transportation planning requirements, including financial planning and coordination with air quality conformity staff
• Ensure transportation planning processes align with federal performance management requirements, environmental considerations, equity objectives, safety goals, and regional priorities
• Direct consultant teams and internal staff in preparation of technical analyses, planning documents, public engagement activities, and project development efforts
• Develop and manage program budgets, scopes of work, schedules, grant requirements, and consultant contracts related to planning initiatives
• Manage multimodal transportation planning initiatives encompassing roadway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, resilience, and emerging mobility systems.
• Ensure engagement with regional stakeholders through subcommittees, project stakeholder groups, and other grassroots outreach efforts
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate planning staff while fostering collaboration, professional development, and operational excellence within the department

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of key functions of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and demonstrated experience with Metropolitan Planning Organizations or relevant organizations such as state Departments of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and policies related to transportation planning
• Experience preparing technical transportation documents, managing projects, and personnel budgets
• Exceptional project management, communication, and presentation skills
• Understand the needs of key transportation planning stakeholders, along with the ability to build consensus among diverse groups
• Experience developing statements of work, managing contracts, and other procurement-related activities
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a diverse staff in the hybrid work environment
• Demonstrated leadership experience collaborating and working with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Do you have…

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study
• 5 years of experience working with local government, nonprofit programs, school, or in job-related duties

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field of study
• 8 years of experience working in transportation planning and related project management
• Experience working with the Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Comprehensive understanding of transportation policies, best practices, and federal and statewide planning regulations

Salary Range

Salary Range- $125,000.00-$139,500.00

All employees of H-GAC are required to reside within the agency’s region of service to support our commitment to excellence in service of our region.

H-GAC is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or protected veteran status.