Assistant Director, Housing and Local Government Legislative Advocacy

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Assistant Director, Housing and Local Government Legislative Advocacy

Salary

$157,838.10 - $210,297.57 Annually

Location

San Francisco, CA

Job Type

Regular/Full-Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

1110

Section

Legislation & Public Affairs Section

Department

Legislation

Opening Date

04/04/2022

Closing Date

4/24/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.

DESCRIPTION


DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2022 AT 11:59 PM
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY
A resume and cover letter are not required with your application, but highly encouraged 

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.  For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.   


The Assistant Director will, as appropriate, lead, oversee, review, and perform management-level legislative advocacy and coalition building with a focus on housing and local government.  This position seeks a dynamic and grounded leader to serve a broad portfolio including MTC, ABAG, and the newly created Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA). 

Assistant Directors are expected to successfully execute responsibilities and duties by managing reporting or matrixed staff, consultants and other resources available to the agency.  New and different program, project, or functional assignments may be assigned to keep up with the agency's changing policy requirements. The Assistant Director position requires an individual with creativity and vision who can successfully direct daily operations and introduce improved processes and procedures in support of the Section's business goals and objectives. Employees at the Assistant Director level participate as members of the agency's management team and are responsible for initiating, implementing and carrying to completion projects, services, programs, and operations.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Knowledge of:

  • Familiarity with policy and legislation related to housing and land use at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • General understanding of federal, state, and/or local legislative advocacy and coalition building.
  • Local, state, and federal legislative priorities and processes, as well as committee structures and member priorities in the area of housing policy.
  • General understanding of public and media relations, and communication techniques.
  • Principles and practices of communication techniques, public information programs and legislative analysis, transportation programming and funding.
Skills and Abilities
  • Develop and implement legislative policy and advocacy with a focus on housing and assist in making decisions of considerable regional impact.
  • Investigate, analyze and interpret complex housing-related legislation and programs for general audiences; analyze, interpret and evaluate staff reports, new laws, regulations and codes; adjust standard operating procedures to improve effectiveness and comply with regulatory changes as appropriate.
  • Listen and exhibit interpersonal skills, and considerable tact and discretion in representing MTC to varied audiences and special interest groups.
  • Work effectively with diverse groups, with an ability to listen to and discuss problems and complaints tactfully.
  • Plan, organize and coordinate a variety of public information, media and legislative related activities and programs including development of effective public and community outreach strategies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An appropriate combination of education and experience that has provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is:

Education: Completion of a Master's degree in a relevant major from an accredited college or university. (Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with their application.) Alternately, a Bachelor's degree with an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience that includes effectively executing, leading or managing a team and/or reporting to upper management with an aptitude toward understanding the strategic goals of an agency or an enterprise.  Specific experience should include a minimum of three (3) years in the following areas: 1) working with legislative staff and elected officials to develop and implement policies and legislation; 2) developing and implementing housing and/or land use related advocacy platform; 3) building coalitions and coordinating with local governments; and 4) public engagement/communication in the legislative arena.  Experience in supervising and mentoring preferred.

