Regional Solicitation Manager

After a period of on-site onboarding, this position is eligible for a hybrid telework arrangement (combining remote and on-site work). Occasional travel is expected between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area and visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as needed. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 20 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us is on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metropolitan Transportation Services conducts planning for the regional transportation system that includes highways, transit, aviation, freight, and bicycle and pedestrian connections. The Metropolitan Council is the region's federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Manager-Regional Solicitation leads the selection of $125 million per year of federal transportation projects through the Regional Solicitation process, as well as the $20 million per year of regional sales tax active transportation projects. This position also facilitates the Transportation Advisory Board and technical committee processes. The manager leads a team within the Metropolitan Transportation Services Transportation Planning department that manages the Regional Solicitation. This position also facilitates the discussion and approval of other core MPO products, such as the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), as the Council's committees review them.

Lead the implementation of the team's work program, including creating identified products, managing consultant-led projects, and delegating and overseeing work to staff within the team.

• Create a multiyear work program for the team and coordinate it with work across the MTS Planning department.
• Delegate work program projects to staff and provide direction on project expectations.
• Manage consultant-led projects by creating work scopes, providing direction to consultants, coordinating reviews by internal and external partners, and managing administrative requirements (e.g., finance, procurement).
• Update relevant senior management, staff, and partners on work program status, including presentations to policy boards, technical committees, and working groups.
• Proactively identify and recommend new work projects to senior management through discussions with staff and partners.

Manage a team of planners and an intern, including workload, oversight, and direction of the work of direct reports.

• Identify projects for the team and manage the workload across the team.
• Provide staff supervision, direction, and oversight to team members, assisting in the implementation of the team's work. Coach employees on strengths, weaknesses, and growth opportunities.
• Track projects external to the team to identify opportunities for team members to engage in outside work that may impact their work or require coordination.
• Develop a team structure, meetings, and human resources needs for the team, and communicate the needs to leadership.
• Review team deliverables and provide feedback to ensure consistent application of Council policies, plans, and procedures across the team's work.

Manage the Regional Solicitation process.

• Lead efforts related to the Regional Solicitation ($125 million per year).
• Direct the project selection for the Active Transportation Regional Sales Tax funds ($20 million per year).
• Lead development of changes to scoring criteria and measures, as well as scoring committees.
• Direct the development of funding options for TAB and the Council.

Lead planning and policy work related to the committee processes.

• Review business items and present policy discussions to policy and technical groups, including the Council, Transportation Advisory Board, Technical Advisory Committee, and external stakeholders.
• Lead policy discussions and create and refine policy content related to products such as TAB's policies.
• Oversee policy implementation through processes such as the Regional Solicitation project evaluation and scoring.
• Lead monthly meetings with Council-appointed TAB members to discuss upcoming items and Council perspectives.
• Serve as the voting member or alternate on the TAC Funding & Programming Committee.

Oversee the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

• Lead staff in the development of the annual TIP, which is one of the primary federally required products for MTS-Planning and includes over $6 billion of transportation projects.
• Oversee the public review and response to public comments on the TIP.
• Lead staff on the TIP amendment and modifications throughout the year.

Any of the following combinations of experience in transportation planning, programming, and policy development, and completed education in geography, urban planning, engineering, public policy, or related field:

• *Bachelor's degree or higher with six (6) years of experience, including three (3) years of project management or supervisory experience.
• Associate degree with eight (8) years of experience, including three (3) years of project management or supervisory experience.
• High school diploma/GED with ten (10) years of experience, including three (3) years of project management or supervisory experience.

• Knowledge of transportation planning and applicable governing state statutes.
• Knowledge of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, including federal requirements, roles, and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of transportation funding.
• Knowledge of transportation plan development processes, including the development and revision of planning frameworks and policies.
• Knowledge of financial planning for transportation projects, including major influential factors and budgeting processes.
• Knowledge of management best practices and trends.
• Knowledge of stakeholders and public outreach techniques.
• Skilled in work plan development and management, and consultant project management.
• Skilled in policy analysis and in developing, explaining, and implementing policy concepts and stakeholder involvement and facilitation.
• Skilled in building and leading a team of professionals able to translate Council priorities into constructive collaboration with partner agencies and stakeholders.
• Skilled in transportation engineering basics, including traffic engineering and design considerations.
• Skilled in workload management tools for tracking project timelines across multiple projects and staff.
• Ability to effectively present information to senior management, public groups, Council members, and other policymakers.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with staff, internal and external partners, from technical experts to policymakers.
• Ability to manage complex, diverse, and politically volatile policy development projects sensitively and responsively so that Council goals are achieved.
• Ability to present information in a clear, concise manner and receive, process, and incorporate feedback from multiple perspectives, often weighing competing feedback.
• Ability to manage a team of professionals and provide mentoring, coaching, and delegation of activities.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: MANA/Grade J
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
Work is generally performed in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check, which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us .