Director of Government Relations

San Joaquin Regional Transit District • Stockton, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), this role initiates, responds to, and coordinates routine contact between San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) and government officials. The position recommends and develops policies involving legislative and administrative issues related to transit, and provides timely assessment of local, state, and federal programs or initiatives that have implications for RTD. The Director works with RTD management, staff, state and federal lobbyists, and key agencies to ensure accurate, timely, and appropriate responses are provided to create sound public policies and understanding of these policies in the communities served by RTD. This single incumbent class is primarily responsible for performing supervisory, administrative, government affairs, and internal or external coordination. An incumbent’s work mainly involves problem-solving and mediating highly conflicting, unexpected, and unusual problems and issues involving multiple groups.

Requirements

• Knowledge of transportation planning and programming.
• Knowledge of Federal and California State environmental laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of Federal and state grant requirements including TrAMS and BlackCat grant processing systems.
• Knowledge of Metropolitan Planning Organizations/Regional Transportation Planning Agencies functions and structure.
• Knowledge of Interpersonal and group dynamics.
• Knowledge of Transit challenges and an understanding of various issues relating to transit.
• Knowledge of Methods and techniques of preparing complex analysis reports and correspondence.
• Knowledge of Contract language and laws.
• Knowledge of Budget planning, management, and administration methods.
• Knowledge of Practices of working with elected officials and media organizations.
• Knowledge of Electronic document filing, storage, and retrieval.
• Knowledge of Specialized applications and project management methods.
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of public relations.
• Knowledge of Local, state, and federal transportation laws, policies, funding, and legislative processes.
• Knowledge of Principles, practices, and trends of public and business administration, governmental function, organization, and relationships.
• Knowledge of Analytical methods and techniques used for staff and budgetary analysis, statistics, and policy analysis.
• Knowledge of Principles of budget preparation and control.
• Knowledge of Program analysis and cost and benefit analysis.
• Knowledge of Research methods and analysis techniques.
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of internal consulting.
• Knowledge of Organization and functions of a public board.
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of sound business communication.
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
• Knowledge of RTD human resources policies and procedures and labor contract provisions.
• Ability to work comfortably with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to interpret, synthesize, and implement decisions.
• Ability to write complex technical specifications and contract scopes of work.
• Ability to enforce RTD policies, programs, and practices with employees, outside vendors, and the public.
• Ability to represent RTD interests with outside agencies and community groups.
• Ability to elicit cooperation and compliance from internal and external groups; coordinate activities with internal and external groups.
• Ability to respond to requests for complex information in a timely manner.
• Ability to stay current with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret complex legal documents, regional transportation policies, and comprehensive transit related materials.
• Ability to prepare and maintain a variety of comprehensive reports and documents.
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate, and present a variety of policy issues and management analysis data.
• Ability to recommend and implement solutions to complex policy and administrative problems.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other written materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential personnel issues and employee situations.
• Ability to exercise sound, expert independent judgment, and diplomacy while representing RTD and various local and state meetings including governing boards and councils with elected officials, agency staff, and the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of RTD management, Board of Directors, employees, employee organizations and their representatives, other governmental officials, community groups, and the public.
• Ability to multi-task on several complex and time sensitive projects.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business, political science, public policy communication, public relations, or a closely related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs and/or community relations in a liaison-type position with governmental, civic constituencies, and the general public, at least three of which were in a supervisory or program management capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• One (1) additional year of the required experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education.
• A valid California Class C driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a public transit agency or governmental setting is preferred.
• Master’s degree or Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitor monthly San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) Board agenda packets, prepare written and verbal briefings for RTD’s Board member who is an ex-officio to the SJCOG Board and RTD’s CEO regarding policy, program, and funding items.
• Represent RTD on the SJCOG Interagency Transit Committee (ITC), Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC), and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
• Represent RTD’s CEO if/as needed on the SJCOG Management and Finance Committee, Executive Committee, and Board meetings.
• Represent RTD as an ex-officio on the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and provide RTD updates.
• Participate in biweekly legislative meetings with RTD’s federal and state legislative advocates.
• Serve as liaison to Caltrans Headquarters and District 10 for issues pertaining to RTD.
• Serve as liaison to the California Transportation Commissions (CTC) for items relating to RTD.
• Conducts detailed research on transit industry data and provides statistical analyses; identifies issues which may impact RTD, including existing and proposed local, state, and federal legislation, and assists senior management in providing appropriate responses; analyzes and evaluates complex policy issues and makes recommendations on actions to be taken; prepares complex reports, documents, and correspondence.
• Represents RTD at meetings with the Board of Directors, legislative staff, public and private sector organizations, and other external groups; participates in internal and external committees and meetings.
• Writes issue papers and official correspondence; writes proposals and technical specifications; formulates or recommends strategy to guide RTD’s state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives; communicates RTD’s needs or programs to legislators.
• Establishes strategy and manages the analysis of public policy issues for internal decisions; manages RTD in the development of public policies; produces reports, including position papers and briefing documents on key policy issues.
• Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with legislators and regulators to advocate RTD’s policies and to secure funding; prepares and presents RTD’s testimony before both local and national governmental bodies; monitors the authorization and appropriations of relevant agency-related legislation at the state and federal levels to ensure adequate support for transit-related programs.
• Coordinates RTD’s response to major events or changing policy; monitors, and researches items as directed by the CEO; prepares reports of findings and recommendations.
• Attends outside meetings during both workday and evenings in the community; develops and manages the execution of agency-wide community and legislative outreach strategies; manages the execution of strategy to identify and analyze community needs, concerns, and perceptions early on in the formulation and advancement of RTD’s capital projects; manages maximum integration and leveraging of legislative and community relations functions.
• Provide the CEO with timely information on emerging issues in the policy arena so that RTD can take appropriate action.
• Participate in state and local project development teams (PDT) project studies including the Interstate 205 Managed Lanes Project and the State Route 99 Multimodal Comprehensive Study.
• Coordinate and prepare support letters for grants, projects, and proposed legislation.
• Represent and coordinate RTD’s involvement with the SJCOG Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) program updates and funding requests.
• Coordinate policy, funding, and other items relating to the SJCOG Measure K program.
• Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and dental insurance package for all full-time employees and their dependents.
• $20,000 life insurance for all full-time employees.
• Twelve (12) days of sick leave per year for all full-time employees.
• Vacation: Two (2) weeks to six (6) weeks depending on length of service for full-time employees.
• RTD participates in a 401(a) retirement plan in which RTD provides a generous match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director