Assistant Director, Sustainable Mobility & Operations presso Metropolitan Transportation Commission, CA
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, CA · San Francisco, Stati Uniti d'America · Hybrid
- Senior
- Ufficio in San Francisco
About the Department
THIS JOB POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL A QUALIFIED POOL OF APPLICANTS IS ESTABLISHED AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME
FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL OCCUR ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2025
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY
First round interviews tentatively scheduled to be held over two days on Monday, November 3, 2025, and Tuesday, November 4, 2025
A resume and cover letter are not required with your application, but highly encouraged.
Be ready to rethink your assumptions about the public sector. Dedicated and motivated colleagues? Beautiful, high amenity building for on-site work and collaboration? Flexible schedules and hybrid work options? Yes, yes, and yes!
ABOUT MTC
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is committed to being an equitable and inclusive workplace. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Sustainable Mobility and Operations (SUMO) Section was established in January 2025 and is tasked with advancing an integrated portfolio designed to improve the transportation system’s operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability while also helping customers use the multi-modal system more effectively.
This SUMO Unit oversees the development and implementation of transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction strategies in support of Plan Bay Area 2050, the Bay Area’s long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).
ABOUT THE ROLE
Under the general direction of the Section Director, the Assistant Director will be responsible for leading a team focused on researching, developing and implementing strategies and programs that contribute to the reduction of transportation-related GHG emissions and VMT in the region. These strategies and programs directly support GHG and VMT reduction and implementation of Plan Bay Area 2050, the Bay Area’s long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), and include expanding clean vehicle initiatives, expanding proven and targeted transportation demand management (TDM) initiatives, and working to enable a seamless mobility experience for Bay Area travelers. The team is also responsible for supporting the implementation of MTC’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy by overseeing the assessment of the Policy’s parking and station access and circulation requirements.
To deliver the work of the unit, the Assistant Director will manage a team of direct reports and staff and will work in close partnership internally with MTC leadership and staff from other SUMO units (Active Transportation and New Mobility) and MTC sections (Regional Network Management; Capital Delivery and Asset Management; Funding Policy and Programs; Regional Planning Program), as well as externally with a variety of state, county and local partners including, but not limited to, the California Air Resources Board, the Bay Area Air District, Caltrans, County Transportation Agencies, transit agencies and local jurisdictions.
As a member of the MTC management/leadership team, the Assistant Director is expected to initiate, implement, and carry to completion projects, initiatives and programs and represent MTC before a variety of groups, agencies, elected officials, organizations, the public and the media. The Assistant Director is expected to provide leadership by supporting, mentoring, and motivating staff; maintaining and developing relationships; and fostering cross-section collaboration and cooperation. New programs, projects, or initiatives may be assigned to the Assistant Director to be responsive and adaptive to the evolving regional landscape.
Position Duties
Under the general direction of the Section Director, the specific assignments and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Unit and Program Administration
- Provide overall leadership and oversight to develop and deliver policies, strategies and programs that reduce single passenger vehicle trips to less energy intensive and more system efficient modes; shift single passenger vehicle trips to active and shared modes; accelerate the electrification of single passenger vehicle trips; and reinforce transportation and land use connections through transportation policy and implementation.
- Lead the development of strategy and program design for the agency’s transportation demand management (TDM) portfolio, including targeted approaches to shift single occupancy vehicle trips to transit, shared modes, walking and biking.
- Lead VMT mitigation policy and project guidance and direction related to Senate Bill 743 and other relevant VMT reduction policies for internal and external project sponsors
- Oversee strategy development and program design for local agency technical assistance planning and capital grant programs related to mobility hubs, parking management, TOC Policy station area access and circulation, transportation electrification, and other areas of need that may arise from Plan Bay Area updates, TOC Policy implementation and agency TDM strategy.
- In coordination with MTC’s Regional Planning Program, oversee and evaluate local jurisdiction submittals to comply with MTC TOC Policy parking and access and circulation requirements. Facilitate compliance through the administration of parking management and access and circulation technical assistance planning grants.
