Senior Technical Planning Program Manager (DOT/GO/PINF #74633)

New Mexico Department of Justice; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Administrative leave

Job summary

New Mexico Department of Transportation seeks a Senior Technical Planning Program Manager to lead multimodal transportation planning, with emphasis on freight programs and federal compliance. The role represents NMDOT in NHFP initiatives, classification systems, and performance measurement, coordinating with internal teams and external partners.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in transportation planning, grant management, and GIS-driven analysis, with excellent verbal and written

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Transportation, Community, Urban or Regional Planning; Public Administration; Public Policy; Political Science; or Geography.
• Experience as a Planner, Program Administrator or Policy Analyst for a governmental entity.
• Proficiency with spatial data analysis using GIS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME and primary freight planner, engaging with freight-related committees and stakeholders.
• Manage the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) and related federal work products.
• Oversee the Functional Classification System and periodic target setting with FHWA and local agencies.
• Coordinate with consultants and stakeholders to meet federal requirements and deliver analyses.

Skills

Freight planning experience

Public speaking

Grants management

Multimodal transportation planning

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Transportation/Planning/Public Administration or related field

Tools

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Job description

Job Title Senior Technical Planning Program Manager (DOT/GO/PINF #74633)

For more Job Requirements & Classification Description:

This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) works to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for the traveling public in New Mexico. The Multimodal Planning and Programs Bureau is part of the Planning Division and is focused on providing multimodal transportation planning services for the Department, as well as managing several federal funding programs, and coordinating with governmental agencies around New Mexico.
As a valued new employee to NMDOT, you may be eligible to receive three (3) days of administrative leave upon your start date. This is applicable to external hires not within the State of New Mexico Government.

Why does the job exist?

• Managing the National Highway Freight Program (23 USC 167: NHFP), a program that includes an approximately $15 million per year Federal-Aid Highway Program funding source.
• Serving as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and the Department's primary freight planner, which requires continuous engagement on the topic, attending professional development opportunities, including conferences, and representing the Department in freight-related matters, including at relevant American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committees. This duty may also include assisting others in the department with freight-related inquiries, such as legislative analysis and committee presentations.
• Serving as the Department's Functional Classification Coordinator and oversee the federally mandated classification system of all roadways in NM, which relates to the roadway's characteristics and purpose and determines its funding eligibility.
• Managing the federally mandated performance measures (23 Code of Federal Regulations 460.501-613) that track transportation system reliability, including the Level of Travel Time Reliability (LOTTP) metrics and the Truck Travel Time Reliability Index (TTTR).

How does it get done?

• Managing the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP): To maintain the Department's eligibility for the funds, this position will complete all the federally mandated work products including the State Freight Plan, the Freight Investment Plan, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Parking Facilities Assessment, and the designation of the Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridors. This includes reviewing and satisfying all federal requirements, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders such as the Freight Advisory Committee, procuring and working with consultants to complete required analyses and work products, responding to freight related inquiries and sharing of relevant information, and engaging with national freight-related committees and groups to stay up to date on the state of the practices.
• Managing the Functional Classification System for the Department: Continual monitoring of data, tracking the Department's performance, and the bi-annual setting of targets for the mandated measures. This also includes coordination with the Department and Metropolitan Planning Organizations on the data and target setting, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on reporting the targets and progress. Additionally, this will include responding to District and Tribal/Local Public Agency (T/LPA) inquiries and applications for Functional Classification System changes. Working with consultants and spatial roadway data to analyze the overall system to ensure it matches the federal requirements as closely as possible and working with the affected parties to process any changes to the Functional Classification System, including the FHWA.
• Managing federally mandated performance measure processes for transportation system reliability: This will include the LOTTR metrics and the TTTR Index. Using external data sources to track performance and progress, coordinating with the Department and Metropolitan Planning Organizations on data sharing and target setting, and ultimately working with the FHWA to report on performance, progress and target setting on a bi-annual basis.

Who are the customers?

The position serves the traveling public of New Mexico, including the freight industry, NMDOT staff in the General Office and the Districts, the Metropolitan Planning Organizations and their member entities, and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations and their member entities.

Ideal Candidate

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Transportation, Community, Urban or Regional Planning; Public Administration; Public Policy; Political Science; or Geography.
• Work as a Planner, Program Administrator or Policy Analyst for a governmental entity.
• Proficiency with spatial data analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Multimodal transportation planning, including freight.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills, to include comfort with public speaking in front of diverse audiences such as the freight industry or legislative committees.
• Managing federal grants and familiarity with the requirements contained in 2 Code of Federal Regulations 200 (2 CFR 200).

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional level experience with a tactical impact directly related to the purpose of the position defined by the agency at the time of recruitment. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive a Defensive Driving Course certificate as a condition of continued employment.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a general office setting with occasional travel around New Mexico via a Department vehicle. The office setting includes significant use of visual/video display terminal (VDT), extensive computer and telephone usage with possible extended periods of sitting, and telephone and virtual meeting platforms. Some standing, bending and reaching may be required.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.