Help shape the future of transportation in Silicon Valley.
VTA is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to serve as the BART Silicon Valley Program Strategy Manager, a highly visible role supporting the transformative BART Silicon Valley Phase II Program, one of the largest transportation infrastructure investments in the region. Reporting within the Office of the Chief Megaprojects Delivery Officer, this position serves as a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership, providing critical support in advancing program priorities, executive initiatives, governance activities, and organizational alignment.
The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership, the Board of Directors, oversight bodies, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams to navigate complex challenges, facilitate collaboration, and drive strategic decision-making. This role requires a professional who can synthesize complex information, develop executive-level recommendations, manage competing priorities, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in one of the most significant transportation projects in California, influence major public infrastructure initiatives, support executive leadership, and help shape mobility solutions for generations to come.
About The Office of the General Manager/CEO
VTA’s General Manager/CEO reports directly to VTA’s Board of Directors. The Office of the General Manager/CEO is responsible for overall administration of VTA, oversees VTA’s construction, planning, financial, and capital program efforts and strategies. The Office of the General Manager/CEO is VTA’s Purchasing Agent, executes and implements Real Estate transactions, as authorized by VTA’s Board of Directors, as well as executes grant agreements in accordance with VTA’s Administrative Code or as authorized by VTA’s Board of Directors.
Definition
Under general direction, the BART Silicon Valley Program Strategy Manager provides strategic, analytical, and organizational support for the BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSV II) Program. Incumbents are responsible for managing strategic initiatives and staff delivering those initiatives, supporting executive leadership and governing bodies, and ensuring alignment between program priorities and implementation.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This advanced professional-level class serves under direction of executive leadership and is responsible for managing strategic initiatives and program priorities for the BSV II Program. The position serves in a key advisory and coordination role, requiring the exercise of independent judgment and discretion in managing complex, high-visibility assignments involving multiple stakeholders. Incumbents regularly interact with executive management, the Board of Directors, and oversight bodies, and are responsible for synthesizing complex program information into clear and actionable recommendations. Work is characterized by a high degree of visibility, sensitivity, and impact on program outcomes.
This class is distinguished from other professional or analyst classifications in that incumbents are assigned responsibility for supporting executive-level decision-making, facilitating coordination across multiple functional areas, and ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and program delivery, and managing high-impact initiatives and the staff delivering them. This class is distinguished from higher-level managerial classifications in that the latter have full supervisory and program management authority and responsibility. Incumbents in this class may coordinate the work of others but do not have full supervisory authority.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional ready to participate fully as a member of the BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) leadership team. A successful Strategy Manager will be able to take in a wide range of data and information about the risks and challenges facing the program and work with peers to shape a strategy that enables the program to move forward successfully in key domains: funding, planning, design, construction, contracting, program management. They will understand foundational program assumptions clearly and be able to evaluate various paths forward quickly and effectively while maintaining high trust with peers. This will require the candidate to embrace a collaborative, project-first mentality and be comfortable working through challenging issues with peers under heightened pressure and tight deadlines.
The candidate will have strong written, verbal, and graphical communications skills. The candidate will have budgetary, schedule, and risk management analytical skills and experience using them within a large capital program like BSVII. Furthermore, the candidate will be capable of managing a small team of staff to produce analytical and communications deliverables to support setting and implementing the program strategy. Finally, the candidate will have the judgment, experience, and temperament to liaise with senior VTA and external staff to gather and verify information, negotiate key agreements, and ensure that cross-cutting strategic priorities are being implemented as planned.
About VTA
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County’s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.
VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.
As the county’s congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit-oriented development.
VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.
For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForward
Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)
The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.
Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.
Knowledge of:
-
Principles and practices of strategic planning and program coordination;
-
Public agency governance and policy development processes;
-
Methods of research, analysis, and evaluation of complex issues;
-
Principles of stakeholder engagement and interdepartmental coordination;
-
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations;
-
Methods and techniques of preparing reports and presentations;
-
Principles and practices of supervision;
Ability to:
-
Analyze complex programmatic and organizational issues and develop effective recommendations;
-
Prepare clear, concise, and effective reports, presentations, and briefing materials;
-
Communicate effectively with executive leadership, governing bodies, and stakeholders;
-
Coordinate multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic and high-visibility environment;
-
Exercise initiative and independent judgment;
-
Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with VTA personnel, colleagues, opponents, and other business contacts;
-
Provide professional advice and recommendations to executive leadership on complex program issues;
Working Environment/Conditions and Physical Demands
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Good Conditions
Primarily Sedentary Work
Work Locations:
Office or similar indoor environment – Frequently
Exposures:
Minimal exposure to environmental factors
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer. We welcome differences in the form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply.
General Application Instructions
Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.
To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as “continuous,” we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.
Personalized responses to Supplemental Questions that connect your past experiences to this specific role are the most effective. AI-generated content may lack the specificity required to address the key criteria outlined in the job description. While we encourage the use of AI as a tool to enhance your work, we want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. You may use AI to generate ideas, but please ensure your final responses are in your own voice and reflect your unique experience. Overreliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish your chances of success.
Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.
Communication & Contact Information
All updates regarding your application—including notices for testing and interviews—will be sent via email. Be sure to select email as your preferred method of communication and maintain a valid, up-to-date email address. Applicants are also responsible for keeping their phone numbers and mailing addresses current in their online profiles.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual updates. Please check your application status through your online account. For technical support, contact NEOGOV at (855) 524-5627, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.
Application Review & Processing
All current and prior relevant work experience—including experience with VTA—must be fully detailed in the Work Experience section of your application. Entries such as “see resume” are not acceptable. Incomplete or improperly completed applications may be rejected, even if you meet the minimum qualifications.
While you are welcome to upload a resume, it does not substitute for completing the online application in full. Be sure that your application accurately reflects the education and experience necessary for the position.
Applications are reviewed throughout the recruitment process to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications. Meeting these minimums or advancing through any stage does not guarantee further consideration. Any misrepresentation or falsification of qualifications, experience, education, or training may result in disqualification and/or exclusion from future employment opportunities with VTA.
This classification is non-represented and is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment are governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement between VTA and the union.
Tentative Examinations:
Oral Panel: End of August
Conditions of Employment
Final candidates must successfully complete a Livescan background check, reference checks, verification of education or certifications, and a criminal history review before appointment.
For sensitive positions, VTA requires all safety-sensitive positions to have a 6-month DOT physical clearance. Obtained at the time of preboarding from a VTA-contracted Concentra Location.
Eligibility List
The established Eligible List from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur. Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment.
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations
VTA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment and examination process. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575 or email [email protected] at least five business days before the test.
Equal Employment Opportunity
VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national, origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.