- Provide leadership and direction to the development and implementation of a strategic approach to MTC’s role in transportation electrification in the region, with a goal of accelerating electric vehicle, charging infrastructure, and electric mobility implementation.
- Lead and oversee the technical analysis and development of off-model GHG reduction strategies associated with Plan Bay Area 2060, the upcoming major update to Plan Bay Area (anticipated adoption in 2030).
- Provide support to the Section Director to effectively communicate the scale, scope, and impact of the Unit’s work including, but not limited to, assistance with document preparation, presentations, talking points, etc.
- Support development of and reporting on relevant Work Elements within the agency’s Overall Work Plan (OWP).
- Attend, participate, and represent the SUMO section at interdepartmental, interagency, and professional meetings, as needed.
- Oversee preparation and presentation of informational reports and action items to various committees and boards, as needed.
Strategic Management and Organizational Leadership
- Develop goals, milestones, and recommendations that strategically enhance development, delivery, and operation of the Unit's programs and projects in alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values, as well as the MTC/ABAG Equity Platform.
- Collaborate with the Section Director to leverage the adopted MTC/ABAG Strategic Framework to develop strategic and outcomes-oriented work plans for the Unit.
- Coordinate staff assignments based on the Unit's work plan to ensure effective use of available resources and develop and prioritize work tasks accordingly.
- Work in collaboration with Assistant Directors and Directors throughout the agency, demonstrating flexibility in developing cohesive and comprehensive policy recommendations, to advance near- and long-term agency priorities.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration both individually and with direct reports throughout the agency.
Staff Supervision and Mentorship
- Supervise and mentor staff; monitor overall work assignments and work flow within the unit.
- Provide leadership and clear direction to assigned staff; instruct staff regarding work procedures, review and evaluate work performance, and identify growth and training opportunities.
- Ensure staff assignments are resourced properly to ensure successful delivery of projects and programs; identify shortfalls and gaps in resources and recommend solutions.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment that encourages professional development and continuous improvement.
Minimum Qualifications
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES
The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Understanding of existing and emerging transportation-related GHG and VMT reduction research, strategies, policies and programs; understanding of federal and state requirements on the metropolitan scale related to GHG and VMT reduction.
- Understanding of the Bay Area transportation landscape related to parking management, mobility hubs, corridor-level transportation demand management, and transportation electrification – e.g. relevant policies, programs, delivery agencies.
- Understanding of key relationships and organizational distinctions between transportation related federal, state, regional, county, and local public agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations working in the Bay Area.
- Understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to delivering transportation and land use policies, programs and projects at the local level.
- Understanding of project management techniques to ensure timely delivery of multiple concurrent projects, including contract development and management, risk management, change control, and schedule compliance.
- Understanding of budget and financial planning and monitoring.
- Understanding of the principles and practices for administering local, regional, and federal funding.
- Understanding of the core principles of equity necessary to advance and implement MTC/ABAG’s Equity Platform.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Project, Asana, and/or other scheduling software.
Skills and Abilities
- Develop and implement policies and programs.
- Engage, establish and maintain relationships with staff from a variety of MTC partners and stakeholders such as federal, state, regional, county and local public agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations working in the Bay Area.
- Manage employee performance and mentor staff.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a variety of stakeholders.
- Synthesize complex technical topics into compelling, relevant and understandable reports and presentations.
- Manage complex projects, budgets, and work planning in line with MTC/ABAG and Mobility Division processes.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
An appropriate combination of education and experience that has provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is:
Education: A Master's degree in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as transportation planning, project management, public finance, transportation engineering, economics, business or public administration. Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with their application.
Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible experience in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment.
A Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline and four years of relevant experience is an alternative qualification.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as urban and regional planning, transportation planning, project management, transportation engineering, environmental science, economics, business or public administration is preferred. Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with their application.
Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment.
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
Other Qualifications
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of a background check, professional references and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.
DISABILITY
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
If you need technical assistance with your on-line application, please contact Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627, available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PST) Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
