Chief Strategy Officer

PURPOSE OF POSITION
The Chief Strategy Officer will provide oversight and leadership to the staff and contractors who are responsible for SCRRA functions of Planning & Development, Government & Community Relations, Sustainability and Railroad Services.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

• Receive general oversight from the CEO and Board of Directors.
• This position is responsible for managing and monitoring work performance for a group of employees within a division or department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

• Provide executive level oversight and lead the operations and functions of the following SCRRA departments: Planning & Development, Government & Community Relations, Sustainability, and Railroad Services.
• Provide day-to-day oversight, policy direction and guidance for all the reporting departments.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and execution of Agency strategic plans, legislative programs and regulatory strategies, and approaches to funding major implementation initiatives. Examples of recently completed projects include: the Strategic Business Plan; the Climate Action Plan; and the Accessibility & Affordability Plan. in collaboration with the other Executives, including the actual Strategic Plan, Short Range Transit Plan, Asset Management Plan and Rail Fleet Management Plan.
• Oversee local, state and federal government affairs concerning SCRRA. Direct and provide recommendations on local, state and federal policy, legislative and regulatory matters. Ensure timely development of the annual legislative program to allow for Board adoption by the beginning of the calendar year.
• Monitor the development of state and federal initiatives for funding sources to identify and target grant programs for SCRRA in partnership with the Grants Director.
• Ensure timely development of departmental annual budgets, including multi-year revenue and expense forecasts. Monitor budget adherence across all departments within the Strategy Office.
• Review and make recommendations to the CEO on the impact of various changes to the commuter rail service.
• Work closely with the Executive Leadership team as part of a strong leadership team working on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer.
• Represent SCRRA to external audiences and stakeholders, as delegated by the CEO. Serve as the Member Agency Liaison.
• Serve as the liaison with public and private sector railroad partners, including but not limited to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, Union Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Brightline West and the California High Speed Rail Authority (.
• Participate in various cross-functional teams and task force committees to address overall SCRRA organizational strategies and goals.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor ‘s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning or related field highly preferred.
• A minimum of (10) ten years of progressively responsible work experience that includes supervising, directing and leading management level staff.
• A combination of training, education and or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered when determining minimum qualifications. Advanced relevant coursework may also substitute for a portion of required experience.
• A valid class C Driver ‘s License with a satisfactory driving record of no more than three moving violations and no DUI ‘s within the last three years.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Passenger Rail Operations
• Federal Railroad Administration regulations
• Strategic planning
• Industry issues, practices and procedures
• Departmental interdependencies
• SCRRA policies and procedures (a plus)

Skilled in:

• Analysis and measurement
• Value orientation and reinforcement
• Strong and effective leadership, communication, time management and organization
• Conflict resolution
• Team building
• Use of Microsoft Office

Ability to:

• Build team cohesiveness by establishing, communicating and reinforcing shared values and norms
• Make formal presentations to large and small groups, the Board and the public
• Provide clear direction and policies
• Create a work environment to encourage excellence, to reward performance and to embrace change