Chief Transportation Officer- Houston-Galveston Area Council

Houston, TX
Full Time
Executive
Mackenzie Eason & Associates has been retained by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to recruit their next Chief Transportation Officer. Reporting to the Executive Director and working with the Transportation Policy Council (TPC), the new Chief Transportation Officer will lead, develop the vision and long-term plan, and work with the TPC and staff to effectively lead transportation policy and capital projects in the region.  

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) presents a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced and visionary leader to serve as the Chief Transportation Officer. As the leader of one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), you will have the chance to shape the future of transportation for over 7 million residents across an expansive and diverse region. This role requires a strategic thinker, a collaborative leader, and an innovator capable of addressing the region’s unique transportation challenges and opportunities.

About the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
H-GAC serves a 12,500-square-mile region, encompassing 13 counties and over 7 million residents. The organization operates as a voluntary planning and problem-solving forum for local governments. It manages regional programs focused on transportation, air quality, economic development, workforce development, community and environmental planning, emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and more.

The MPO housed within H-GAC oversees the planning and programming of billions of dollars in transportation investments annually. This includes managing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), and working closely with stakeholders such as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), local transit agencies, and the Transportation Policy Council (TPC).

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) within H-GAC
As the federally designated MPO for the eight-county Houston-Galveston metropolitan region, H-GAC is responsible for regional transportation planning. The MPO's primary functions include developing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a long-range blueprint for transportation investments, and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a short-term plan detailing projects approved for federal funding over the next four years. In addition to thousands of miles of roadways, we are home to some of nation’s largest and most active ports, massive petrochemical facilities, substantial rail networks, major airports, and an extensive maritime shipping network. Our eight counties include: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.

Key Projects and Initiatives
H-GAC's MPO has been involved in several significant projects:
  • North Houston Highway Improvement Project: A planned reconstruction of Interstate Highway 45 north, between downtown Houston and the North Sam Houston Tollway, estimated to cost over $13 billion. H-GAC, through the MPO, is responsible for programming this project in the TIP as approved by the Transportation Policy Council.
  • 2045 Regional Transportation Plan Update: An ongoing effort to guide major transportation investments through the year 2045, addressing the needs of over 7.2 million people in the region. The plan includes more than 750 unique projects sponsored by 63 different public entities, with a recommended investment totaling approximately $120 billion.
  • Safety Action Plans: H-GAC is developing a regional safety action plan and 11 local safety action plans with a goal to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. These plans align with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program and the National Roadway Safety Strategy. They also promote the regional and local Vision Zero policies in effect throughout the eight- county metropolitan planning area.
Transportation Policy Council (TPC)
The TPC serves as the policy-making body for the MPO, providing guidance and approval for regional transportation plans and programs. It comprises local elected officials, representatives from transportation agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring that transportation planning aligns with regional priorities and needs.

Through these collaborative efforts, H-GAC and its MPO work to enhance mobility, improve air quality, and support economic growth in the Houston-Galveston region. H-GAC serves as the fiscal agent to the Transportation Policy Council and provides all necessary staff, accounting and auditing services, contract approval, procurement, and more.  The Transportation MPO Senior Director is accountable to the Transportation Policy Council and reports directly to H-GAC’s Executive Director.  To learn more about the Transportation Policy Council, click here.

The Opportunity
The Chief Transportation Officer will lead the metropolitan planning and analysis division. The division includes the transportation department, a team of dedicated professionals responsible for planning, funding, and implementing innovative transportation solutions in the Houston-Galveston Metro area. The Chief Transportation Officer also oversees the Data Analytics & Research department, which supports local policymakers and planning programs by providing economic forecasting, growth projections, and Geographic Information System (GIS) data. It manages the region's official demographic, housing, and environmental planning.  

Reporting to the Executive Director of H-GAC and accountable to the TPC. As the Chief Transportation Officer, you will have the unique opportunity to oversee and guide a comprehensive and highly impactful division within H-GAC. This division is organized into two departments and ten units, each addressing critical aspects of the region’s transportation and data analytics needs. With an annual operating budget of over $40 million and a total headcount of over 120 employees. The division’s scope is vast and strategic.

