Director of Planning

Overview

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Streets for Infrastructure & Design or their designee, the Director of Planning leads a team of transportation planners and analysts to serve as the data analysis and plan development arm of the Streets Cabinet. In this capacity, the Director of Planning provides a strategic, data-informed, and community-supported vision to guide work executed by other Streets Cabinet departments, including a wide range of capital projects, operational functions, and policy-making. The Director of Planning will oversee a division of several teams focused on information, data, and research; neighborhood planning; and transportation systems planning.

The Streets Cabinet is seeking an experienced planning professional who is excited to lead a diverse team of planners and analysts in the service of building and maintaining safe and accessible streets. As a transportation expert, the Director of Planning should show interest in transportation’s interface with urban design, the developed built environment, equitable quality of life outcomes, and the public realm. Ideal candidates will have an outstanding track record of leading multidisciplinary teams to proven results, collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders towards consensus, and championing current best practices in transportation policy, data analysis, planning, and evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership necessary to develop and execute a strategic, data-driven, and community-supported transportation work plan, including resource allocation and prioritization of transportation planning and analysis work.
• Manages and supervises a team of 3 or more direct-report group managers, including hiring, setting work plans, budgeting, staff assignment, professional growth, and retention.
• With an eye toward both internal data needs and data-driven storytelling, oversees systematic collection, storage, and analysis of data relative to transportation, including asset conditions, walking, biking, transit, traffic, and curbside use.
• Prioritizes and directs transportation research conducted both in-house and by outside consultants to support cross-Cabinet needs.
• Coordinates intake, assessment, and documentation of transportation-related requests and ideas from all sources to maintain a neighborhood-based expertise and assessment of on-the-ground needs.
• In close coordination with other City Cabinets, including Planning, Environment, Energy, & Open Space, and Community Engagement, oversees the development of neighborhood transportation action plans, including developing and prioritizing recommendations for future capital and state-of-good-repair work.
• Manages and updates the development of strategic transportation networks and systems-level plans, including bike networks, transit networks, bikeshare systems, traffic circulation and management, freight and logistics, etc.
• Works in close collaboration with other City departments, local and state agencies, transportation operators, and other stakeholders to exchange information and incorporate regional planning needs into the Streets Cabinet work plan.
• As directed, serves as and designates City of Boston representation on local and regional boards and commissions, including the Board of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization.
• Stays current on best and emerging practices and current industry standards.
• Serves as a member of the Streets Cabinet Project Review Committee to help guide and oversee capital project delivery in alignment with planning goals.
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or technical experience in urban and regional planning, land use planning, transportation engineering, and/or planning, the duties of which included oversight of public transportation projects with a variety of stakeholders, and of which at least five (5) years must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• A bachelor's degree in urban planning, regional planning, engineering, transportation, or a related field is preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience. A master's degree in the above-mentioned field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience. Supervisory experience may not be substituted.
• Candidates with a Master's Degree are strongly preferred.
• Experience with Boston Complete Streets Guidelines, and working knowledge of MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) and relevant AASHTO ( American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) and FHWA guidelines strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record in leading a multidisciplinary team to successfully complete transportation data, policy, and planning projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of multimodal transportation policies and projects, from planning through to implementation and evaluation.
• Knowledge of how to manage, implement, and evaluate a diverse set of programs with an eye toward data collection and continued improvement.
• Familiarity with city or local government operations and the ability to build relationships across departments and levels of government.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports; direct and conduct research; communicate effectively orally, graphically, and in writing; and act in a professional manner with co-workers, outside agencies, and members of the public.
• Proficiency in modern productivity and collaboration tools.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

Boston Residency Required

Terms: 

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non/Union MM2-12Hours per week: 35