Environmental Programs Manager (Transportation Planning Manager)

Salary : $188,262.36 - $244,770.76 Annually
Location : 3331 N First St, San Jose, CA 95134, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-CC-1523
Division: Engineering & Program Delivery
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 11/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description
VTA's Engineering and Program Delivery (EPD) Division is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Environmental Programs Manager (Transportation Planning Manager)!

What You'll be Dong:
Definition
Under general direction, the Environmental Programs Department Manager (Transportation Planning Manager - Environmental Resource Planning) plans, organizes, and directs professional staff involved in environmental analysis, compliance, and clearance for VTA programs and projects, and manages environmental resources on VTA properties.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This class has overall responsibility for managing the activities and functions of the Environmental Planning and Resources Department including compliance with local, State, and Federal environmental laws and regulations, Federal Congressional Acts, and Executive Orders; the preparation of environmental documents; the acquisition of permits; the management of mitigation programs; the supervision of VTA conservation mitigation properties, and coordination of the Development Review Program.

The Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will be an accomplished environmental planning and sustainability leader with demonstrated experience overseeing a broad portfolio of environmental planning and sustainability functions that support complex infrastructure initiatives across multiple transportation modes. The selected individual will bring exceptional organizational and communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to lead diverse activities within VTA's Environmental Programs Department in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will have recent, relevant experience managing CEQA and NEPA environmental documentation and review processes for a wide range of roadway, public transit and transit facilities projects. Upcoming and ongoing projects of particular interest include the BART Silicon Valley Phase II, zero emission bus infrastructure, wildlife crossings of State highway facilities, multimodal enhancements for roadways, and pricing systems on the State highway system.

Additional beneficial experience includes leading a public agency sustainability program, preparing and implementing agency-level sustainability and climate action plans and reports, and managing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit program. The ideal candidate will also have experience overseeing environmental mitigation sites and compliance with the Regional Water Quality Control Board's Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit for Non-Traditional Permittees.

The ideal candidate will be aligned with VTA's and the division's commitment to mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development. This includes working closely with the Division Chief and department managers to design and deliver creative, effective staff engagement activities and development initiatives.

Above all, the ideal candidate will be motivated by VTA's mission and demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing safe, accessible, and impactful transportation improvements for the residents of Santa Clara County.

Engineering and Program Delivery Division
The Engineering and Program Delivery (EPD) Division is responsible for delivering VTA's capital projects and managing a diverse portfolio of programs. Its capital project responsibilities span the full lifecycle, from conceptual planning through environmental documentation, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and closeout, for transit, transit facility, highway, roadway, and transportation technology projects. The division is comprised of a robust mix of agency staff and in-house consultant staff with the division led by a management team including the Environmental Programs Department Manager.

The division consists of five departments with staff located at VTA's headquarters campus and at two field offices that support construction activities. These departments are Transit Engineering & Construction (Transit), Technical Services (Tech Services), Environmental Programs (Env Programs), Toll Systems & Traffic Engineering (TSTE), and the Highway Program (Highways). In addition to the Env Programs department that is described in the Ideal Candidate Statement, the following are short descriptions of the four additional departments:

The Transit department leads the delivery of improvements and rehabilitation projects for VTA's transit systems and facilities working with VTA's Operations Division and other divisions, including work at the agency's three bus yards and the light rail maintenance yard. The department is currently managing construction of the $650 million light rail extension along Capitol Expressway as well as over 80 other capital projects.

The Tech Services department provides essential engineering and technical support functions, including project controls, environmental engineering, utility coordination, quality management, and mapping and surveying. These services support capital project delivery within the EPD Division and other divisions across the agency.

The TSTE department leads VTA's efforts related to traffic engineering and operations in coordination with local and regional partners. This work includes the deployment of transit signal priority for buses and light rail, as well as supporting a wide range of traffic engineering initiatives with partner agencies. The department also operates and manages the Silicon Valley Express Lanes Traffic Operations Center, which monitors and controls tolling systems on Santa Clara County freeways, and provides systems engineering for the development of express lanes projects.