You will oversee Regional Multimodal Planning, which includes the development and execution of the 20-year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), integrating strategic, visionary, and programming components. Subregional Planning focuses on collaboration with local jurisdictions to develop corridor and thoroughfare plans, while Project Development and Programming ensures effective project scoring and selection through a ten-year plan and four-year programming cycle. Administration & Finance manages funding, compliance, and operational processes. MPO Programs tackle critical areas such as travel demand solutions, congestion management analysis, Title VI compliance, and regional studies to enhance safety. Air Quality focuses on policies, comprehensive planning, and studying the impacts of activities on regional air quality. Finally, the newly established Project Delivery division manages capital project delivery within the H-GAC framework.
In this role, you will also oversee the Department of Data Analytics and Research and collaborate closely with the Department of Community and Environmental Planning. This interdisciplinary partnership ensures a holistic approach to transportation planning, programming, and execution.

The main areas of work for the Transportation Department include:
  1. Unified Work Program – A two-year MPO plan outlining specific goals and objectives.
  2. Regional Transportation Plan (20-Year Plan) – Updated every two years to guide long-term transportation investments.
  3. Transportation Improvement Program – A short-term program detailing projects approved for federal funding.
  4. Congestion Management – Developing strategies to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.
  5. Transportation Conformity – Ensuring transportation projects align with air quality standards.

As the Chief Transportation Officer, you will lead this dynamic team to address regional challenges such as explosive population growth, increasing freight movement, traffic safety, and congestion. You will champion innovative solutions, foster collaboration across local, state, and federal partners, and ensure that H-GAC remains a national leader in transportation planning and project delivery.

This role offers the chance to:
Transform Regional Transportation
  • Address critical challenges like congestion, traffic safety, freight movement, and air quality.
  • Spearhead the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies and strategies to improve mobility.
  • Ensure efficient and effective use of funding, with programming responsibilities ranging from $700 million to $1 billion annually.
Champion Strategic Vision and Leadership
  • Set the vision for the region’s transportation future by engaging with stakeholders, funding partners, and community leaders.
  • Build and lead a talented team, fostering professional growth and innovation.
  • Establish H-GAC as a national leader in transportation planning and project delivery.
Build Meaningful Partnerships
  • Collaborate with a wide array of stakeholders, including county and city leaders, TxDOT, federal agencies, transit providers, and advocacy groups.
  • Represent H-GAC in public forums, legislative hearings, and national conferences.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration and transparency to achieve consensus on transportation priorities.
Key Challenges
Upcoming Challenges
The next Chief Transportation Officer will step into the role at an important moment for H-GAC and the region. Over the past year, significant progress has been made to strengthen systems, rebuild alignment, improve project delivery practices, and move the organization away from historical patterns that contributed to conflict, delayed implementation, and accumulated funding balances. The incoming leader will not be starting from scratch; however, the next phase will require disciplined execution, continued stakeholder trust, and the ability to convert recent progress into durable organizational practice.

One of the most immediate priorities will be helping bring the next Regional Transportation Plan to completion. The planning process is already underway, and the new Chief Transportation Officer will need to sustain the alignment that has been built around regional priorities, guide the process to a successful conclusion, and ensure the final plan reflects both technical credibility and broad regional support. This will require the ability to manage complex stakeholder expectations, communicate tradeoffs clearly, and keep elected officials, partner agencies, local governments, and regional stakeholders focused on shared long-term transportation outcomes.

The organization is also preparing for a major allocation of funding through the next Transportation Improvement Program. This represents a significant opportunity for the region, but it also carries risk if the process is not handled with transparency, discipline, and political judgment. The next Chief Transportation Officer will need to ensure that funding decisions are well structured, clearly communicated, technically defensible, and aligned with the region’s highest priorities. Just as importantly, the leader will need to help prevent the organization from falling back into past habits that created frustration, slowed delivery, or weakened confidence in the process.

A related challenge will be activating and institutionalizing the systems that have recently been put in place. H-GAC has made progress in changing how the region approaches transportation programming, project delivery, and member support. The framework is largely in place, but the next leader must ensure it is carried out consistently and effectively. That will require reinforcing new expectations, supporting local governments as they navigate project development requirements, and making sure improved procedures become part of the organization’s operating culture rather than temporary improvements dependent on a few individuals.

The incoming Chief Transportation Officer will also need to continue building the leadership capacity of the division. The MPO organization has grown, and the combined structure that includes the Transportation and Data Analytics & Research departments is still maturing. Key leadership positions will need to be hired, onboarded, and integrated into the broader operating model. In particular, continued work is needed around the project programming and project delivery functions, including the successful recruitment and onboarding of a senior leader who can bring additional structure, accountability, and coordination to that work.

