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Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervises: Planning Department Staff, Consultants, and Assigned Project Teams

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

POSITION SUMMARY
The Planning Director provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of Chatham Area Transit's planning, service development, capital planning, grants administration, strategic initiatives, and regulatory compliance programs. The Director serves as a key member of the Agency's leadership team and is responsible for advancing CAT's mission through innovative planning, data-driven decision-making, fiscal stewardship, and customer-focused transit solutions.

The Planning Director develops and implements short-range and long-range transportation plans, oversees major capital and operational planning initiatives, secures and administers grant funding, and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The Director serves as the Agency's primary advisor on planning, service development, strategic growth, and transportation policy matters.

This position promotes and exemplifies CAT's Core Values of Customer-Focused Service, Safety-First Decision-Making, and Accountability while fostering collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence throughout the organization.

CAT CORE VALUES

• Customer-Focused Service
• Committed to providing exceptional service to riders, employees, stakeholders, and the community through responsive, innovative, accessible, and customer-centered transportation solutions.
• Safety-First
• Promotes a culture of safety by ensuring compliance with all applicable safety regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices in planning, project development, capital investments, and service implementation.
• Accountability
• Demonstrates integrity, transparency, professionalism, and responsible stewardship of public resources while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, grant requirements, and Agency policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all Agency planning functions.
• Serves as a member of the executive leadership team and participates in organizational decision-making and strategic initiatives.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental goals, objectives, policies, and performance measures.
• Leads development of CAT's Strategic Plan, Transit Development Plan (TDP), Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA), Service Plans, Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and other major planning initiatives.
• Identifies emerging transportation trends, technological advancements, and industry best practices to support organizational growth and innovation.
• Advises executive leadership and the Board of Directors on planning, transportation policy, capital investments, service development, and funding strategies.
• Develops long-term transportation solutions that improve service delivery, accessibility, mobility, and operational efficiency.

Department Management and Administration

• Directs and oversees all Planning Department operations and personnel.
• Develops and administers departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Establishes departmental priorities and allocates resources to ensure efficient completion of projects and initiatives.
• Develops and monitors departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Implements performance management systems and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensures departmental compliance with Agency policies and applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversees consultant contracts, professional services agreements, and planning-related procurements.

Grants Administration and Funding Strategy

• Leads the development of grant strategies that maximize federal, state, regional, and local funding opportunities.
• Directs preparation and submission of grant applications, amendments, reports, and supporting documentation.
• Oversees administration and compliance of Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and other funding programs.
• Ensures compliance with all grant requirements, reporting obligations, and funding conditions.
• Develops innovative funding approaches, partnerships, and financing opportunities to support Agency priorities.
• Serves as the Agency's lead representative regarding planning and grant-related matters.

Service Planning and System Performance

• Directs transit service planning activities, including route design, scheduling recommendations, stop placement, service standards, and performance monitoring.
• Oversees evaluation of ridership, service productivity, customer feedback, and operational performance data.
• Develops recommendations to improve efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, accessibility, and customer satisfaction.
• Leads implementation of service modifications and system improvements.
• Supports development of mobility solutions that address current and future transportation needs.

Capital Planning and Infrastructure Development

• Directs capital planning initiatives, facility planning, transit center development, bus stop improvement programs, and infrastructure projects.
• Oversees planning activities associated with fleet modernization and zero-emission vehicle deployment.
• Coordinates planning and project development activities through conceptual design, engineering, procurement, and implementation phases.
• Ensures compliance with ADA accessibility requirements and Agency design standards.
• Supports regional transportation planning and infrastructure investment initiatives.

Regulatory Compliance and Reporting

• Maintains expertise in applicable transit regulations and planning requirements.
• Oversees Agency compliance with:
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• National Transit Database (NTD)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Title VI
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• Environmental regulations
• State and local transportation requirements
• Directs preparation and submission of regulatory reports and planning documents.
• Coordinates planning-related audits, reviews, and compliance assessments.

Stakeholder and Community Relations

• Represents CAT before the Board of Directors, elected officials, government agencies, MPOs, regional planning organizations, community stakeholders, and the public.
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships that advance CAT's mission and goals.
• Conducts public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community education initiatives.
• Presents reports, recommendations, and planning initiatives to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Serves as a spokesperson regarding planning, mobility, service development, and strategic initiatives.

Leadership and Employee Development

• Directly supervises professional, technical, and administrative personnel.
• Recruits, hires, develops, coaches, and evaluates employees.
• Promotes employee engagement, accountability, collaboration, and professional development.
• Establishes clear performance expectations and monitors outcomes.
• Conducts investigations, addresses performance concerns, and implements corrective action when necessary.
• Builds a culture that reflects CAT's Core Values and commitment to excellence.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in:

• Transportation Planning
• Urban Planning
• Public Administration
• Business Administration
• Engineering
• Geography
• Related field

Master's Degree preferred.
Experience

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible transportation planning, public administration, project management, or related experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of management or executive leadership experience.
• Experience managing grants, capital projects, budgets, and regulatory compliance programs.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Public transit leadership experience.
• Experience managing FTA-funded programs and projects.
• Experience presenting to Boards of Directors and elected officials.
• Experience with strategic planning and organizational development.
• Experience leading major transportation studies and service planning initiatives.
• Experience with capital project development and implementation.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Technical Knowledge
• Public transportation planning and operations.
• Transit service planning and scheduling.
• Grant administration and compliance.
• Strategic planning and performance management.
• Capital project planning and development.
• Transportation policy and funding programs.
• Federal, state, and local transit regulations.
• NTD reporting requirements.
• ADA, Title VI, DBE, and related compliance programs.
• GIS and transportation planning software.

Leadership Skills

• Strategic leadership and vision.
• Organizational management.
• Budget administration and fiscal oversight.
• Project and program management.
• Employee development and coaching.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Public speaking and executive presentations.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS

Preferred certifications include:

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Certified Public Manager (CPM)
• Other relevant professional certifications

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, communicate verbally, hear, operate office equipment, and travel to meetings, project sites, conferences, and community events.

DISCLAIMER
The statements contained herein describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required.

Management reserves the right to revise, modify, or change the duties and responsibilities of this position as business needs require. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment and does not alter the at-will employment relationship between the employee and Chatham Area Transit.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Chatham Area Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering 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 law.

CAT is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and promoting a culture that reflects its Core Values of Customer-Focused Service, Safety-First Decision-Making, and Accountability.