Regional Projects Team Lead (Transportation Planner IV)

Fairfax County, located just minutes from the nation's capital, is a highly desirable place to live, work, and play, offering a dynamic mix of suburban tranquility and metropolitan access. With over 400 square miles of land area and about 1.2 million residents, the county boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. An extensive transportation infrastructure connects residents, employers, and visitors via a well-designed and maintained network of highways, roads, streets, sidewalks, and trails.

Since 1977, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has been at the forefront of transforming the local transportation network. We are committed to enhancing mobility, safety, and the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. Our mission is to plan, coordinate, fund, implement, and sustain a cutting-edge multimodal transportation system that meets the dynamic needs of Fairfax County.

FCDOT is seeking an experienced and innovative individual to join the Special Projects Division. Under the general supervision of the division chief, this position serves as the Regional Projects Team Lead supporting Fairfax County's delivery of large-scale regional and multimodal transportation projects. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in transportation planning and analysis, along with experience in project management and transit-oriented development. This role coordinates major projects through planning, environmental assessment, preliminary engineering, final design, and construction, and supports County review of transit-oriented land use studies to address development impacts near key regional transportation corridors. This position will provide a challenging and rewarding experience for an individual interested and invested in achieving the county's ambitious transportation goals.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing oversight and coordination for large-scale, complex, and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects with high visibility and major regional mobility impacts, such as the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (NEXT) Project, I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study, Transforming Rail in Virginia, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, and other regional initiatives;
• Coordinating Fairfax County's involvement in regional projects through all phases of delivery, with emphasis on planning, environmental coordination, engineering, construction, financial management, land development coordination, and project closeout;
• Overseeing and coordinating the review of engineering plans and construction activities, and providing guidance on construction management and project implementation issues as needed;
• Leading coordination efforts with various County agencies and departments on project issues, and representing the Special Projects Division on multi-disciplinary project teams;
• Representing Fairfax County Department of Transportation and project interests in coordination with elected officials, funding partners, regional agencies, other jurisdictions, and the general public;
• Serving as the county's lead coordinator with key external partners including Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), federal agencies, and other County departments supporting major regional initiatives;
• Working closely with regional partner organizations such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) to support project funding, coordination, and implementation efforts;
• Providing technical support to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Dulles Rail Tax District Advisory Board and Commission, and other boards, committees, and advisory groups as needed;
• Supporting the division chief in coordinating cross-disciplinary transportation efforts to meet county and partner agency goals, including preparing briefings, technical summaries, and leadership updates;
• Attending public meetings, including evening meetings, and presenting project information in a public forum;
• Supervising and providing guidance to Transportation Planner III staff, including assigning work tasks, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables; and
• Performing other duties, as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, urban, regional or transportation planning, or a closely related field, plus five years of progressively responsible transportation planning related experience. The years of experience should include at least one year in the specific area of assignment (for e.g., SAS, Modeling, Facilities Maintenance, et al).

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in transportation planning, civil engineering, urban planning, or a related field, with 6-8 years of progressively responsible transportation-related experience.
• Strong background in project management, land use planning, corridor-level multimodal mobility projects transportation planning, alternatives analyses, design review, and project implementation, particularly for large-scale, complex projects with significant regional and/or national importance.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex transportation issues with a diverse range of stakeholders, including federal, state, regional, and local partners.
• Experience with financing major transportation projects, including federal, regional, and local funding sources, and familiarity with local government Special Tax Districts.
• Demonstrated experience in managing or supporting transportation projects, including at least one project with a budget exceeding $100 million.
• Extensive experience leading and supporting public outreach, including engagement with community groups, business organizations, associations, and residents.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present technical information in a clear, concise, and understandable manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, including demonstrated experience preparing and delivering briefings to community groups, elected officials, senior-level leadership, federal/state/regional transportation agencies, and other jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to supervise, mentor, and lead professional staff and manage team deliverables in a collaborative environment.
• Knowledge of construction management concepts and project delivery challenges is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or other professional certification(s) are preferred, such as FE(EIT) Certificate, Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE), American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Designated Plans Examiner (DPE) from the Engineer and Surveyor's Institute (ESI), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), VDOT Locally Administered Projects (LAP) Certification, or VDOT Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control Course.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.