EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GBNRTC

Overview

Title: Executive Director / Director, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) – Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC)

WORK OBJECTIVE

As the executive staff position for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Director is responsible for overall program management, including the administrative functions of the MPO work program and direct supervision of professionals in transportation planning tasks. The role covers a wide array of transportation tasks within the annual work program, including public involvement, preparation of transportation improvement programs (TIP), Long Range Transportation Plans (LRTP), and air quality efforts within the urban area. The Director must implement strategies that link transportation investments to strengthening underserved communities, manage planning initiatives with staff and consultants, and supervise planning activities. The MPO operates a comprehensive suite of travel demand and advanced simulation models; the Director should be competent in utilizing these tools. The Director must communicate effectively with internal staff, regional partners, and external stakeholders, and ensure compliance with federal and state requirements for MPO certification to maintain eligibility for federal funds. The role requires independent thinking, creativity, initiative, and strong interpersonal and consensus-building skills. The duties of this position may include, but are not limited to:

• Participating actively with Federal, State, and local government officials, GBNRTC members and subcommittees, stakeholders, citizen advisory groups, advocacy groups, and the public to communicate policies, increase MPO effectiveness, and build consensus in transportation policy development and program implementation.
• Collaborating with partners to identify, mature, and advance projects to deliver outcomes of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2050.
• Identifying funding and collaboration opportunities to strengthen implementation of the Transportation Improvement Program and agency operations.
• Fully integrating the transportation decision process with elements of One Region Forward – A Plan for Sustainable Development.
• Supporting development of advanced technology deployments in the region in partnership with the Transportation Management Center.
• Cooperating with Canadian officials to integrate plans and strengthen strategic partnerships.
• Preparing and administering planning project work designs and refining methodologies for planning studies and evaluating alternative programs.
• Supervising MPO staff, building and managing teams, and recruiting and training staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

GBNRTC seeks an excellent communicator and relationship-builder/manager who fosters collaboration with MPO members as well as local, regional, state, and federal stakeholders. The Director should:

• Be visionary, understand the region, and embrace rapidly changing technology.
• Address transportation needs of underserved communities within the context of broad community development.
• Provide strong leadership, value staff input, support professional development, and promote an open culture of trust and accountability.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the Board, elected officials, local governments, and operational partners.
• Provide strategic leadership that elevates the regional perspective while supporting local initiatives.
• Build mutual trust between local, state, and federal agencies and strengthen relationships with community, civic, and business organizations.

This is a CEO-level management position with full responsibility for all MPO operations. The Director will provide visionary leadership for long- and short-range planning of multi-modal transportation systems and services, manage the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and the budget with multiple fund sources, and lead a highly skilled staff. Major transportation projects in planning include transit enhancements, transit-oriented development, highway reconfigurations, multimodal arterials, and micromobility deployments. The Director will prioritize major projects and oversee their progression through the project development process, with knowledge of Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL), project development phases, and NEPA environmental review.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, regional planning officials, stakeholder groups, the media, and the public.
• Understanding of the relationship between transportation and land use, social, economic, and environmental determinants and effects.
• Knowledge of transportation planning principles, practices, and theory.
• Strong managerial skills to develop and direct planning studies.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis.
• Ability to develop clear and concise oral and written reports, communicate effectively, and build consensus.
• Knowledge of grant applications, administration, and budgeting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor’s degree and seven years of progressively responsible management experience in the following fields are required:

• Transportation planning; urban or regional planning with emphasis in transportation; public administration; economics; civil engineering with emphasis in transportation; transportation engineering.

An advanced degree in related fields, professional certifications such as AICP, PE, or PMP, and experience in transportation studies or analyses leading to the development or evaluation of transportation system plans; corridor or sub-area plans; policy recommendations including transportation legislation, financing, or regulation; project and program funding strategies; system management plans; and demonstrated experience in public transit programs and projects is preferred.

NOTE

The Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC) is the MPO for the Buffalo-Niagara Urbanized Area, including Erie and Niagara counties. The region has a population of about 1.2 million and is a border region with international importance for trade and tourism with Canada. The MPO maintains cooperative relationships with local governments, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Thruway Authority, and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and works with the binational Transportation Management Center (NITTEC) to integrate planning and operations. The MPO is well funded and staff are experienced.

END NOTE

Note: This section originally contained duplicate content; the refined description consolidates essential information and excludes redundant boilerplate. (Note: strict formatting guidelines applied; external application instructions removed.)

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