Intermodal Planning Unit Chief (Springfield, IL)
The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking to hire a lntermodal Planning Unit Chief (Springfield, IL)
Agency Mission Statement
The IDOT team works diligently to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and protect our environment. We are problem solvers and leaders, constantly searching for innovations and improvements in support of our commitment to providing the best multimodal transportation system for Illinois.
Our team fosters a culture of inclusivity. We value diversity and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards as we work together for a common purpose. Team members frequently collaborate with colleagues and others outside the department to best meet customer needs.
The department offers extensive training and career advancement opportunities. Employees also receive a robust benefit package including:
- Monday-Friday work schedule
- Flexible work schedules are available in many program areas
- Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
- Pension Plan
- (10) Weeks paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
- Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually
- New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually
- Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually
- (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
- Tuition Reimbursement
We invite qualified applicants to apply to become part of our team. We are confident that you will take pride in serving Illinois and its residents and visitors.
This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.
All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.
Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery} will not be considered.
Agency: Department of Transportation
Closing Date/Time: 12/29/2022
Salary: $6,670-$11,020 Monthly
Job Type: Salaried Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Plan/BU: NR916 - Protech Teamsters
*This position is covered by the Revolving Door Prohibition Policy.
Job Responsibilities
This position manages the lntermodal Planning Unit that includes freight, bicycle and pedestrian, and general transportation planning. This position oversees systems planning in these programs and leads policy development and implementation of the department's objective for more integrated multimodal transportation systems which necessitates considerable internal and external communication and coordination.
Systems:
Highway-137,000 miles
Transit -40 local systems
Rail -8,000 miles
8 Class 1 Railroads
Airports -80 public facilities
Ports -13 public districts and 300 private terminals
Major National Highway System (NHS) lntermodal Facilities in Illinois: 120 Miles of NHS lntermodal Connectors in Illinois: 150
lntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) lntermodal/Freight Discretionary Programs: $225 - 250 million annually
Department Noise Abatement Program: $17 million annually
Illinois Transportation Research Center: $600,000 annually
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO): 12
This position reports to the Planning Services Section Chief. Reporting to this position are the Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator, lntermodal Planning Specialist, and Planning Analyst.
This position is unique in that it coordinates, analyzes, and recommends departmental action from both a freight or passenger trip purpose perspective, considering all transportation modes, and brings together public and private interests to achieve transportation efficiency. In achieving this mission, the incumbent ensures federal requirements of applicable formula and discretionary grant programs are met. S/He oversees development of an information base that includes a system inventory of intermodal links and major intermodal terminals. S/He develops strategies for improving intermodal connectivity and recommends performance measures for assessing their success. This position develops and prepares planning and programming documents for intermodal and freight programs; represents the department to local government officials, MPOs, and public and private transportation providers while coordinating interaction among Illinois freight modes, including rail, highway, airports, and ports. The incumbent focuses on providing the most effective planning and technical assistance possible with a limited budget. The incumbent analyzes freight and passenger logistics and identifies physical and operations barriers to the efficient movement of goods and people between modal systems and then recommends solutions that improve freight mobility. The incumbent coordinates and assists in setting targets for accomplishment of federal performance standards for freight. The incumbent is challenged by barriers to full analysis resulting from private sector confidentiality and internal carrier strategies concerning operations and competitive positioning.
As a result, the incumbent should possess effective communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills to reach agreements among parties of widely varying, and often opposing, objectives and motives. The incumbent works in a cooperative environment with other Planning Services Section staff to develop and deliver documents. Planning Services Section assignments require wide latitude in the use of staff and the ad hoc teaming of professionals. Work assignments may exceed the specific responsibilities of the incumbent's position and often require flexible work and knowledge development skills.
Typical challenges involve development and implementation of the multimodal Freight Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and other mode specific planning documents and products that reflect the vision of the department, articulate transportation related problems, evaluate alternatives, identify needs, and guide investment direction. This may involve developing and evaluating proposals, plans, and solutions to immediate transportation problems. The incumbent recognizes and tactfully resolves sensitive issues between internal program areas, and with external jurisdictions such as other state/federal agencies, units of local government, MPOs, port districts, and the private sector. A continual challenge is ensuring state and local plans including the State Freight Plan, meet federal requirements for intermodal/freight and bicycle and pedestrian programs are aligned with applicable discretionary funding programs.
The incumbent implements the department's objectives for more integrated multimodal transportation systems which require proper departmental planning. S/He coordinates with numerous external committees including the State Freight Advisory Council. S/He ensures that the development and enhancement of existing and proposed intermodal terminals and NHS intermodal connectors in Illinois are carried out in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. The incumbent coordinates and prepares intermodal plans and program documents that meet federal eligibility requirements for intermodal/freight discretionary program funding of transportation projects in Illinois. The incumbent assists in developing work scopes to be performed by consultants, local agencies, and/or rural or MPOs; follows progress of such work; and makes critical review of completed work as to its feasibility and its capability of being integrated in the State Transportation Plan (STP) and programs and metropolitan transportation plans and programs. The incumbent represents the department as one of two members on the Illinois Transportation Research Center (ITRC) university research committee which selects the best research proposals for ITRC grants. The incumbent supervises development of detailed work programs; develops and monitors work schedules; develops and maintains close liaison with officials from local agencies, rural and MPOs to technically assist in development of their individual plans, programs, and capital improvements. S/He implements existing fiscal procedures for administration and monitoring of state grants to port authorities. The incumbent assists the Planning Service Section Chief in the development of the Planning Services Section's budget, potential legislation, assignment, and general Planning Services Section's administration.
