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33 North High Street, Columbus, OH, United States | Office of the President | Full Time

| COTA offers competitive benefits including: medical/Rx, vision, dental, supplemental insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, employee discounts, employee bus pass; wellness initiatives, on-site cooking classes, chair massages, on-site Health Coaches & Dietitians, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits through OPERS & Ohio Deferred Compensation.

BENEFITS:

+ Medical, Vision, Dental, Supplemental and Life Insurance

+ Paid Parental Leave

+ Employee Discounts

+ COTA Bus Pass

+ Wellness Initiatives

+ On-Site Chair Massage

+ On-Site Health Coach

+ Tuition Reimbursement

+ Student Loan Repayment Program

+ Public Pension through OPERS & Ohio Deferred Compensation

POSITION SUMMARY:

COTA's Chief LinkUS Program Officer leads the twenty-five year growth and mobility capital improvement program in Central Ohio, overseeing large-scale transit projects and ensuring alignment with regional priorities. Responsibilities include strategic planning, project implementation and performance evaluation, policy development, and executive oversight of project teams. This position ensures compliance with regulations, manages project risks, and drives financial transparency and budget administration. It involves close collaboration with internal teams, stakeholders, and external partners, fostering transparency, public trust, and strategic growth.

Performs other duties in alignment with the COTA Strategic Plan and in support of the organization's vision to Move Every Life Forward.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

+ Drive the evaluation of project performance against strategic goals, take corrective action as needed, and provide high-level guidance on setting priorities, objectives, and strategies for major capital investments.

+ Provide executive leadership and oversight for COTA's capital improvement programs, guiding the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and best practices.

+ Communicate regularly with state officials, boards, community stakeholders, and other key groups on project status, challenges, and outcomes, ensuring transparency and fostering public trust.

+ Lead the execution of LinkUS project goals, objectives, and standards for both staff and consultants, ensuring alignment with regional priorities.

+ Manage and direct a high-performing team of project managers and engineers to deliver large-scale transit and transportation projects on time, within budget, and according to specifications.

+ Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local regulations, while proactively managing project risks and maintaining safety and environmental standards.

+ Develop and implement long-term capital improvement plans for public transit systems, aligned with state, regional, and local transportation strategies.

+ Oversee all phases of project execution-planning, design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, procurement, and construction-ensuring quality control and timely delivery.

+ Lead the development and annual updates of the Strategic Capital Improvement Plan, ensuring alignment with COTA's broader goals.

+ Oversee the execution of COTA's capital program and expansion initiatives, applying innovative and effective project delivery methodologies within federal and state guidelines.

+ Collaborate with the COTA Leadership Team and Board to establish and implement agency-wide capital improvement plans, policies, and procedures.

+ Lead the development and management of the annual staffing, operational, and capital budgets, ensuring optimal resource allocation and financial oversight for capital projects.

+ Ensure financial transparency and effective budget administration for capital projects, aligning expenditures with local/organizational priorities.

+ Partner closely with Finance and Procurement teams to ensure sound budget administration, drive supplier diversity in RFP processes, and ensure fiscal responsibility.

+ Represent COTA in interactions with federal agencies, local organizations, professional associations, and other key stakeholders, fostering relationships and advancing opportunities for strategic partnerships and collaboration.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

+ Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Planning, or Business Management and ten (10) years' of progressive leadership responsibility managing public transportation infrastructure projects. Experience leading and implementing large-scale capital improvement projects, including budgeting. Experience in working with local and state government with a preference to specific experience within Ohio;

+ Knowledge of public sector procurement practices, federal and state funding mechanisms desired.

+ An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered.

TO APPLY:

COTA has engaged Krauthamer & Associates (K&A), a retained executive search firm, to assist with this recruitment. To request more information or to apply by submitting a resume, please contact Gregg Moser, Partner at K&A, at [email protected].

COTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on job needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.