Posting will close on July 7, 2017

Employer: The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Job Category:                       Principal

Experience Required:          8 to 10 years

Salary Range:                        $86,200 to $106,850

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) seeks to hire one full-time employee to join the agency’s Policy and Programming department.  The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for leading and managing the agency’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

CMAP is our region’s official comprehensive planning organization. The agency and its partners are developing ON TO 2050, a new comprehensive regional plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of life issues. For more information about CMAP visit www.cmap.illinois.gov .  For information regarding benefits visitwww.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers#benefits.

Position Description

This supervisory position leads and manages the TIP, including the staff that supports the TIP, related processes under state and federal laws and regulations and applicable CMAP committees.  The TIP is metropolitan Chicago’s agenda of surface transportation projects as required under federal transportation regulations. The TIP lists all federally funded projects and regionally significant, non-federally funded projects programmed for implementation in the next four years. The TIP is updated and amended regularly through the CMAP committee process.

The successful candidate will be expected to: be well versed in the required laws, regulations, and processes necessary to maintain an approved TIP; be familiar with the federal and state laws and regulations governing Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs); understand transportation conformity requirements; have a working knowledge of the technical activities that support TIP management and conformity analysis; directly manage staff and their performance; and manage a small number of projects, with support from a team of staff.

Overall, the position will have a high level of responsibility for the success of the TIP at CMAP, and will work collaboratively with other senior staff and agency leadership to manage and continually improve it.

This program requires some travel throughout the region.  Candidates must have the ability and willingness to work with communities across the region, and should value the diversity of communities that our region contains.  For more information on the TIP, please visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/programs-and-resources/tip.

Qualifications and Skills

Applicants must demonstrate that they have the knowledge, experience, and skills to manage the TIP and associated technical, regulatory and committee processes.  Experience with long-range regional planning and research and analysis, notably travel demand modeling, is a plus.

General qualifications and skills for the position include:

• Knowledge and experience working with state and federal laws and regulations that apply to transportation programming, including federal planning and air quality regulations, federal performance measure requirements, state oversight procedures, and federal and state transportation funding authorization, appropriation, and fund source laws.
• Knowledge of transportation programming practice in northeastern Illinois, including local, state and federal roles and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of active program management methods, and the ability to work with partners to effectively use the region’s federal funds.
• Ability to effectively promote regional performance-based programming while respecting and addressing local concerns.
• Demonstrated aptitude for effectively managing staff, diverse teams and complex projects, as well as working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and across departments.
• Demonstrated experience managing consultant contracts.
• Experience with database management and data analysis for purposes of managing staff with these skills.
• Experience working with elected officials, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, the general public, and other partners on planning and programming issues.
• Skills in public speaking, writing, facilitating, and other forms of public engagement.
• Excellent writing skills.

Positions at the Principal level have staff supervisory and leadership responsibilities. Candidates must have a demonstrated leadership capabilities and an aptitude for effectively managing staff and projects.

Education and/or Experience

An undergraduate degree in planning, policy, public administration, engineering, or a related discipline is required, and a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.  At least 8 years of experience is required.

Experience may be in a variety of relevant fields.  Employment with the government, or nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, or similar organizations is considered relevant for this position.

How to Apply

Please submit cover letter and resume via the web at: www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers.  Please refer to Job Code (PTP2017).

Posting End Date

This posting will close on July 7, 2017 at 5:00PM CDT.  All applications must be completed and submitted within that timeframe.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is an Equal Opportunity Employer.