Finally, the next leader will need to balance continuity with forward momentum. H-GAC has made meaningful progress and is in a stronger position than it was a year ago, but the work is not complete. The successful candidate will need to preserve the alignment, systems, and credibility that have been built while continuing to push the organization toward greater discipline, stronger execution, and more effective regional outcomes. This will require a leader who understands MPO complexity, can operate confidently in a politically sensitive environment, and can help the region move from improved planning and process design to sustained delivery.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an innovative leader who can analyze and solve complex problems with multiple considerations, including political, financial, regulatory, and technical. The selected candidate will evaluate options, act, and adjust to changing conditions and opportunities when applicable.  The ideal candidate will have a background in transportation and proven experience in inspiring and leading a team of dedicated professionals who have answered the call to public service by recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent.

Attributes of a successful candidate include:
  • Diplomatic approach to identifying win-win opportunities to resolve conflicts over controversial projects
  • Proven ability to build relationships and alliances based on trust
  • Candid and transparent communication style
  • Ability to achieve consensus across a spectrum of interests and priorities
  • Ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and straightforward manner
  • Applies a forward-thinking approach to long term planning, with an emphasis on innovation and technology
  • Energetic and effective listener
  • Ability to recognize and pursue opportunities to expand services and establish our agency as a leader
  • A practical thinker, motivator, able to collaborate with team members, leaders, and stakeholders to produce exceptional quality output and drive creative solutions to maximize federal and state funding for our region
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Vision:
  • Implement the priorities of the Transportation Policy Council with confidence and integrity.
  • Set a clear and strategic vision for the region’s transportation future by actively engaging with stakeholders, peers, and funding partners.
  • Lead a large, multidisciplinary team to execute planning and service programs supported by an annual operating budget of approximately $40 million and programming responsibilities of $700 million to $1 billion annually.
  • Develop the next generation of leaders, fostering team cohesion and morale while establishing H-GAC as a national-caliber MPO.
Strategic Delivery:
  • Increase regional funding and ensure existing resources are utilized efficiently.
  • Enhance the timeliness and transparency of project selection and programming processes.
  • Support robust quality assurance practices to improve project approval timelines and build stakeholder confidence.
  • Integrate large-scale infrastructure projects, such as coastal protection and port expansion, into regional planning efforts.
Collaboration and Communication:
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, including elected officials, TxDOT leaders, local governments, and advocacy groups.
  • Clearly articulate complex transportation processes and requirements to a broad audience.
  • Represent the organization at networking events, public meetings, and legislative hearings, providing expert testimony as needed.
  • Foster a presence within the community through field visits and proactive relationship building.
Transportation Expertise:
  • Extensive experience in transportation planning, capital projects, and policy development.
  • Knowledge of MPO operations and the dynamics of TxDOT and federal transportation systems.
Innovation and Adaptability:
  • Embrace creative problem-solving and modern approaches to transportation challenges.
  • Promote pilot testing of new technologies for mobility, air quality, and traffic safety.
Team Development:
  • Invest in staff growth through succession planning, training, and professional development initiatives.
  • Recognize and celebrate individual and team contributions, valuing the diverse skills within the department.
  • Take responsibility for decisions and support the team in high-pressure situations.
Political and Cultural Savvy:
  • Navigate the complexities of regional and state politics with diplomacy and strategic insight.
  • Leverage political relationships effectively to advance transportation priorities.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
The position of Chief Transportation Officer/Senior Director requires:
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Engineering, Architecture, or other related field of study.
  • Minimum of ten (10) years of experience are required in progressively responsible professional work directly related to regional planning, public service, and infrastructure/economic development planning, with at least five (5) years in a management capacity focused on transportation.
  • Experience in a consensus building environment with proven leadership in achieving results.

Preference will be given to applicants that possess:
  • Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Engineering, Architecture, or other related field of study.  
  • Executive level experience in a public service organization
  • Over ten (10) years of management experience
  • Understanding of traffic and drainage infrastructure
  • Ability to work with a diverse population
  • Proven experience leading a large organization through transformation and/or natural disasters
  • Experience and/or familiarity with the structure of MPOs in the State of Texas and the approaches and operations of the Texas Department of Transportation.

 
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