Executive Director - Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08542
About the Job
Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) administers the University’s parking and campus transportation programs, oversees the management of the University’s 900-vehicle fleet, and leads the University’s planning for pedestrian and bicycle facilities on campus and in coordination with local agencies in multijurisdictional areas. TPS is responsible for all transportation demand management and mobility programs—including the University’s Revise Your Ride commuter incentive programs and bikeshare and carshare services—as well as assigning and permitting University parking, providing event support, parking enforcement, and operating the campus shuttle system, TigerTransit.
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Campus Services, the Executive Director for Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) is responsible for the overall strategic planning and operation of Princeton University’s many and evolving transportation services, programs, and facilities. The Executive Director is responsible for setting and executing a vision of transportation and mobility on the Princeton campus that champions innovation, sustainability, and special sensitivity to equity. As such, in consultation with University leadership, the Executive Director sets policies and handles executive decision making on all transportation, parking, fleet, and personal mobility issues. In addition to the overall management and administration of campus mobility, commuter, and parking operations, this position serves a critical leadership role in partnership with a wide range of other University leaders and stakeholders and public agency partners to implement Princeton’s ambitious campus plan.
The Executive Director oversees all campus mobility services (including TigerTransit, a free and public transit system carrying over 500,000 passengers annually); manages the University’s 6,000 commuter and residential parking spaces; develops strategies to improve Princeton’s transportation demand management (TDM) programs to shift mode split away from single occupancy vehicle trips; recruits and develops the TPS team; and maintains a constant and strong emphasis on safety, customer service, and cost efficiency. In partnership with the University’s Office of Public Affairs, the Executive Director represents the University in public processes to foster collaborative and respectful relationships with external partners in local and state jurisdictions and agencies.
The Executive Director oversees the daily TPS operation by managing and developing a team of transportation professionals. The Executive Director is responsible for setting overall expectations for staff performance and oversees an annual performance review process, in addition to supporting ongoing professional development and training for the TPS team. This position must build a culture of data-driven and transparent decision making on all aspects of Princeton’s transportation operation with clear goals of improving the user/passenger experience.
The Executive Director, with input from the TPS team, works as a close partner with multiple groups in Facilities and Public Safety to maintain safe and clean transportation and parking facilities. The University operates a 17-vehicle electric transit fleet with two charging facilities and an off-campus operations base, overseen by TPS with the support of the contracted transit operator, WeDriveU. The Director will lead the University’s broader vehicle electrification program, assessing and managing a fleet of 900 vehicles with a goal of reducing the need for motorized fleet vehicles on campus and replacing existing gas-powered vehicles with low or zero emissions alternatives. The Executive Director also serves on the University Services Emergency Operations group, working closely with the offices of Public Safety and Environment Health and Safety to plan for and respond to emergency situations.
A full job description will be furnished prior to interview. Please note that a cover letter is required.
Responsibilities:PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning:
Key Outcomes: Identify and prioritize the University's mobility needs. Provide continuous progress towards meeting mobility needs.
- Responsible for the overall strategic direction and long-range planning for TPS identifying the current needs of today’s users of the mobility network, for example people with disabilities, cyclists, pedestrians, drivers, deliveries etc., forecasting these into the future, and developing a plan in partnership with other campus groups for meeting these needs.
- The Executive Director collaborates at an executive level to provide transportation industry expertise to all University campus planning and capital projects;
- Ensures through thoughtful planning the overall connectivity of the multimodal campus and commuter transportation network;
- Manages robust data analytics tools with the support of TPS program staff to inform strategic planning processes;
- Participates in safety and accessibility planning committees and projects to ensure safe and accessible transportation access to both new and old University facilities;
- Establishes the University’s fleet management and electrification program in support of University net zero emissions goals by 2046;
- Defines shared transportation and mobility goals with public agencies and community stakeholders to support municipal, regional, and state safety and sustainability objectives.
Management and Administration:
Key Outcomes: Deliver safe and reliable transportation for the campus. Reduce the share of single occupancy vehicles trips to campus. Provide leadership in innovation, sustainability, and equity.