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Legislation & Public Affairs Section Director, specific assignments and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Serve as critical advisor working proactively and collaboratively to lead the implementation of adopted legislative priorities, with a focus on housing at the state and local level.
  • Provide highly responsive and complex strategic management support to the Section Director and, as appropriate, to the Executive team and policy boards.
  • Lead, oversee, review and perform management-level legislative advocacy and coalition building with a focus on housing and local government; 
  • Expand and strengthen interaction and relationships between MTC and ABAG and policy makers, housing stakeholders, and local jurisdictions; 
  • Participate in writing, presentations, and informational reports that are relevant to the agency's legislative advocacy program; 
  • Direct staff; coordinate with other team members on engagement activities, press events, and communications campaigns as related to housing and local government;
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable policies, procedures and work methods associated with assigned duties; and
  • Perform other job-related duties as needed or required by the section. 
Strategic Management
  • Develop goals, milestones and strategic recommendations for review and approval by the Executive Office and the Commission.
  • In cooperation with other agency staff members, Assistant Directors and Section Directors, coordinate Legislation & Public Affairs Section staff assignments to ensure effective use of available resources and develop and prioritize work tasks accordingly.
  • Coordinate with Section Directors, Assistant Directors and senior staff to achieve cohesive and comprehensive development of Policy recommendations. Ensure the integration of assigned responsibilities with related responsibilities both within and outside of the Legislation & Public Affairs Section.
  • Oversee delivery of major work products.
Champion Legislative Advocacy Priorities
  • Implement strategies to adopt a Joint MTC and ABAG legislative advocacy platform, with a focus on housing issues in coordination with partner agencies.  
  • Work collaboratively with agency and partner staff to develop and implement MTC and ABAG advocacy trips and prioritize advocacy activities for upcoming state and federal legislative sessions to Washington D.C. and Sacramento.
  • Testify at state and federal legislative hearings, as necessary, to advance MTC, ABAG, and BAHFA’s housing legislative priorities.  
  • Monitor, analyze and recommend positions on key housing and local government-focused bills for executive staff and policy boards.
  • Advise the Commission, Executive Board, Executive Director, and senior leadership team on the political landscape for agency policy recommendations and opportunities to advance housing initiatives through legislative, funding, or regional measures.
Strengthen Regional Coalitions and Collaboration
  • In partnership with federal and state transit operators, various transportation agencies and other Bay Area regional agencies, as well as existing MTC teams and local jurisdictions, coordinate legislative advocacy, and related communication and public engagement efforts.
  • Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, business community leaders, interest groups, and partner agency staff.  
  • Manage large events such as Commission workshops, ABAG’s General Assembly and collaborate on relevant partner agency conferences and events including strategic sponsorship.
Staff Coordination and Oversight 
  • Monitor overall work assignments and workflow. Ensure that staff assignments are resourced correctly to deliver projects and ensure operational success. Identify shortfalls/gaps in resources and recommend solutions.
  • Provide lead direction and work assignments to assigned or matrixed staff; instruct staff in work procedures, and review and evaluate work performed;
  • Participate in the selection, orientation, training and evaluation programs for assigned or matrixed staff; provide or coordinate staff training, provide positive motivation for employee performance, identify and resolve staff deficiencies; review the work of staff to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
  • Provide direction and guidance to Principals and their teams. Serve as point of escalation for problem-solving, conflict resolution. Ensure Section Director is updated and informed of program operations and projects.

All employees at MTC are classified as Disaster Services Workers. 

THE FOLLOWING ARE AMONG THE BENEFITS OFFERED TO MANAGEMENT STAFF OF MTC:

  • Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); employee contributes a portion of gross salary on a pre-tax basis.
    • MTC is subject to California Pension Reform and as of January 1, 2013 will offer two pension plans. The plan employee will receive will be based on the individual's historical pension plan membership. HR will discuss this directly with all final candidates.
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  • Health Benefits Insurance through the Public Employees' Retirement System (premiums are shared between agency and employee).
    •    
  • Agency-paid Dental Insurance (dependent coverage shared by the employee and MTC).
    •    
  • Agency-paid Vision Care Insurance, employees only (dependent coverage is paid in full by employee).
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  • Agency-paid Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance.
    •    
  • Eleven paid holidays per year.
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  • One day per month paid vacation leave; for each year of service, an additional day per year is granted to a maximum of 25 days per year.
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  • One day per month paid sick leave, with no limit to the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated.
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  • Personal Business leave; up to three (3) days per year depending upon date of hire.
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  • Monthly Transit/Parking Subsidy.
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  • Alternative employee paid payroll savings plans available (tax-deferred compensation plans).
       
  • Two employee-paid voluntary participation programs which are pre-tax, dependent care and flexible spending accounts.
       
  • Voluntary Supplemental life insurance.
    •    
  • Employee Assistance Program.
     

Agency
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Address
375 Beale Street, Suite 800

San Francisco, California, 94105
Phone
415-778-6700
Website
http://www.mtc.ca.gov
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