The Highways department develops improvements on the State highway system in Santa Clara County, working with Caltrans in an oversight capacity and partnering with local agencies that sponsor some of the projects. A primary funding source is the $750 million Highway Interchanges Program from the 2016 Measure B sales tax. The department has about 20 projects in development at any given time and currently has five projects in construction supported by teams located at headquarters and two field offices. The project portfolio for the department has now expanded to include Caltrain grade separation, wildlife crossing, complete streets, safe routes to school and other projects not on the State highway system.

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

• Selects, supervises, trains, counsels, and disciplines staff;
• Hires consultants and directs and reviews their work as well as monitoring and managing contracts;
• Establishes standards and procedures for work unit activities;
• Develops, monitors, and manages unit budget and participates in budget related activities;
• Reviews and approves scope, cost and schedule for all sizes and types of environmental compliance;
• Reviews environmental legislation and NEPA and CEQA case law for possible impact on VTA programs and projects;
• Negotiates wildlife conservation measures with regulatory agencies;
• Identifies requirements, inventories potential acquisitions, and assists in negotiations and purchase of resource conservation properties;
• Responsible for oversight of the long-term management of the conservation properties consistent with regulatory requirements;
• Manages the environmental clearance for properties involved with VTA Joint Development - Transit Oriented Development Program;
• Serves as VTA Management Team representative in the development and implementation of regional and county-wide environmental initiatives including habitat conservation plans and programs;
• Represents VTA before elected officials, Governing Body Liaision Group meetings on habitat conservation planning;
• Represents VTA on statewide environmental regulation streamlining task force committee;
• Oversees the development and implementation of mitigation monitoring and programs for VTA capital projects including sensitive historical and cultural relocation activities;
• Assists VTA management in formulating policy relating to environmental regulatory compliance and other environmental matters;
• Reviews environmental impact reports for adherence to laws and regulations;
• Represents VTA before the Board of Directors, and other local, regional, State, and Federal agencies, boards, and commissions, and before citizens in public meetings and hearings;
• Attends and represents VTA at hearings, public meetings, and interagency meetings;
• Presents and explains VTA activities, plans, policies, and positions on issues;
• Advises legal counsel on environmental matters and settlement agreements, and may serve as an expert witness;
• Prepares a variety of correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other documents;
• Manages the review of public and private land development referrals;
• Manages the preparation of official VTA responses for all land development referrals;
• Performs other related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards
Training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in environmental studies, natural or physical sciences, planning, social sciences, or a related field and 5 years progressively responsible professional experience in administering a major environmental program including the analysis and preparation of NEPA and CEQA environmental documents. At least two years of this experience must be demonstrated project management experience (a Masters Degree in transportation planning, urban planning, business or public administration, or related field may be substituted for one year of the required five years of experience).
Supplemental Information

Knowledge of:

• Local, State, and Federal environmental laws and regulations and their implementation as they pertain to public development and transportation projects;
• Methods of environmental assessment and mitigation;
• Principles of biology, botany, zoology, and other natural sciences;
• Principles and techniques of program and personnel management, budget preparation, and management;
• Principles of supervision, training, and constructive discipline;
• Community and agency consultation methods and procedures;
• Principles of analysis used for air quality, traffic, noise, land use, visual and aesthetic, hazardous materials, and cultural resource studies;
• Principles of conservation land acquisition and management;
• Land development regulations and procedures;
• Legal and practical aspects of exaction, dedication, and fees as they relate to local government and the land use and the development process.

Ability to:

• Direct, supervise, train, develop, motivate, and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel;
• Prepare and control a budget;
• Deal effectively with a variety of government and community officials;
• Develop creative and practical solutions to complex and difficult problems;
• Manage the coordination of VTA's review of environmental documents and development applications;
• Analyze the impacts of development on the transportation system and transportation facilities;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Prepare and review comprehensive reports and correspondence and make presentations;
• Represent VTA and the Development and Congestion Management Division in meetings with other departments, local agencies, elected officials