Overview
TriMet provides bus, light rail, commuter rail and paratransit service across a 533-square-mile service district, home to 1.65 million people, in the greater Portland, Oregon region. Portland has the 23rd largest metro area in the nation, with the 13th highest transit ridership and the 10th highest transit boardings per capita. TriMet’s transportation options connect people with jobs, services, venues, and opportunities in our community, while easing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, and contributing to economic development.
- Our vision: Be the leader in delivering safe, convenient, sustainable, and integrated mobility options necessary for our region to be recognized as one of the world’s most livable places.
- Our mission: Connect people with valued mobility options that are safe, convenient, reliable, accessible, and welcoming for all.
- Our values: Safety, inclusivity, equity, community, teamwork.
TriMet is seeking a dynamic, vision-driven, forward-thinking leader and strategist to fill a new role on our executive leadership team, leading a new division: Chief Strategy & Planning Officer.
The Chief Strategy & Planning Officer will report to the General Manager and lead the Strategy & Planning (S&P) Division that serves as the cornerstone for TriMet’s strategic vision, driving forward-thinking strategies and overseeing the execution of key projects that align with the agency’s mission and values. Through integrated planning, innovative engineering solutions, and a commitment to sustainability, this division will be pivotal in helping TriMet continue to lead the way in the transit industry and make a positive impact on the communities we serve.
The Chief S&P Officer is responsible for identifying and implementing agency-wide strategies and programs to align business operations and identify business opportunities and growth areas, lead business process improvement initiatives, drive the long-term planning of the agency, including the strategy and execution of the Engineering & Construction Division, an agency-wide Vision 2030 ridership increase initiative, and supporting information technology enhancements. In collaboration with the executive team, the Chief S&P Officer will advance agency-wide strategy execution, overseeing major program design and management, analysis of strategic risks, establishment of methods of collecting and tracking data to evaluate performance towards goals, and identification of opportunities to enhance agency operations.
The Chief S&P Officer and the S&P Division also coordinates and works with other departments and agencies within the City of Portland and other government entities in the tri-county service district, as well as transportation and mobility partners; local, regional, and state lawmakers; law enforcement agencies; and other public and policy groups—all to support TriMet’s initiatives and advance priority policy objectives.
Essential Functions
- Provide strategic direction in the development of Vision 2030, TriMet’s long-term effort to increase ridership. Manage the development, coordination, alignment, prioritization, and communication of the plan across the agency and region.
2. Provides strategic direction for monitoring and analyzing organizational performance, promoting TriMet’s Business Plan, and encouraging the use of data for management decision making. Monitor emerging trends in the transit industry, region, and service area to aid in internal business process improvement. Develop innovative ideas and institutional processes to help the Business Plan succeed.
3. Provide strategic leadership of the Engineering & Construction Division, responsible for large-scale capital and construction projects delivering highly complex and multi-modal transportation services.
4. Provide strategic leadership of enterprise-wide initiatives for the transition to a zero emission bus fleet in accordance with Board policy, timelines, and General Manager direction.
5. Provide strategic leadership to the mobility planning and policy, including annual service plans, long range strategic plans, access to transit projects, ridership expansion strategies, system and route performance, mobility alternatives analysis and improvement strategies, and TriMet regional policy development and service planning- related community engagement.
6. Serve as TriMet’s main technical adviser in the development of strategies and related policy projects to fund the capital projects and operational initiatives of TriMet that have high visibility, high controversy, and exposure to potential state or federal legislation. Coordinate such activities with the Public Affairs department as needed.
7. Serve as program manager for interdisciplinary transportation policy projects, overseeing work plans, coordinating activities, and monitoring project progress. Coordinate such activities with the Finance Division, Information Technology Division, Transportation Division, and Public Affairs Division.
8. Develop and recommend effective partnership and advocacy strategies to Executive Leadership to build coalitions and establish TriMet as a trusted partner; conduct an evaluation of the impacts/results of such strategies and recommend new approaches as needed. This includes the design, development, production, and distribution of materials to educate partners on the issues and opportunities facing TriMet,
9. Lead and monitor technical teams in conducting research, analysis, and evaluation of economic, policy, and regulatory conditions to refine and enhance project proposals. This includes development of surveys to gauge transportation choices and impacts of major TriMet services and infrastructure programs. Coordinate such activities with other divisions.
10. Lead the procurement of consultants, including RFP preparation, selection procedures, contract negotiations, and ensuring compliance with associated City or Federal regulations.
11. Coordinate grant procurements and administration with the Finance Division and Information Technology Division, including technical support preparing applications, accepting, and administering received grant funds for program projects.
12. Represent TriMet in multi-jurisdictional committees and task forces, liaising with governmental representatives and taking a leadership role in organizing, conducting, and implementing collaborative efforts.
13. Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other agency employees, and the public by delivering excellent client service and maintaining a collaborative work environment.
Position Requirements
A Bachelor’s Degree is required.
A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Administration, or Public Policy is preferred.
Thirteen (13) years of credited experience are required.*
Ten (10) years of experience in long-term strategic planning in the transit industry are required.
Five (5) years of demonstrated effectiveness as member of an executive team are required.
Five (5) years of experience involving effective collaboration and interaction with municipal, state, and/or federal government entities are required.
Five (5) years of executive-level management experience are required.
*The amount of credit a candidate receives for prior years of experience is based on the relevancy of that experience to the required or preferred prerequisites of the job description. Experience is prorated based on hours worked. LRHR assigns and validates the “credited experience.
Selection Criteria
Type of Position / Grade / FLSA
Grade 26, Exempt, Non-Union, Full-Time
Salary Range
Minimum: $216,690.00
Maximum: $325,036.00
Salary offers will be determined by a candidate’s education, training and relevant experience. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above. For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet’s salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.
Selection Process
Candidates will be selected based at a minimum on the result of:
1. Application Review (please include: Cover Letter and Resume)
2. Panel Interviews
3. Reference Check/Degree Verification
Salary offers will be determined by a candidate’s education, training and relevant experience. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above. For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet’s salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.
Supplemental Information
Make sure you describe in detail how your education, training and work experience fit with this role. You are encouraged to attach a resume, cover letter, training certificates and/or letters of recommendation with your application. You are permitted five attachments of less than 5MB each.
Internal applicants: Information in your personnel file will not be used in lieu of information requested on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you are a qualified veteran and would like to apply for veterans’ preference points, you will need to reflect your status on the application and attach supporting documentation at the time of application submission.
If you need accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process, contact our Human Resources staff at 503-962-7505, or the TTY line at 7-1-1. Note that we require a minimum of two workdays’ notice prior to the need for accommodation.
TriMet is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and sensitive to the needs of the diverse community we serve, including veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
ADA Statement
As applied to the workplace, applicants and employees must be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions may include required job functions performed infrequently as well as production standards related to the quality and quantity of work.
If a person with a disability could meet job qualifications with a reasonable accommodation, TriMet will work with the employee to accommodate the need. If TriMet’s accommodation is effective in allowing the employee to perform the essential functions of the job, it need not be the employee’s preferred accommodation.