Government Affairs Manager chez Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

About the Department

Come join VTA’s Government Affairs team as we shape the future of transportation policy – where impactful leadership meets transportation innovation! This role is pivotal in building the future of our regional transportation framework.  Apply today!

What You'll Be Doing

Under the general administrative direction of the Chief of Staff and the General Manager, the Government Affairs Manager serves as the VTA policy advocate and liaison with regional Joint Powers Boards, other regional transit operators, rail advocacy groups and private and public sector interest groups on national and regional rail transit issues; may serve as senior staff liaison to the special committees appointed by the Board or the General Manager; manages and provides senior staff support to members of the Board of Directors, other local elected officials and their staff on regional and national issues; and fully executes special projects, which often include sensitive ramifications, as directed by the Chief of Staff and General Manager.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This management position routinely provides special research and/or assistance to the General Manager on matters relating to regional and national organizations which impact VTA; develops policy recommendations; authors policy text and interagency agreements; evaluates plans and programs of other agencies; and serves as senior VTA liaison to designated organizations.

• Policy and Advocacy Expertise - Extensive experience in transportation policy, program analysis, and intergovernmental advocacy, ideally in a large transit agency. Skilled in evaluating complex policies and crafting strategic responses.
• Legislative & Interagency Relations - Strong understanding of Regional Transit Transportation Agency (e.g., Caltrain, MTC, Capitol Corridor) and interagency coordination. Proven ability to collaborate with elected officials, board members, and senior government staff.
• Strategic & Political Acumen - Adept at anticipating policy and political challenges and leading strategic, organization-wide responses. Politically savvy with strong diplomatic skills.
• Leadership & Team Management - Experienced in supervising multidisciplinary teams, providing coaching, evaluations, and development. Effective at driving alignment with executive priorities.
• Communication & Presentation - Excellent writer and speaker, with experience drafting policy briefs and delivering presentations to boards, elected officials, and public forums.
• Project & Committee Leadership - Skilled in leading cross-functional groups and advancing strategic initiatives through interagency committees and working groups.

Position Duties

Typical Tasks

• Regularly represents VTA and the General Manager’s office at internal and external meetings;
• Develops policy in accordance with the direction of the General Manager and Board of Directors particularly for the development and revision of interagency funding, governance and administrative agreements;
• Analyzes and evaluates complex policy issues and proposes and develops policy strategies and recommendations for the General Manager and Board of Directors;
• Serves as senior staff liaison to Board members who represent VTA on or at other organizations including but not limited to Caltrain and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Boards.   Provides regular briefings, policy and strategy analysis, reports and recommendations;
• Maintains contacts with representatives of federal, state and local governments to identify legislation that may impact VTA;
• Manages VTA relations with and serves as senior policy liaison with selected regional organizations including Caltrain and Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Boards and staff;
• Manages relations and serves as the primary VTA senior policy liaison with San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission on all mutual interest issues related to Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) commuter rail service;
• Manages and serves as the senior staff liaison and support for ongoing activities of special committees appointed by the Board or General Manager including monitoring, coordinating, evaluating and preparing reports regarding implementation of the Committee’s recommendations; conducting reviews, research, analysis and developing policy recommendations regarding the Committee’s findings and recommendations for Board members and General Manager.  May serve as liaison with local city council members and their staff on issues related to the Committee’s findings and recommendations;
• Maintains contacts and relationships with policy board and senior/executive staff representatives of national, regional and local governments to identify and evaluate issues, plans or projects that may impact VTA;
• Regularly reports to the General Manager and Chief of Staff on pending developments and develops recommendations for action or response;
• Participates in the selection, supervision, training, motivating, assigning of work, evaluation, counseling, and discipline of staff;
• Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary;
• Provides, supervises, coordinates and manages staff support for Board members on interdepartmental issues;
• Coordinates strategies with other interested parties and advocacy groups such as cities, other transit districts and regional agencies;
• Works with VTA staff in the development of policy strategies that have a direct effect on other transit agencies and cities in the county;
• Serves on VTA Board member/senior staff team that participates in interagency annual meetings with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C.;
• Chairs interdepartmental staff group and conducts monthly meetings to develop agency policy and strategy in relations with regional transit agencies;
• Co-chairs inter-agency staff group of VTA and Caltrain staff to coordinate interagency activities related to major capital projects, evaluate issues and seek solutions;
• Serves as VTA designated liaison on two interagency senior staff groups to coordinate efforts, advocate for the organization and implement VTA objectives;
• Establishes and maintains relationships with Board members and their staffs;
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards

Sufficient education and increasingly responsible administrative and supervisory experience in transportation policy and program advocacy and analysis that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required skills, knowledge, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to a four year degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, urban planning, political science, or a related field and extensive increasingly responsible experience in transportation policy and program analysis and advocacy, intergovernmental relations, or a similar capacity.  Attainment of experience in a large public transportation organization or other agency involved in transportation issues is required.

Other Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and trends of public administration and intergovernmental relations;
• Transportation policies, planning, governmental institutional framework, funding processes, services, functions, legislative issues, and other activities;
• Public administration and planning analysis techniques at the program and political level;
• Principles of report writing and presentation;
• State, federal, and local governing laws and processes;
• Principles and practices of supervision, organization, and personnel management.

Ability to:

• Analyze and interpret difficult policy, program and planning issues and ensure accurate presentation;
• Speak effectively before governmental and other public bodies;
• Prepare clear and concise reports;
• Direct and evaluate policy and program efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of the Board;
• Investigate, analyze, evaluate, and recommend solutions to complex policy, intergovernmental relations, budgetary, and administrative problems;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing;
• Take initiative, reason logically and be creative in developing and introducing new ideas;
• Define problem areas and evaluate, recommend and implement alternative solutions to complex issues and problems;
• Deal effectively with a wide variety of community and government officials;
• Select, supervise, train, motivate, assign, evaluate, counsel and discipline staff;
• Prepare and control a budget.