TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE DEPUTY

The Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis has an immediate opening for a full-time Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy.

Supervisor Solis is proud to serve LA County’s First District, which is home to two million residents, across 246 square miles, from several diverse communities: from East Los Angeles to East Hollywood, MacArthur Park to Eagle Rock, and Alhambra to Pomona. The candidate must be community-oriented with a passion and the experience to create policy to improve the quality of life for LA County residents, particularly First District constituents.

Key Responsibilities:

The Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy will implement and oversee the transportation portfolio comprised of cross-jurisdictional policies, projects, programs, and initiatives in the First Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County. The Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy will aim to influence transportation and infrastructure planning, policies, and implementation so that equity, transparency, sustainability, and community engagement become driving forces on any project.

The Deputy will collaborate with various County Departments and external agencies to advance local and regional transportation opportunities that foster safety, mobility, equity, reduction in carbon emissions, and healthy and vibrant neighborhoods for First District residents.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy will be responsible for the following policy areas:

• Be familiar with overarching laws, rules, regulations, and policies at the Federal, State, regional, and local levels that authorize funding mechanisms and establish the foundation for public transportation;
• Understand the interworking, jurisdictions, and nexus between transportation-related agencies such as, but not limited to: the US Department of Transportation, Federal Transit and Highway Administrations, California Transportation Commission, California State Transportation Agency, Southern California Association of Governments, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Southern California Regional Railroad Authority, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, etc.;
• Understand the political, technical, and relationship dynamics of local municipalities/cities, Council of Governments and surrounding counties, State and Congressional legislative districts, local and regional joint powers authorities, State and County commissions, and local community-based organizations throughout the District;
• Knowledgeable of issue areas that have a general, direct, and/or indirect connection with the transportation sector, such as, but not limited to, public health and safety, economic and workforce development, land use planning, especially affordable housing, civil and traffic engineering, parks and open/recreation space, environmental sustainability, and preservation, trade, and commerce; etc.;
• Familiar with theories, principles, and practices related to transit, highway, active transportation planning, environmental review, procurement, and contracting processes.
• Familiarity with the First District.

The ideal candidate can work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines, be an effective leader as well as a team player, and thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a trusted subject matter expert and policy advisor in the First District for transportation-related policy and management decisions;
• Represents the First District in both public and private sector forums;
• Provides guidance and administrative direction to Agency staff;
• Engages regularly with the County Departments, Metro, Metrolink, City managers and engineers, other elected offices, and Federal, State, and regional partners to respond to issues, enhance coordination, and advance policy priorities;
• Directs the implementation of transportation studies, projects, and programs with a focus on ensuring equitable consideration of and delivery of services to all residents of the First District—particularly the economically disadvantaged, elderly, and disabled communities;
• Ensures effective engagement with residents, businesses, and other key stakeholder groups;
• Advances alternative project delivery and innovative finance activities, including engagement in public-private partnerships;
• Oversees the planning and execution of major, multi-million dollar infrastructure projects;
• Analyze and evaluate complex policy matters to contextualize and accurately summarize for lay and professional audiences;
• Develop and present information to community residents, stakeholders, and agency staff regarding the District’s transportation portfolio, including policy agenda, priority initiatives, critical projects, funding sources, outreach strategies, etc.;
• Develop robust engagement strategies to advance objectives to achieve district-wide goals;
• Maintains accurate logs of all policies, project timelines, and constituent feedback and monitors all elements of program implementation;
• Responds to public inquiries about all issues related to transportation;
• Counsels participants on requirements of programs and projects;
• Conducts desk/program assessments and audits to verify information and provide findings and recommendations;
• Develops and maintains relationships with small business organizations;
• Prepares materials and updates for the First District newsletters and website;
• Prepares Board reports and various other types of correspondence;
• Attend development-related community meetings and district events, which may require extensive travel throughout the district
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Advanced Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Engineering, Planning, or a closely related field;
• Strong and effective communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Experience with spreadsheets and reporting capabilities;
• Minimum of five (5) years in senior leadership of a large public or private organization, with direct experience in the transportation industry strongly preferred;
• Thorough knowledge of transportation industry best practices, standards, principles, and procedures with preference for direct experience in an urban setting;
• Thorough knowledge of federal and local laws, regulations, and administrative practices related to the procurement, funding, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and systems;
• Track record of managing organizational performance through developing, tracking, and reporting on performance metrics;
• Prior high-level experience with planning, evaluating, organizing, and implementing best practices, policies, and procedures in a governmental setting;
• Demonstrated knowledge and leadership in the development of transportation systems that meet the needs of a diverse population;
• Experience in managing large, complex capital budgets, including knowledge of federal highway and transit funding;
• A valid California class "C" driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Please note that this is a professional level staff position that will require work hours beyond the normal workday and will include weekend and holiday work. The position is full-time, exempt, and unclassified, and includes excellent benefits.