Regional Planning Program Manager in Washington, District of Columbia at Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Regional Planning Program Manager to support the Department of Community and Economic Services (DCES) to lead professional-level activities that support metropolitan planning and regional priorities.

In this role, the Regional Planning Program Manager will provide subject matter expertise to address complex planning issues and opportunities in the COG region, inform regional planning and decision-making, and support implementation. The Regional Planning Program Manager will lead the development of analyses, studies and strategic initiatives related to land use, demographics, forecasting, and economic development.

Working closely with COG member jurisdictions, committees, technical advisory groups, and other stakeholders, the position will foster collaboration, build consensus, identify emerging opportunities for regional action, and develop innovative strategies and solutions. The Program Manager will present analyses and recommendations to committees, regional stakeholders, and the COG Board, including matters requiring review and approval.

The position will manage program and project delivery; oversee technical analyses and planning studies; supervise staff; manage consultant contracts; and coordinate activities across COG and with member jurisdictions and regional partners. The Program Manager will establish work plans, budgets, schedules, and priorities; allocate resources; ensure quality and manage risk; reports on programs, and mentor and develop staff.

The successful candidate will have strong program management and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience leading programs, achieving strategic objectives, facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and communicating technical information effectively to policy and executive audiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads regional trend analysis and reporting related to land use, demographics, employment, economic conditions, real estate, and transportation.
• Oversees the COG Cooperative Forecasting Program, including coordination with local jurisdictions and COG committees and boards, review of methodologies, and reconciliation and finalization of the Forecast.
• Prepares and maintains documents related to forecasting and economic analysis, including employment, real estate and growth trend reports.
• Manages periodic updates to COG’s Regional Activity Centers.
• Manages development of the monthly Regional Economic Monitoring System (REMS) Report and Dashboard and coordinates with COG’s Planning Data and Research team to identify, develop, and implement enhancements, including online data and visualization products that highlight regional trends and information important to DCES.
• Coordinates with the DCES Director and Housing Program Manager on priority land use, housing, and economic development initiatives.
• Supports management of the economic services program, including the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and related work.
• Provides professional and technical staff support and leadership to the COG Planning Directors Technical Advisory Committee (PDTAC) and the Cooperative Forecasting and Data Subcommittee (CFDS).
• Coordinates with COG’s Department of Transportation on forecasting, land use and transportation analysis, and regional activity centers.
• Identifies emerging and promising practices in planning and leads the development and implementation of innovative programs, platforms, and reports that integrate demographics, land use, employment, real estate, and transportation.
• Manages and supports internal and external partnerships and special projects related to land use, forecasting, planning, and data tracking, analysis, and interpretation.
• Performs other planning duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Bachelor’s degree in urban and/or regional planning, public policy, public administration, economics or a closely related field and eight (8) years of working experience in urban and/or regional planning, public policy, public administration, economics or a related field; OR
• Master’s degree in urban and/or regional planning, public policy, public administration, economics or a closely related field and six (6) years of working experience in urban and/or regional planning, public policy, public administration, or a related field.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Prior professional experience in regional planning, program and project management.
• Subject matter expertise in land use, economic and demographic analysis, and forecasting.
• Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and adjust processes for efficiency and improved outcomes.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment within and between COG departments.
• Passionate about learning, improving technical skills, public service, and making significant contributions that will improve the agency and the region.

Program and Project Management Skills:

• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor workplans and schedules, coordinate project budgets and phases.
• Ability to oversee technical work and deliverables produced by staff and contractors such as planning studies, analyses, and reports.

Analytical, Data Interpretation & Problem-Solving Skills:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to evaluate technical options and implement solutions based on individual project needs.
• Ability to troubleshoot and quickly solve problems to keep projects moving.
• Ability to interpret complex instructions and deal with abstract/concrete variables. Ability to compute percentages, rates, ratios, and interpret charts/graphs.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, reports, and documents.

Communication Skills:

• Ability to present technical results in terms understandable to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in public speaking and leading group discussions
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders, and citizens.
• Expert-level ability to prepare and deliver briefings to large groups of elected officials, top management, other senior officials, subject matter expert committees, and other regional planning stakeholders.
• Ability to write reports using clear and concise language.

Computer Knowledge and Skills:

Background and demonstrated experience using the following: ArcGIS and Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience is preferred in database software (Microsoft Access, SAS, Python, or R).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Responsible for supervision of staff including setting performance expectations, managing team performance, and providing guidance to ensure organizational goals are met. Provide oversight of consultants to ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables.

Why Join Us?

This position offers an opportunity to contribute directly to regional planning initiatives and decisions that impact millions of residents, workers, and visitors throughout the Washington metropolitan region. You will apply your knowledge and skills while gaining valuable experience and advancing your professional development through collaboration with COG staff, agencies, elected officials, technical experts, and regional stakeholders in a mission-driven environment.

COG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace.