Transportation Assistant Planning Director(Office of Policy & Intergovernmental Affairs)

Introduction

Are you a current Department of Transportation employee looking to advance your career within the agency? Are you looking for your next opportunity to make an impact?  If so, read below and apply today.

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT)invites its agency employees to apply for a Transportation Assistant Planning Director position to assist in leading our Office of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Bureau of Policy and Planning, at our headquarters located in Newington, Connecticut.  This position offers the opportunity to shape statewide transportation policy in Connecticut during an unprecedented time of investment in infrastructure.  We are seeking candidates who excel in team development, communication, and relationship building to lead us into the future.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

As a state employee, you would continue to have access to the following:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to continue to work for a Forbes top company - 'Forbes': State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• Remain with an award winning agency! CTDOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!
  

ABOUT US

As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, accessible, and efficient multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving the State’s resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

THE ROLE

This position is responsible for directly overseeing four units within the Office of Policy & Intergovernmental Affairs: Grants, Intergovernmental Affairs, Public Involvement, and Sustainability & Resiliency and will provide direction to the supervisors and staff in each unit.  Responsibilities will also include leading policy initiatives, providing increased collaboration and communication among and with federal funding partners, federal, state, and local elected officials, regional and municipal partners, and stakeholders, and leading various initiatives within CTDOT, across Bureaus.

Specific policy responsibilities would include tracking and leading the review, analysis, and comment on state and federal actions, including, but not limited to federal and state laws, regulations, Notices of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRM), Notices of Requests for Information or comments on federal policy, policy changes, guidance, and pilot programs.  This position will also track and ensure timely fulfillment of federal planning requirements and act as the lead in development, review, and periodic updating of CTDOT policies.

This position will respond to Congressional requests, cover Congressional hearings, prepare materials for legislative visits, and provide educational briefings to Congressional members and staff.  This position will also coordinate agency submittals for yearly Appropriations Committee Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) project requests, feedback on legislative amendments, and other proactive engagement with Connecticut’s Congressional delegation.

The chosen candidate will interact with USDOT and other federal agencies and participate in regional and national organizations such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO), The Eastern Transportation Coalition (ETC), ITS America, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and many others.

The Assistant Transportation Planning Director is essential to directing and coordinating the activities of the various units, assisting in building and maintaining relationships internally to CTDOT as well as with local, regional, state and federal agencies and stakeholders, and ensuring that all state and federal requirements are met on time and in a fiscally responsible manner.  The selected candidate therefore will be responsible for ensuring strong and effective communication and working relationships internally and externally.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• First shift
• Location: Newington, CT
• In the P-5 (Administrative and Residual) bargaining unit
  
• This position will report to a Transportation Planning Director or employee of a higher level.
• This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. The Policy can be found here.  Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.
• Supervisors and middle managers can expect to spend roughly half of their working hours, if not more, in the office in order to execute upon their job functions and supervise their team. Time in the office may fluctuate based on circumstances and the team being supervised. The ability to apply for telework continues to be available and the agency continues to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need them.
• This position involves travel both within and out of state.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
To Apply:

• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
  
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

Important Information After You Apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
  

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning this class is accountable for assisting a Transportation Planning Director in the administration and operation of one of the Bureau offices.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs or assists in direction of staff and operations of a Transportation planning office; 
• Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities; 
• Formulates program goals and objectives; 
• Develops or assists in development of related policy; 
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations; 
• Evaluates staff; 
• Prepares or assists in preparation of office budget; 
• Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside office who might impact on program activities; 
• Directs preparation of recommendations for modes of travel or systems of transportation; 
• Directs preparation and analysis of transportation and transportation related data; 
• Directs preparation of technical studies and reports concerning various modes and systems of transportation including analysis of all appropriate alternatives; 
• Directs participation with federal, state, regional and local officials and agencies as well as general public and special interest groups; 
• Directs reviews of transportation and transportation related plans and projects to determine consistency with department goals, objectives, policies, programs, plans and projects; 
• May direct/plan specific transportation operations (e.g., ride sharing, commuter parking); 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
  • contemporary techniques, concepts and procedures employed in field of transportation;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience in a supervisory capacity involving transportation planning, urban planning, regional planning or transportation environmental planning.

NOTE: For state employees supervisory capacity is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Supervising Planner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading multi-disciplinary professional teams to deliver programs
• Experience reviewing, interpreting, and commenting on state and federal legislation for their impact on the agency
• Experience communicating and collaborating with high-level stakeholders, federal and state agencies, and elected officials
• Experience with assessing, coaching, and developing staff
• Experience with evolving transportation issues, programs, and initiatives
• Experience completing time-sensitive tasks and problem-solving
• Experience presenting, engaging and developing relationships with stakeholders, organizations, and the public
• Experience interpreting and applying federal transportation policies, guidance, executive orders, regulations, and laws to projects and programs

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.