Director, Zero Emission Vehicles

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), a large, diverse public transportation agency that provides over 1.2 million daily passenger trips in across the Washington Metropolitan region (including the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia), is seeking an experienced leader to forge a new direction for Metro as it seeks to transition to a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) fleet. The position is in the Office of Business Transformation, part of the Department of Strategy Planning and Program Management (SPPM).  SPPM is the lead organization responsible for business transformation, planning, capital programming, and sustainability initiatives through programs that enhance and maintain the Metrorail and Metrobus system’s operating conditions.

This program’s initial focus will be on Metro’s bus fleet and will eventually also extend to other support vehicles. Specific work includes (1) evaluating Metro’s fleet, facilities, and related infrastructure readiness and requirements; (2) defining a program and timeline for equipment acquisition and corresponding facility upgrades; (3) driving interdepartmental, regional jurisdiction, energy supplier, and other partner engagement; and (4) defining a path for workforce engagement, development and training to ensure a successful transition.

The successful incumbent will lead the planning, program design, and oversight required to field a ZEV fleet, including advancing Metro’s strategy and leading interdepartmental and regional coordination to implement that strategy. Ideal candidates will have demonstration a broad-based understanding of emerging ZEV systems and technologies, bus operations and maintenance, and vehicle and systems engineering. Candidates must have the experience and ability to manage, direct, and supervise professional and technical staff’s work and the communications skills to coordinate the many program stakeholders, both internally and externally. Excellent written and oral communication skills and critical thinking skills are therefore also critical.

Job # is 210120 and application can be submitted through careers.wmata.com.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Transportation, or Program Management discipline.

Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of proven experience in large-scaled program management.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to conduct complex cost, budgetary, and statistical analyses and to develop, prepare and monitor budgets.

Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred

• MBA/MS highly preferred

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required.  The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

SUMMARY 

The Director of Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) & Programs is a member of the senior leadership team within the Office of Business Transformation and directs and manages Metro’s advancement of the zero-emission road vehicle program. The Director provides leadership on the overall ZEV implementation strategy, consistent with Metro’s mission, sustainability principles, and the needs and goals of the region. The incumbent also directs the engagement, oversight, and management of capital programs and contractors used in planning and advancing Metro’s ZEV strategy. The incumbent develops and executes innovative and scalable program strategies to migrate Metro to a ZEV fleet through regular engagement of and support to the relevant departmental program teams and building and maintaining fleet strategy, infrastructure investments, funding strategies, and fleet acquisition schedule.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and executes innovative and scalable program strategies to migrate Metro to a ZEV fleet through (a) regular engagement of and support to the relevant departmental program teams and (b) building and maintaining fleet strategy, infrastructure investments, funding strategies, and fleet acquisition schedule
• Collaborates and regularly communicates with executive and senior-level managers across the Authority and among external stakeholders on Metro’s ZEV program.
• Directs the development of zero-emissions program strategies, coordinating and prioritizing senior leadership’s strategic business goals, and aligning activities to SPPM Senior Leadership and Metro’s executive management team, building and delivering a solid strategic program foundation.
• Coordinates and oversees ZEV work across the agency and among the relevant capital programs aligned with Metro’s mission, including policies, practices, and programs.
• Oversees ZEV programs and projects to ensure completion of work within schedules and budgets, including the scope of work and the direction of work progress and budget throughout assignment. Monitors the financial performance of projects and make recommendations for alternative approaches when needed. Maintains communication with Senior and Executive Leadership regarding the project to ensure the timely and wellmanaged execution and communication of programs and projects.
• Directs and manages a program team to oversee the specific transformation programs and enforces change management processes and procedures. Facilitates multi-division working groups, consisting of subject matter experts from various operations including, sustainability, capital programming, finance, public affairs, human resources, business services, engineering, customer advocacy, and internal audits. Ensures all work is executed with proper project controls.
• Develops, together with the relevant department leadership, research and policies related to vehicle and fleet strategy and capital improvements.
• Coordinates with partner agencies (e.g., jurisdictional transit operators) to ensure program, operations and business practices meet shared requirements. Manages the effective dissemination of information and coordinates interagency agreements among the region’s transit agencies to garner regional bus operator and jurisdiction engagement, participation, and support.
• Maintains expert knowledge and a professional network that fosters best practices and cutting-edge innovation in relevant and comparable industries (in transit and beyond) and serves as a change agent who drives forward rapid strategic and operational improvements.
• Leads program and reporting functions to ensure the timely distribution of relevant and accurate information and status updates for executive/senior management, the Board of Directors, funding partners, and other stakeholders. Oversees dissemination of the findings and policy positions resulting from ZEV projects, including media outreach, government relations, and public events.
• Oversees and directs general administrative activities for the Business Transformation – Zero-Emission Vehicles team, including but not limited to, the development and management of budgets, personnel and contractor management, and business plan development
• Implements advisory groups comprised of internal and external stakeholders to build consensus regarding policy, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, customer education, and change management.
• Directs the development, implementation, and oversight of zero-emissions vehicle policies, procedures, and the accompanying policy instructions. Also, leads the regulations, long-range strategies, and outreach initiatives in conjunction with other agency-wide departments.
• Provides technical assistance to stakeholders looking to implement best practices and innovative approaches to ZEV, securing, to the greatest extent possible, a shared vision, standards, and commitment across the region.