senior manager, transportation planning - Los Angeles, CA

Salary · $114, $172,224.00 Annually · Location · Los Angeles, CA · Job Type · Regular Employee · Job Number · 2401151 · Cabinet · PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT · Cost Center · 4530 - TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITIES · Opening Date · 02/19/2026 · Closing Date · 3/12/2026 5:00 PM Pacific · ...

Job description

Salary

$114, $172,224.00 Annually

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Job Type

Regular Employee

Job Number

2401151

Cabinet

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Cost Center

4530 - TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITIES

Opening Date

02/19/2026

Closing Date

3/12/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Non-Contract

Metro's mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Oversees, manages, and executes work activities that may have broad organizational-wide impact in an assigned organizational unit and manages the work of assigned staff and consultants on related projects. The Senior Manager, Transportation Planning position will oversee a variety of land use planning, real estate development, and housing initiatives in support of the Transit Oriented Communities work program within Metro's Countywide Planning and Development department. The Senior Manager will manage projects, assigned staff and consultants; lead policy research and implement programs and grants.

Examples of Duties

• Manages complex transportation planning, implementation, funding, and analytical projects and programs
• Leads and facilitates development of strategies, processes, and policies
• Develops, negotiates, and executes major cooperative and service agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, and interagency funding plans to include scopes of work, financial plans, schedules, and contracts with other agencies and private developers
• Provides technical support and policy guidance to management on Metro plans, programs, and projects
• Applies, develops, and evaluates analytical, quantitative, and statistical tools and their results
• Represents Metro and makes presentations before various public/private audiences
• Participates and takes a leadership position in committees, forums, interagency task forces, and/or technical advisory groups
• Coordinates with municipal partners and ensures compliance with relevant policy guidelines and regulations
• Supports the acquisition processes and consultant contracts; manages schedules, staffing, technical deliverables, and budgets from the end user/business unit perspective
• Develops, forecasts, and monitors budgets for plans, programs, and projects
• Evaluates proposed legislation for impact on specific plans, programs, and projects
• Evaluates the costs, benefits, and risks of alternative funding plans, programs, and projects
• Prepares comprehensive reports, correspondence, and cost estimates
• Manages and coordinates the work of staff and/or consultants
• Guides work plan, staff, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement strategy to advance implementation of pilot projects and to implement Metro's Vision 2028 Strategic Plan
• Coordinates with municipal partners to pilot new initiatives and to implement Metro's Vision 2028 Strategic Plan
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban or Transportation Planning, Civil or Transportation Engineering, Business, Public Administration, Political Science, Urban Design, Public Policy, Finance, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Six years of relevant experience or three years supervisory-level experience in transportation planning, project management, urban design, transportation system design and research, travel simulation and demand modeling, transportation finance, operations planning, or a related area; two years of relevant management-level experience preferred; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions preferred

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing transportation policies, funding, and planning for a public agency
• Theories, principles, and practices of project and program management, transportation and land use planning, and regulations, contracts, and funding
• Financial, analytical, statistical, and reconciliation methods and practices
• Organization and processes of local, regional, state, and federal government, including legislative and funding processes and policies
• Political, socioeconomic, and environmental issues that influence transportation
• Modern management theory
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Managing the activities of a major transportation mode, project, or program
• Managing projects effectively
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Conducting studies, research, and analyses
• Understanding complex planning concepts
• Analyzing situations and issues, identifying problems, recommending and implementing solutions, evaluating outcomes, and making course corrections
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions and solving complex problems
• Preparing reports and correspondence
• Establishing and implementing relevant policies and procedures
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, outside representatives, and the public
• Writing and editing documents for diverse audiences, including complex and technical documents; and translating complex concepts into easy to understand terms
• Mediating and negotiating
• Managing multidisciplinary professionals to achieve goals
• Managing procurement contracts and negotiating
• Building consensus and support around new concepts and innovations

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Work independently or in teams
• Think and act independently
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Negotiate consensus solutions
• Promote and build support for innovation with internal and external stakeholders
• Effectively navigate complex political, controversial, and challenging subjects to build consensus and achieve desired outcome
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Represent Metro before the public
• Make financial decisions within a budget
• Supervise, train, and provide expert technical assistance to assigned staff
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience conducting land use planning and community development including housing and/or economic development policies and projects.
• Experience leading engagement strategies across a diverse array of community, public agency, elected official and private stakeholder interests.

(EY)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro's Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office

One Gateway Plaza

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm

(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub

8501 S. Evermont Place

Los Angeles, CA 90044

Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm

(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center

4501 B Whittier Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90022

Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm

(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center

3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm

(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center

Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station

11720 Wilmington Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90059

Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm

(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

• Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.

Years of Service Annual Accrual

Hire date - 5 years 20 days

Beginning of 6th - 10th year 25 days

Beginning of 11th - 15th year 30 days

Beginning of 16th + years 35 days

Pension Plan - PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro's Pension & Benefits website