Director, Programs, Policies, and Strategic Initiatives
Full-time employment opportunity with a dynamic and multi-faceted resource for economic development in the St. Louis region.
About Us
Since 1950, we have partnered with private and public organizations on hundreds of projects that have created thousands of jobs on both sides of the Mississippi River.
BSD operates with a focus on making a positive impact on the region and the nation, better connecting the Bi-State area to the rest of the world. We are impacting neighborhoods, large and small, in Illinois and in Missouri, with investments that are shaped by our unique perspective of the region and its potential.
Why Work Here
Join our team at Bi-State Development and help shape the future of transportation in St. Louis!
We are excited to announce that Bi-State Development is seeking candidates for the role of Director, Programs, Policies and Strategic Initiatives. This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic organization, and we are looking for a visionary leader to guide our continued growth and success.
As a public transit organization committed to driving economic development, we're looking for someone who is passionate about creating a more connected and sustainable community.
Ready to make a real impact? We offer a competitive starting salary range of $128,700.00 to $171,600.00 annually and an excellent benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
Can you answer yes to the following questions? If so, consider this opportunity.
- Do you see yourself thriving in a culture that prioritizes team member focus, customer first, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and safety and security?
- Do you have a passion for developing and implementing innovative services and programs?
- Are you excited about the prospect of leading and managing a large-scale public transit division?
Vision, Mission, & Values
Our Vision: A more connected, thriving region
Our Mission: Improve the quality of life in the St. Louis region by delivering excellent public services and dynamic regional solutions
Our Values: Team Member Focus; Customer First; Accountability; Fiscal Responsibility; Safety and Security
The Role
The Director of Programs, Policies, & Strategic Initiatives will lead key efforts that require coordination between departments, alignment with agency-wide goals, and real-time visibility into Metro’s most mission-critical work.
Responsibilities
- Acts as an extension of the EVP, COO by managing the flow of information, priorities, and communications between executive leadership and internal/external stakeholders.
- Leads the day-to-day execution of complex agency-wide transit strategy and initiatives, including transit programs, operational improvements, and organizational projects.
- Coordinates cross-functional teams to ensure strategic alignment, timely execution, and risk mitigation.
- Monitors and reports out on the status of program and policy development and continued implementation and effectiveness
- Owns the program tracker and dashboard tools used to drive project prioritization, risk analysis, and service coordination.
- Identifies opportunities to streamline departments, groups, and processes, ensuring work is coordinated effectively to optimize efficiency and reduce costs.
- Prepares high-quality executive briefings, talking points, presentations, and reports for internal and external audiences.
- Supports the EVP, COO with time and priority management, meeting planning, and follow-up on action items.
- Facilitates collaboration across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Grants, Planning, Project Management Office, and Communications.
- Works with the transit division managers to monitor operations costs to help identify issues and negative trends.
- Develops and manages internal policies and procedures that support transit operations, planning, and governance needs.
- Participates in meetings and proposes improvements if necessary.
- Participates in project, maintenance, and operations progress meetings and proposes improvements if necessary.
- Conducts data-driven analyses and briefings to support executive decision-making, including reports, dashboards, and presentations.
- Develops recommendations for policy and administrative procedural changes that contribute toward continuous improvement and streamlining efforts.
- Communicates with the general public, agency employees, officials, and representatives of other organizations concerning activities, schedules, and procedures.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Demonstrated leadership skills.
- Organized, analytical, politically astute, and highly effective at managing both details and big picture strategy in a fast-paced public transit environment.
- Ability to navigate cross-functional teams, manage stakeholder relationships, and maintain visibility of high-priority initiatives across the agency.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting and presentations.
- Demonstrated ability to work across departments and build consensus in a complex organizational environment.
- High emotional intelligence, sound judgement, and discretion.
- Big-picture thinker with a bias toward execution.
- Politically savvy and solutions-oriented.
- Proactive, organized, and detail-attentive.
- Ability to thrive in a high-stakes, fast-moving environment
- Passion for improving public transit systems and rider experience.
- Advanced knowledge of Excel and other MS products, including Microsoft Project.
- Ability to analyze situations, identify problems, recommend solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
- Experience leading cross-functional committees and task forces related to transportation, operations, and maintenance.
- Ability to develop new concepts and ideas to improve programs, policies, and initiatives that adhere to Metro policy and applicable rules, laws, and regulations.
- Possess effective customer service skills.
Education
Degree:
Minimum – 4 Year/Bachelors Degree
Preferred – Graduate Degree
Field: Business administration, Data Analytics, Information Technology, or related field.
Experience
Years: Minimum of ten (10) years of related professional experience (business, IT, procurement, customer service, maintenance). Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience.
Field: Experience in experience in transit, infrastructure, government, or strategic operations strongly preferred.
Compensation Disclosure:
Bi-State Development is committed to ensuring all employees are compensated fairly. The salary range provided reflects our current expectations for this position. However, final base salary or offer may vary depending on several factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, business needs, and budgetary considerations.
Bi-State Development is an Equal Opportunity Employer.