The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) invites its eligible agency employees to apply for the position of Transportation Assistant Planning Director to assist in leading the Office of Enterprise GIS, Analytics, and Data Management in the Bureau of Planning, Technology and Innovation at our headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. Reporting to the Department's Chief Data Officer, this position offers the opportunity to shape the direction of enterprise geospatial and transportation data services during a period of significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and data modernization. We are seeking candidates who excel in team development, strategic planning, communication, relationship building, and the delivery of coordinated technical programs.
THE ROLEThe Bureau of Planning, Technology and Innovation collects and shares critical data and conducts planning studies and associated activities to support the movement of people and goods for all modes of transportation. The Bureau is responsible for numerous federal and state mandates and compliance and is responsible for documentation, analyses, as well as acquiring necessary approvals for all proposed projects in support of Department project delivery. The Bureau interacts extensively with USDOT funding agencies, State and federal regulatory and cooperating agencies, Regional Councils of Government, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, as well as nationally recognized transportation organizations.
The Bureau is comprised of multiple offices, including; Roadway Information Systems, Environmental Planning, Strategic Planning and Projects, Program Development and Forecasting, the Highway Safety Office, Research, and Enterprise GIS, Analytics and Data Management and Information Technology.
This Transportation Assistant Planning Director position is responsible for directly overseeing and coordinating three enterprise units: Enterprise GIS (EGIS), Data Management and Integration, and Linear Referencing Systems. Candidates may also be considered for Transportation Assistant Planning Director positions of other Offices in the Bureau of Planning, Technology and Innovation related to data and technology, hence applications for this position may be utilized to fill other Transportation Assistant Planning Director positions in the future to support re-organization and implementation of CTDOT's Strategic Plan.
The selected candidate will provide direction to the supervisors and staff within each unit, translate the Chief Data Officer's (CDO) enterprise data strategy into actionable work plans, establish priorities, align resources, and ensure that the units operate as coordinated enterprise services rather than independent technical functions.
A central responsibility of the position is to advance the availability of trusted, authoritative, well-documented, and reusable geospatial and transportation data across CTDOT. The Assistant Planning Director will lead the continued development of enterprise geospatial information, data integration services, shared data platforms, metadata and documentation practices, and implementation of processes that make data discoverable and usable for planning, engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, asset management, project delivery, performance management, public transparency, and executive decision making.
The position will provide executive oversight of the Department's Transportation Enterprise Data (TED) GIS program, including enterprise mapping, spatial analysis, geospatial application development, authoritative spatial data, GIS platform administration and coordination, and technical support and training. The selected candidate will guide the growth and modernization of EGIS services, promote consistent enterprise standards, reduce duplication of effort, and ensure geospatial capabilities are aligned with business needs across all Department bureaus.
The position will also oversee the Data Management and Integration function, including coordinated data development, acquisition, integration, quality improvement, documentation, and delivery. Working with business owners, data stewards, the Department's Data Governance Manager, and Technology Services staff, the Assistant Planning Director will help define requirements, resolve cross-functional issues, establish repeatable processes, and support the implementation of data architecture and integration solutions that improve enterprise access to authoritative information.
In addition, the position will oversee the Department's Linear Referencing System (LRS), which serves as the authoritative framework for locating and integrating roadway inventory, asset, safety, traffic, maintenance, and capital project information. The selected candidate will ensure the LRS remains accurate, reliable, and coordinated with the many Department systems and reporting processes that depend on consistent roadway location and route information, including federal highway performance, asset management, roadway inventory, and safety reporting requirements. Continued expansion of the utilization of the LRS management system into managing multi-modal networks (e.g. Trail, Bus, Rail) to meet Department needs is a critical component of the Department's overall data strategy.
The Assistant Planning Director will work closely with the CDO to advance the Department's data governance framework and roadmap. Responsibilities will include supporting data stewardship, defining roles and accountability, promoting common standards and metadata, improving data quality, escalating enterprise data issues, supporting open data and data-sharing practices, and ensuring that technology and data investments are coordinated, sustainable, and aligned with Department priorities.
The position will build and maintain strong working relationships across CTDOT and with federal, state, regional, local, academic, and private-sector partners as appropriate.
The Transportation Assistant Planning Director is essential to directing and coordinating these enterprise programs; supporting professional development for supervisors and staff; managing competing priorities; anticipating emerging data and technology needs; and ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal requirements. The selected candidate will be expected to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, provide clear status and risk information to agency leadership, and foster an environment of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS - Monday - Friday
- Full-time (40 hours per week)
- First shift
- Location: Newington, CT
- This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the applicable Telework Policy.
- Supervisors and middle managers can expect to spend roughly half of their working hours, if not more, in the office in order to execute their job functions and supervise their teams. Time in the office may fluctuate based on circumstances and the needs of the teams being supervised. The ability to apply for telework continues to be available, and the agency continues to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need them.
- This position may involve travel within and outside the State.
- This position is in the P-5 (Administrative and Residual) bargaining unit
- The position will report to the Chief Data Officer, a Transportation Planning Director, or an employee of a higher level.
