Salary : $161,928.00 - $210,496.00 Annually
Location : 3331 N First St, San Jose, CA 95134, CA
Job Type: Project
Job Number: 26-CK-7376
Division: Office of the General Manager
Department: BART Program Delivery
Opening Date: 07/14/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description
Help shape the future of transportation in Silicon Valley.

VTA is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to serve as the BART Silicon Valley Program Strategy Manager, a highly visible role supporting the transformative BART Silicon Valley Phase II Program, one of the largest transportation infrastructure investments in the region. Reporting within the Office of the Chief Megaprojects Delivery Officer, this position serves as a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership, providing critical support in advancing program priorities, executive initiatives, governance activities, and organizational alignment.

The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership, the Board of Directors, oversight bodies, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams to navigate complex challenges, facilitate collaboration, and drive strategic decision-making. This role requires a professional who can synthesize complex information, develop executive-level recommendations, manage competing priorities, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in one of the most significant transportation projects in California, influence major public infrastructure initiatives, support executive leadership, and help shape mobility solutions for generations to come.
Definition

Under general direction, the BART Silicon Valley Program Strategy Manager provides strategic, analytical, and organizational support for the BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSV II) Program. Incumbents are responsible for managing strategic initiatives and staff delivering those initiatives, supporting executive leadership and governing bodies, and ensuring alignment between program priorities and implementation.
Distinguishing Characteristics

This advanced professional-level class serves under direction of executive leadership and is responsible for managing strategic initiatives and program priorities for the BSV II Program. The position serves in a key advisory and coordination role, requiring the exercise of independent judgment and discretion in managing complex, high-visibility assignments involving multiple stakeholders. Incumbents regularly interact with executive management, the Board of Directors, and oversight bodies, and are responsible for synthesizing complex program information into clear and actionable recommendations. Work is characterized by a high degree of visibility, sensitivity, and impact on program outcomes.
This class is distinguished from other professional or analyst classifications in that incumbents are assigned responsibility for supporting executive-level decision-making, facilitating coordination across multiple functional areas, and ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and program delivery, and managing high-impact initiatives and the staff delivering them. This class is distinguished from higher-level managerial classifications in that the latter have full supervisory and program management authority and responsibility. Incumbents in this class may coordinate the work of others but do not have full supervisory authority.
Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional ready to participate fully as a member of the BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) leadership team. A successful Strategy Manager will be able to take in a wide range of data and information about the risks and challenges facing the program and work with peers to shape a strategy that enables the program to move forward successfully in key domains: funding, planning, design, construction, contracting, program management. They will understand foundational program assumptions clearly and be able to evaluate various paths forward quickly and effectively while maintaining high trust with peers. This will require the candidate to embrace a collaborative, project-first mentality and be comfortable working through challenging issues with peers under heightened pressure and tight deadlines.

The candidate will have strong written, verbal, and graphical communications skills. The candidate will have budgetary, schedule, and risk management analytical skills and experience using them within a large capital program like BSVII. Furthermore, the candidate will be capable of managing a small team of staff to produce analytical and communications deliverables to support setting and implementing the program strategy. Finally, the candidate will have the judgment, experience, and temperament to liaise with senior VTA and external staff to gather and verify information, negotiate key agreements, and ensure that cross-cutting strategic priorities are being implemented as planned.

Essential Job Functions
Typical Tasks

• Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of strategic initiatives and program management efforts for the BSV II Program;
• Provides strategic and organizational support to the Chief Megaprojects Delivery Officer, including coordinating activities, managing internal communications, and supporting program oversight;
• Serves as liaison to the Board of Directors, oversight committees, and executive management, including preparing materials and facilitating communication;
• Manages the flow of critical program information to and from executive leadership, including summarizing and synthesizing complex information to support decision-making;
• Prepares reports, presentations, memoranda, and other briefing materials for executive management, the Board of Directors, and stakeholders;
• Manages and coordinates work and facilitates communication across multiple BSV II functional areas, including External Affairs, Engineering, Construction, and Program Controls;
• Manages subordinate staff and consultants who implement key strategic initiatives;
• Analyzes complex programmatic and operational issues and develops strategic recommendations;
• Develops work plans, schedules, and estimates for strategic initiatives and program efforts;
• Advises executive leadership and key decision-makers on program status, risks, and recommended actions;
• Supports oversight of program delivery by ensuring alignment between executive direction and program implementation;
• Participates in the development and review of contracts, agreements, and requests for proposals to ensure alignment with program goals and requirements;
• Represents the BSV II Program on internal committees and at external meetings, events, and conferences;
• Facilitates coordination and communication with internal and external stakeholders;
• Provides timely communication regarding program status, issues, and recommended changes in strategy, approach, or delivery;

• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Employment Standard
Sufficient training, education, and public or private sector experience to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in public administration, business administration, planning, political science, or a related field, and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in strategic planning, program management, public administration, or a related field.
Supplemental Information
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of strategic planning and program coordination;
• Public agency governance and policy development processes;
• Methods of research, analysis, and evaluation of complex issues;
• Principles of stakeholder engagement and interdepartmental coordination;
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations;
• Methods and techniques of preparing reports and presentations;
• Principles and practices of supervision;

Ability to:

• Analyze complex programmatic and organizational issues and develop effective recommendations;
• Prepare clear, concise, and effective reports, presentations, and briefing materials;
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership, governing bodies, and stakeholders;
• Coordinate multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic and high-visibility environment;

• Exercise initiative and independent judgment;
• Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with VTA personnel, colleagues, opponents, and other business contacts;
• Provide professional advice and recommendations to executive leadership on complex program issues;

Working Environment/Conditions and Physical Demands

Work Environment and Physical Effort:

Good Conditions

Primarily Sedentary Work
Work Locations:

Office or similar indoor environment - Frequently
Exposures:

Minimal exposure to environmental factors

General Application Instructions

Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.

To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as "continuous," we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.

Personalized responses to Supplemental Questions that connect your past experiences to this specific role are the most effective. AI-generated content may lack the specificity required to address the key criteria outlined in the job description. While we encourage the use of AI as a tool to enhance your work, we want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. You may use AI to generate ideas, but please ensure your final responses are in your own voice and reflect your unique experience. Overreliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish your chances of success.

Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.

Communication & Contact Information
All updates regarding your application-including notices for testing and interviews-will be sent via email. B