- Responsible for hiring, managing, and developing all TPS staff;
- Oversees the full transportation and parking operation, including TigerTransit, shared mobility services, parking permitting and programming, commuter/TDM programs, and event parking and transportation support;
- Develops data-driven methodologies for managing and adjusting all campus mobility, parking, and commuter programs;
- Oversees the TPS budget and forecasting;
- Leads collaborative partnerships with Facilities and other departments to manage parking and transportation facilities and related infrastructure;
- Participates in leadership role in campus emergency planning exercises;
- Provides and/or delegates project management for 900-vehicle fleet management and substantial electric vehicle infrastructure implementation;
- Responsible for supervising work related to all technology and information systems related to campus and commuter transportation, including permit sales, collecting fines, and License Plate Recognition (LPR) based parking enforcement;
- Provides supervisory support to staff managing transportation and parking impacts for large campus events.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communications:
Key Outcomes: Key stakeholders are included in decision making process. Users have excellent information on mobility options. Collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders lead to mutual benefits.
- Serves as the executive-level representative to both internal and external stakeholders on transportation issues;
- Represents TPS at departmental meetings across campus as required;
- Engages and provides updates to local, county, state, and regional planning organizations and elected officials in partnership with the Office of Public Affairs;
- Collaborates with University colleagues and external traffic consultants to assess parking and traffic impact of University’s projects and, when appropriate, speaks in support of University’s land use submissions at Planning Board and other hearings;
- Oversees a dynamic and constant communication plan to provide constituents with updates on parking, campus mobility services, construction impacts, and other transportation issues;
- Provides regular and ongoing public engagement opportunities to receive feedback on campus mobility and commuter services and the overall condition of the University’s transportation offerings
University Services Leadership:
Key Outcomes: Customers of University Services benefit from strategic collaboration within and among the leadership team.
- Serves as member of the University Leadership Team, working collaboratively with colleagues to engage an array of cross-cutting programs and initiatives, including the Ambassador Outreach program, Diversity and Inclusion work, and the Racial Equity Action Plan, to name a few.
- In addition, this position will be called on to support major events and University activities as needed, often after hours or on weekends.
AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY:
The Executive Director has authority and responsibility for the budget of Transportation and Parking Services, working with the Assistant Vice President for Campus Services and Assistant Vice President for Finance and Technology to forecast and track transportation-related spending. This position has full authority to implement changes to transportation operations, including transit and parking programs and activities.
Qualifications:ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- 10+ years of senior leadership in transportation programs, policy, and operations, including personnel management, or equivalent combination of experience and education
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, urban planning, engineering, management, or equivalent field
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills and the ability to communicate with a diverse customer base, as well as demonstrable success giving executive-level presentations and public testimony
- Demonstrated experience of customer service
- Demonstrated experience of managing or supervising staff
- Experience leading organizations through change and utilizing change management principles
- Demonstrated expertise in transportation industry issues and trends such as transportation demand management, shared mobility, transportation access equity, fleet electrification, and planning or design for complete streets or Vision Zero
- Strong project management experience, such as capital planning and/or robust public engagement and outreach
- Demonstrated experience measuring, managing, and improving user experience and customer service operations
- Clear and demonstrable understanding of diversity and inclusion efforts with attention to equity and access for all
- Valid Driver’s License
- Essential Personnel: https://hr.princeton.edu/policies/essential-services-during-emergencies-or-other-conditions
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience managing a multimodal University transportation system, including parking, transit, and shared mobility operations, like bikeshare or carshare
- Advanced degree in public administration, urban planning, engineering, higher education administration, or related field
- Certified Administrator of Public Parking (CAPP)
- Experience working in higher education
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Standard Weekly Hours:36.25Eligible for Overtime:NoBenefits Eligible:YesProbationary Period:180 daysEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail):YesPhysical Capacity Exam Required:NoValid Driver’s License Required:Yes Experience Level:Director:#LI-GR1