The incumbent accomplishes accountabilities through the following staff:
Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator who is accountable for planning and coordinating non-motorized transportation as part of the department's intermodal program planning. This position will work closely with various offices within the department as well as many advocacy groups and local governmental entities.
lntermodal Planning Specialist who is accountable for developing intermodal freight plans and documents that support enhancing the efficient movement of goods using intermodal freight transportation facilities and infrastructure in Illinois. The incumbent is accountable for data collection, analysis, strategy development, coordination, and monitoring of the implementation of strategies and goals from the State Long Range Transportation Plan and State Freight Plan.
Planning Analyst who is accountable for developing and implementing intermodal analytical systems for freight and passenger transportation. Specifically, this position maintains inventories of NHS intermodal facilities, NHS connectors, Illinois port districts, intermodal services, and private carrier systems. The incumbent is responsible for technical analyses of information and data utilizing professional-level statistical skills.
The incumbent is given broad latitude to make decisions related to his/her accountabilities. Since the incumbent often represents the department at critical points in relationships with external stakeholders and in working meetings with rural and MPOs, s/he will be given wide latitude in negotiating decisions. The incumbent recommends policies, procedures, rules, and regulations relating to departmental programs. S/He consults with the Planning Services Section Chief in areas of administrative policy requiring executive management decision. The incumbent is constrained by all departmental/state/federal policies and practices.
Internal contacts include close and frequent liaison with the Office of Highways Project Implementation and lntermodal Project Implementation staff and concerned bureaus in the Office of Planning and Programming. External contacts include officials of MPOs, rural planning organizations, economic development agencies, Illinois Commerce Commission, United States Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, and other federal agencies concerned with commercial transportation issues in Illinois. The incumbent develops and maintains close liaison with private transportation carriers and service providers. Occasional statewide and outof-state travel with overnight stays is required.
The effectiveness of the incumbent is measured by the department's ability to garner federal intermodal/freight discretionary funds for projects in Illinois based on the work products of the incumbent. Specifically, the effectiveness of the incumbent is measured by the timely preparation of acceptable planning and programming documents that support the development of commercial, intermodal, and active transportation in Illinois. Effectiveness is further measured by the equitable development and enhancement of intermodal transportation throughout the state; and acceptance of such efforts by the concerned MPOs, private transportation carriers and commercial transportation users, concerned federal and state agencies, and Illinois General Assembly. Further, the incumbent's effectiveness is measured by the productivity of work toward all assignments from the Planning Services Section Chief.
Principal Accountabilities
- Recommends policy and implements the department's objective for more integrated multimodal transportation systems that require proper planning.
- Coordinates with numerous external committees including the State Freight Advisory Council.
- Develops and produces planning and programming documents that meet federal eligibility requirements for discretionary intermodal/freight funding of projects in Illinois.
- Coordinates and monitors the development of enhanced intermodal transportation facilities and services in Illinois, including representing the department to MPOs. Performs liaison functions with local officials and private carrier representatives.
- Develops and maintains an intermodal system/facility inventory of the STP.
- Develops and maintains knowledge of the private transportation sector, its operation, its business environment, and its long-range market prospects. Develops and maintains similar information on all private transportation firms and carriers.
- Advises the Planning Services Section Chief of problem areas and makes recommendations for policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
- Ensures that the efforts of the Planning Services Section are compatible with and complement the STP.
- Cooperates with other Planning Services Section staff relative to development and delivery of Planning Services Section assignments, products, and documents including the development of new knowledge for special studies and assignments.
- Offers assistance to regional and local entities on innovative financing or techniques that may lead to public private partnership opportunities.
- Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Position Requirements
- Education/Experience
- Completion of a bachelor's degree majoring in urban planning, transportation management, geography, business, logistics, or economics PLUS four years of experience developing planning documents, interacting with stakeholders, implementing goals and strategies, analyzing data collection within urban planning, travel demand modeling, economic development and/or land use; or a combination thereof; OR
- Twelve years of experience developing planning documents, interacting with stakeholders, implementing goals and strategies, analyzing data collection within urban planning, travel demand modeling, economic development and/or land use; or a combination thereof
- Two years of supervisory experience
- Valid driver's license
- Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel with overnight stays
Position Desirables
- Working knowledge of management techniques and modern organizational concepts
- Ability to plan, organize, and execute administrative or technical program requirements
- Ability to organize and lead large groups to accomplish goals
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access
- Effective communication and written skills
- Effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to harmoniously work with diverse groups of people
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification
Work Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday
Work Location: 2300 S Dirksen Pkwy Springfield, IL 62764-0001
Work Office: Office of Planning and Programming, Bureau of Planning
Agency Contact: DOT.CONTACTHR@ILLINOIS.GOV
Job Family: Transportation; Administration/Management
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Use the "Apply" button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees - a link is available at the top left of the lllinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.
Non-State employees should log in on the using the "View Profile" link in the top right of the lllinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid
Non-State employees: on lllinois.jobs2web.com - click "Application Procedures" in the footer of every page of the website.
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
Learn more about Illinois Department of Transportation here.