Director of Data Analytics & Research

Houston-Galveston Area Council•Houston, TX

1d•$149,134 - $213,290

About The Position

The Director of Data Analytics & Research provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC) Data Analytics & Research Department. The Director manages and advances the department's modeling, forecasting, data analytics, geospatial, research, and technology capabilities in support of regional planning, transportation investment, public policy, and organizational decision-making. Reporting to the Chief Transportation Officer/MPO Director, the Director establishes departmental priorities, oversees multidisciplinary technical teams, and ensures delivery of high-quality analytical products and services. The role oversees departmental operations, staff development, budgets, strategic planning, and continuous improvement, aligning initiatives with H-GAC's organizational goals. The Director leads innovation in advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, geospatial technologies, and digital solutions. In collaboration with IT, agency leadership, other departments, and regional partners, the Director supports data-informed decision-making and technology improvements that strengthen H-GAC's programs and services.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Geographic Information Systems, Regional Planning, Computer Science, Engineering, Public Administration, Statistics, or a related field.
Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in data analytics, research, geospatial technologies, regional planning, technology, or related fields.
At least five years of experience in a senior management or leadership capacity.
Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary professional teams, budgets, projects, and strategic initiatives.
Strong leadership, management, and organizational planning skills.
Knowledge of regional planning, transportation modeling, forecasting, data analytics, research methodologies, and geospatial technologies.
Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary technical teams.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning abilities.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to nontechnical audiences.
Knowledge of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and data management practices.
Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet organizational objectives.
Experience with budget development, financial management, contracts, and resource allocation.
Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills, and ability to maintain productive relationships with internal departments, external partners, and regional stakeholders.
Knowledge of applicable public-sector planning, funding, and regulatory requirements.
Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement, innovation, and organizational efficiency.
Must reside within H-GAC's region of service.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a related field.
Experience working within a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Council of Governments (COG), regional planning agency, or comparable public-sector organization.
Experience collaborating with agency leadership, governing boards, elected officials, and regional stakeholders.
Experience managing federal or state grant-funded programs.
Experience leading data analytics, technology modernization, or digital transformation initiatives.
Experience developing or implementing artificial intelligence solutions and data governance practices.
Experience overseeing multidisciplinary analytical, modeling, research, or geospatial programs.
Working knowledge of transportation planning and travel demand modeling.
Working knowledge of demographic forecasting, statistical analysis, and scenario planning.
Working knowledge of environmental modeling and regional research.
Working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial analytics.
Working knowledge of data engineering, database technologies, and enterprise data platforms.
Working knowledge of business intelligence, visualization, and decision-support tools.
Working knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics.
Working knowledge of cloud computing, application development, and automation.
Working knowledge of digital twins, remote sensing, LiDAR, and related geospatial technologies.
Working knowledge of Python, R, SQL, or comparable analytical tools and programming environments.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the department's strategic direction, goals, and priorities in alignment with H-GAC's mission and regional planning objectives.
Lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for transportation modeling, socioeconomic forecasting, scenario planning, environmental modeling, geospatial analytics, data engineering, business intelligence, application development, and regional research.
Oversee departmental operations, budgets, contracts, staffing, resource allocation, and performance measures.
Recruit, mentor, develop, and evaluate staff; promote professional growth, succession planning, and cross-functional collaboration.
Establish standards and processes to ensure analytical products and services are accurate, high quality, timely, and effective.
Identify emerging technologies, methodologies, and industry trends that can improve departmental capabilities and service delivery.
Foster a collaborative environment focused on accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and customer service.
Direct the development and implementation of analytical models, forecasting tools, research initiatives, and data-driven solutions.
Oversee transportation planning analyses, travel demand modeling, population and employment forecasting, and scenario development.
Guide economic, demographic, environmental, infrastructure, and regional research initiatives, as well as disaster impact, resiliency, accessibility, and performance measurement analyses.
Oversee development of dashboards, data visualizations, interactive applications, and decision-support tools.
Ensure analytical methods, data sources, and research findings are accurate, reliable, and consistent with applicable standards.
Translate complex technical findings into clear information for agency leadership, elected officials, technical committees, partner agencies, and the public.
Direct data management, geospatial analytics, GIS functions, and the development, maintenance, integration, and analysis of regional datasets and geospatial information.
Collaborate with IT and other departments on data governance, quality, accessibility, security, information sharing, integration, and automation.
Guide development of digital mapping tools, web applications, dashboards, and other geospatial products; support regional geospatial partnerships and data-sharing initiatives.
Evaluate emerging geospatial technologies, including remote sensing, LiDAR, imagery, digital twins, and advanced visualization tools.
Lead evaluation, development, and implementation of AI and emerging technology initiatives, including responsible adoption in collaboration with IT and agency leadership.
Identify opportunities to apply AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation to improve processes and analytical capabilities; oversee assigned pilots and technology evaluations.
Support AI governance, data security, privacy, responsible-use practices, and staff training and knowledge sharing related to emerging technologies.
Evaluate technology solutions, vendors, and partnerships; monitor technology initiatives and identify operational improvements.
Improve departmental efficiency, service delivery, technical capabilities, workflows, processes, and analytical systems; promote advanced analytical methods, cloud technologies, automation, and scalable data solutions.
Encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines, support cross-departmental initiatives, and develop performance measures to evaluate departmental outcomes.
Establish and maintain relationships with local governments, state and federal agencies, universities, transportation organizations, regional planning partners, and other stakeholders.
Represent H-GAC and DAR at regional, statewide, and national meetings, conferences, committees, and technical working groups.
Collaborate with internal departments and external partners to identify analytical needs, develop solutions, communicate findings, and promote regional data sharing.
Identify opportunities to expand departmental capabilities and services through grants, partnerships, research initiatives, and other funding opportunities.
Support proposals, grant applications, service agreements, and project plans.
Oversee departmental budgets, expenditures, contracts, and resource allocation; ensure compliance with grant requirements, contractual obligations, agency policies, and reporting standards.
Evaluate departmental programs and initiatives for effective resource use and alignment with organizational priorities, and explore sustainable funding for innovation and long-term service delivery.