Salary : $192,816.00 - $250,640.00 Annually
Location : 3331 N First St, San Jose, CA 95134, CA
Job Type: Project
Job Number: 26-CK-7076
Division: Office of the General Manager
Department: BART Program Delivery
Opening Date: 07/02/2026
Closing Date: 7/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description
VTA is seeking an experienced Planning & Engagement Manager to lead stakeholder engagement efforts supporting the BART Silicon Valley Program. This position plays a critical leadership role in advancing major capital projects by building strong partnerships with local stakeholders, public agencies, and elected officials.

The successful candidate will oversee multidisciplinary engagement initiatives, supervise staff and consultants, develop engagement strategies, and serve as a trusted representative of VTA before boards, commissions, community organizations, and the public. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative leader who excels at balancing technical project delivery with meaningful engagement to help shape the future of public transportation throughout Santa Clara County.

Definition
Under direction, the Planning & Engagement Manager plans, organizes, supervises, and coordinates transportation planning, community outreach, and public engagement programs related to the BART Silicon Valley Program.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This single-position classification is responsible for managing staff and projects related to the BART Silicon Valley Program. Substantial judgement and initiative are essential for resolving problems and making recommendations with regards to projects. The incumbent is responsible for assigned transportation planning activities as related to capital project delivery as well as coordination of community outreach and education, management of public engagement programs related to assigned capital projects, and associated transportation planning initiatives, and representing VTA to various public and private sector organizations.
This classification is distinguished from the Media & Public Affairs Manager in that the former is focused on transportation planning and integrated public engagement projects as related to the BART Silicon Valley Program. This classification is distinguished from Senior Transportation Planner in that the former is required to have extensive experience in one of the following: media relations, community engagement or public relations.
The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative, forward-thinking leader with extensive experience managing stakeholder engagement or transportation planning initiatives for major capital infrastructure projects with an interdisciplinary team. They possess demonstrated success building partnerships with elected officials, public agencies, community organizations, businesses, and diverse stakeholders while balancing complex project priorities.

They are a relationship builder who can successfully navigate complex projects, competing priorities, and sensitive community issues while maintaining productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

They have experience supervising and mentoring professional staff, managing consultants, managing project schedules and budgets, and communicating effectively. They are equally comfortable discussing technical details of the project with engineers, presenting recommendations to governing boards, and engaging directly with stakeholders to address concerns, build trust, and strengthen long-term partnerships.

They are comfortable working in fast-paced environments where collaboration, sound judgment, and strategic thinking are essential to successful project delivery.
Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks• Selects, supervises, leads, trains, motivates, assigns, evaluates, counsels, and disciplines staff; supervises consultant staff as assigned;
• Oversees and coordinates project planning and access throughout project duration for functional area;
• Prepares Board memorandums and official VTA correspondence;
• Coordinates public outreach for planning in functional area and implementation of Construction Outreach and Education Program including the Construction Transportation Management Plans;
• Prepares and presents items to boards and committees;
• Serves as liaison with cities, other local/regional agencies, and community groups regarding transportation, land use, and related issues; assists with responding to media as required;
• Develops work plans, schedules, and budget estimates for studies and projects;
• Coordinates planning and outreach activities for multiple contracts in functional area involving VTA staff and external partners;
• Manages and coordinates community outreach and education programs for transportation and transit capital projects in functional area;
• Facilitates and coordinates interactions between the public and planning and design staff, consultants, and construction contractors during project planning, project development, and construction phases;
• Develops strategies to engage the public and address community concerns;
• Coordinates with planning, engineering, and construction staff to ensure adequate resources are allocated for community outreach and engagement;
• Participates in the development of contracts and RFPs to ensure that community outreach requirements are incorporated into capital project and transportation planning initiatives;
• Analyzes and evaluates assigned programs for effectiveness; recommends alternatives and implements approved enhancements;
• Represents VTA on boards, commissions, and committees as assigned; represents VTA in engagements with outside groups and before community members at public meetings;
• Plans, writes, and edits material for presentation to various boards and commissions;
• Manages and supervises staff and activities to ensure fulfillment of VTA's Strategic Plan;
• Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget;
• Serves as a member of the management team in meetings/negotiations with labor unions;
• Prepares confidential reports and correspondence; reviews reports prepared by others;
• Ensures compliance with VTA policies and procedures regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and harassment prevention;
• Ensures and enforces compliance with capital project communications and community outreach policies and procedures;
• Performs related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards
Sufficient training, education, and experience to demonstrate possession of 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 four-year degree in communications, public relations, urban or transportation planning, or a closely related field, and four (4) years of professional level experience in a community outreach/public relations capacity, with emphasis on large capital projects.
Experience in a large transit organization, public agency, and/or the construction industry is desirable. Demonstrated lead or supervisory experience is required.
Supplemental Information

Knowledge of:
• Principles and contemporary practices of multi-faceted community outreach and public engagement programs for major infrastructure projects;
• Concepts, principles, techniques, and legal aspects of transportation planning;
• Methods of research and statistical analysis;
• Current technologies employed in public engagement;
• Computer software common to the planning function (i.e., word processing, spreadsheet, modeling);
• Project management methods and techniques;
• Public transportation funding sources and processes;
• Principles and techniques of communications and public education campaigns;
• Social media and internet technologies as applied to effective public information and media relations programs;
• Principles and practices of organization, administration, budgeting, and personnel management in a public agency;
• Principles of supervision, leadership, training, employee development and motivation, and effective discipline;
• Development of public and private sector working relationships and partnerships.
Ability to:
• Select, supervise, train, motivate, assign, evaluate, counsel, and discipline subordinate staff;
• Ensure that community outreach and engagement components are integrated into assigned transportation planning and capital project delivery programs;
• Accurately estimate and administer budgets for transportation planning studies; effectively manage associated schedules;
• Analyze issues and numerical measures associated with transportation planning projects, including estimates derived from computer models, engineering estimates of costs and benefits, and public input;
• Perform analyses and make recommendations based on findings in planning studies, field observations, and public feedback;
• Prepare correspondence, confidential reports, planning and technical documents, Board memoranda, fact sheets, and other documents;
• Implement and effectively manage community outreach and engagement programs for transportation and transit capital projects, including the BART Silicon Valley Program;
• Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues and concerns;
• Analyze and evaluate complex situations; recommend and implement effective improvements;
• Coordinate and oversee projects completed by consultant staff;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
• Effectively represent VTA in a variety of public and private sector activities;
• Manage multiple projects, effectively utilize resources, and meet deadlines;
• Be creative in formulating and introducing new and feasible solutions and take initiative in implementing those solutions;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
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 wil