Position Information

The Texas Department of Transportation's Transportation Planning and Programming Division is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Unified Transportation Program/Portfolio Performance Director. This highly visible leadership position plays a critical role in guiding transportation investments and development across one of the largest transportation networks in the nation.

In this role, you will lead the development and implementation of the Unified Transportation Program and directly inform and advise on project development, oversee complex analyses that help drive strategic investment decisions, and provide policy and programming recommendations to executive leadership. You will collaborate with transportation professionals across Texas, work closely with district leaders and division directors, engage with local, state, and national stakeholders to advance transportation priorities, and directly advise the highest members of TxDOT leadership including the Texas Transportation Commission.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills who enjoys solving complex challenges and transforming data into actionable decisions. This position offers opportunities to influence statewide policy, lead high-performing teams, collaborate with transportation leaders across the country, and contribute directly to the long-term success of Texas transportation programs.

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Benefits and Perks

At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

• Retirement Plans
• Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
• Paid Leave and Holidays
• Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
• On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
• Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

Position Description

The UTP/Portfolio Performance Director directs and oversees complex transportation programming and portfolio performance activities in support of the Texas Department of Transportation's the Unified Transportation Program and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Oversees the programming of federal, state, and other transportation funds; advises executive leadership on portfolio management; statewide transportation planning and programming; and manages a team of professional and technical staff. Works extensively with TxDOT districts, divisions, local and regional partners, and national transportation stakeholders to support transportation investment decisions across Texas.

Essential Duties:

• Advises the Department's executive management team on key events and issues related to project programming
• Conducts studies and provides tools that effectively address issues in planning, investment, and programming decisions.
• Develops and carries out transportation programs for department activities for addressing the State's highway and multimodal infrastructure.
• Directs and coordinates the development, evaluation, and implementation of policies for the Department's role.
• Directs and oversees data collection and analysis efforts and shares the results of these efforts with decision-makers to help them make informed decisions.
• Directs and oversees the development of the Department's Unified Transportation Program and advises on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
• Directs and provides technical and policy analysis of the impacts of policy decisions and legislation.
• Ensures that all the Department's divisions and districts integrate programming considerations into their day-to-day business practices and seeks opportunities to promote synergies with other statewide transportation policy initiatives.
• Establishes and manages all aspects of transportation programming, including development of highway programming policies, screening criteria to establish project priorities, and administrative rulemaking.
• Evaluates transportation management and operations initiatives and practices and proposes options for improving transportation programming or planning activities.
• Provides statewide leadership in implementing federal and state legislation related to statewide transportation needs.
• Represents the Department at the national level, initiating dialogue and coordinating with economic development agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders to create a united front for making improvements.
• Responds to inquiries from legislators, public agencies, and the private sector within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
• Serves as a lead worker and trains others.
• Serves as a technical resource and data expert for highway programming and analysis and acts as a central point of contact for the Department's project planning efforts.
• Serves as project manager to oversee and provide technical assistance on special data and analysis projects.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public/business administration, transportation planning or engineering.
• Relevant work experience may be substituted for degree on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

• 6 years of experience in transportation programming or planning
• Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent
• Related graduate level education may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis.
• Must have three (3) years supervisory/managerial experience. Project leader or lead worker experience may substitute for supervisory/managerial experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid driver's license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced proficiency in excel, including the ability to analyze complex data sets, direct development of dashboards and other performance measures, develop formulas, and automate reporting processes. A working knowledge of SharePoint, Tableau, and/or PowerBI is also important for managing information, collaborating across teams, and creating meaningful data visualizations and reports.

Competencies:

Extensive knowledge of:

• Forecasting methodologies
• Urban and/or rural transportation programming
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Applicable project development (planning, environmental, right of way, design, letting, construction, and project close out) document preparation, review, processing and compliance requirements
• Project management principles, practices and application
• Transportation funding programs
• Applicable laws, rules, and regulations

Expert skill in:

• Establishing and building relationships necessary to advance transportation planning and programming
  Supervising technical staff
• Bringing stakeholders together to facilitate dialogue and begin identifying mutual interests, share ideas, and work together
• Communicating complex ideas and information clearly, concisely, and effectively

Ability to:

• Manage complex regional/statewide programming initiatives, provide new perspectives and develop and implement new initiatives

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Standing-prolonged periods of time
• Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading.

Conditions of Employment:

Please read the Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT) for all positions.