Planning Manager
2 days ago
Savannah
About the Chatham Area Transit The Planning Manager advances the mission and goals of Chatham Area Transit (CAT) through the development of thoughtful, innovative, and technically sound plans and projects while exemplifying CAT's Core Values of Customer-Focused Service, Safety-First Decision-Making, and Accountability. About the Role The Planning Manager leads, directs, and coordinates the Agency's planning activities, project development, grant-funded programs, service planning, and regulatory compliance efforts to ensure efficient, safe, and customer-oriented transit services that support the Agency's strategic objectives. Responsibilities • Leads the development and implementation of strategic, short-range, long-range, and service planning initiatives that support CAT's mission and organizational goals., • Develops projects and identifies programs, policies, and funding strategies to deliver them, including grant funding opportunities, public-public partnerships, and public-private partnerships (PPP)., • Leads and conducts major planning projects and studies, including strategic plans, comprehensive operational analyses, transit development plans, zero-emission bus deployment plans, and other transit planning initiatives., • Assists with Agency budget preparation and the development of funding strategies., • Prepares grant applications, reports, amendments, and supporting documentation according to required federal, state, and local guidelines., • Ensures Agency compliance with all grant requirements and conditions associated with federal, state, and local funding sources., • Prepares reports, policies, and compliance documents required by funding agencies and regulatory bodies., • Maintains expertise regarding Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, National Transit Database (NTD) requirements, Title VI, ADA, and other applicable transit regulations., • Leads the preparation, submission, and review of the Agency's NTD Annual Report and other required regulatory reports., • Leads the development of the annual Service Plan and Transit Development Plan (TDP)., • Leads the analysis and evaluation of operational, financial, and performance data to assess transit service effectiveness and efficiency., • Develops recommendations that optimize transit service delivery while balancing customer needs, ridership demand, operational constraints, and financial resources., • Designs and recommends route, schedule, and stop modifications for incorporation into Agency plans and budgets., • Oversees analysis of customer service feedback and service performance trends to improve transit services and customer satisfaction., • Coordinates agency-wide implementation of service changes, including route modifications, schedule changes, operator scheduling support, and associated operational planning., • Ensures all required documentation is developed and distributed to support operations, maintenance, marketing, and customer communication functions., • Coordinates with ITS vendors to ensure GTFS files, service databases, and related technologies are updated and maintained for each service change., • Supports planning-related activities associated with the transition to zero-emission vehicle technologies., • Directs the analysis of bus stop placement, amenities, accessibility, utilization, and operational effectiveness., • Develops plans for a safe, efficient, and accessible network of bus stops throughout CAT's service area., • Ensures compliance with ADA accessibility requirements and Agency design standards., • Works collaboratively with public agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), educational institutions, businesses, developers, community organizations, and other stakeholders., • Represents CAT at public meetings, conferences, workshops, and community events., • Responds to requests and provides presentations to the Board of Directors, advisory committees, governmental agencies, and community groups., • Promotes and models CAT's Core Values of Customer-Focused Service, Safety-First practices, and Accountability in all planning, project development, and operational activities., • Ensures planning recommendations consider customer needs, service reliability, accessibility, safety, operational efficiency, and fiscal responsibility., • Supports a culture of safety through compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and Agency safety requirements., • Demonstrates accountability through transparent decision-making, accurate reporting, responsible stewardship of public funds, and ethical leadership. Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, or a closely related field., • Master's Degree preferred. Required Skills • Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in transportation planning, urban planning, public administration, or a related field, preferably within public transit., • Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience., • Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered. Preferred Skills • Experience working in the public transportation industry., • Comprehensive knowledge of public transit operations., • Project management experience., • Experience identifying and implementing customer experience improvements., • Experience developing, monitoring, and analyzing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)., • Experience serving on committees, advisory boards, and presenting to governing boards., • Experience with FTA grant administration and regulatory compliance., • Demonstrated commitment to fostering a customer-focused, safety-first, and accountable workplace culture. Pay range and compensation package Chatham Area Transit is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and fostering an environment that reflects the Agency's Core Values of Customer-Focused Service, Safety-First practices, and Accountability. Equal Opportunity Statement Chatham Area Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.