Indigenous Transportation Planning Manager

Description:

The Manager Indigenous Transportation Planning is responsible for leading the design, development, and coordination of transportation, mobility and access solutions tailored to the needs of First Nation and urban Indigenous communities. The role leads a team responsible for the planning program that will advance Reconciliation with First Nations through delivering substantively equitable transportation solutions that are built on authentic, trust- based relationships. This role provides strategic oversight and technical direction for programs of the high impact, risk, and complexity that are highly visible and sensitive in nature.

Key Accountabilities

Integrates Indigenous knowledge, priorities, and protocols into all stages of transportation planning and decision-making to ensure culturally respectful and community-driven transportation planning processes. Support reconciliation efforts through planning practices that reflect Indigenous rights, histories, and contributions.

Work closely with TransLink’s Indigenous Relations staff, who collaborates with Indigenous leadership, community members, and staff to support engagement and consultation processes and reporting which ensures meaningful participation and relationship-building with First Nations and urban Indigenous Peoples.

Lead the design and development of transportation, mobility and access solutions that are responsive to the needs of First Nation and urban Indigenous communities, which support advancing reconciliation, Enterprise, and regional goals in open, inclusive and collaborative ways.

Leads a team through transportation planning processes specific to Indigenous communities, ensuring compliance with Enterprise standards, policies and procedures, and legislative requirements for work of high impact, risk and complexity, exercising independent judgment where policies or guidelines do not exist.

In support of evidence-based decision-making reflective of Indigenous inputs, identifies analytical research needs, conducts research and advanced analysis, and oversees the development of advanced methods, techniques, and models to ensure successful delivery and execution of work that is of high impact, risk and complexity.

Works with the operating companies and other stakeholders to develop plans consistent with direction provided by senior leadership, Board and Mayors’ Council. Represents TransLink on various committees and task forces, prepares reports and studies for presentation. Represents TransLink directly to external audiences on issues of moderate to high impact, risk and complexity, including in highly visible public forums.

Contributes as a key member of the department management team to design, develop, and manage project scope, schedules, and work plans within a program with enterprise-wide scope and high risk/political sensitivity. Define and prioritize deliverables; preparing and monitoring program budgets, ensuring compliance with department standards, policies and procedures, and the alignment to program, Enterprise, and regional goals, identifying and taking action on project-related risks and opportunities, alerting management, executive, and Indigenous Relations to critical risks. Identifies and resolves project issues related to scheduling, resourcing, cost-overruns, conflicting agendas, and technical issues. Provides input into the System Planning business plan. Provides project and program updates to senior leadership as required.

A critical responsibility of this role is facilitating a successful transition of projects from planning to implementation & delivery teams, ensuring Indigenous community priorities are upheld throughout the entire process from initial idea to opening day and beyond. This includes working directly with Coast Mountain Bus Company, who’d implement the new service, to ensure that the original intent of the plan carries through into operations by working to understand CMBC timelines and constraints, providing clear service requirements, navigating TransLink’s internal budgeting and approvals processes, supporting with necessary communications & engagement, and leading post-implementation monitoring.

Collaborates with colleagues and leaders across the Enterprise, including Indigenous Relations, Engineering, Public Affairs, and Coast Mountain Bus Company; and with external partners, including Indigenous groups, elected officials, and other stakeholders, to scope project requirements, align on deliverables, and resolve complex, high-impact issues. These issues are often highly visible and arise with no previous precedent or set parameters. Applies sound judgment to troubleshoot and guide technical and policy research, analyze findings, and develop recommendations.

Leads the development of reports and delivers presentations to senior management. Scopes, plans, presents and leads interactive discussions with Executives, elected and appointed officials, including the Board and Mayors’ Council.

Manages reporting on staff through selection, development, performance management, and coaching to ensure milestones, quality standards, and budgets are met. Manages contractor and consultant relationships, directing work and ensuring contract compliance, while approving remedial actions within authority limits. Leads associated committees, providing program updates and seeking approvals to advance objectives.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Typically requires a Master’s degree (in Planning, Public Policy, Engineering or a related discipline), plus eight (8) years’ experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility, with significant project management accountability and structured decision analysis in an agency specializing in planning or transportation, with preference for experience working with Indigenous communities or consideration for equivalent experience in transportation or community planning projects related to Indigenous communities or lands, including relevant lived experience.

Other Requirements

Demonstrates cultural humility, safety and respect for Indigenous cultures and protocols, and actively seeks to decolonize planning processes.

Deep understanding of Indigenous rights, governance structures, cultures, and social, economic, and environmental challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous communities.

Identifies creative, context-sensitive solutions that reflect Indigenous communities’ values and aspirations when problem solving.

Advanced knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of complex, multi-stakeholder planning.

Solid understanding of the regional transportation authority, transportation and land use planning, social planning, related engineering process, modelling, finance mapping, legal and statutory processes, political structures and governance.

Advanced analytical skills include the ability to identify and assess the impacts of project-related risks and opportunities in an integrated, multi-disciplinary, highly sensitive environment.

Advanced written and oral communication skills include the ability to compose and deliver reports and presentations to a variety of audiences at all levels and to facilitate meetings.

Advanced interpersonal skills include the ability to achieve consensus between internal and external groups and to mitigate and minimize project risks. Includes negotiation skills as they pertain to contracts, multi-party agreements and conflict resolution.

Excellent leadership and people management skills to manage a team of directly reporting staff, oversee contractors and manage project teams.