Senior Lead for Partner Relationships

Maryland Transit Administration
Senior Lead for Partner Relationships (Administrator V-3184)

Office of Planning and Programming

Executive Service

"Open Until Filled"

*This position serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority*

**Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply**

Are you seeking a job where your work is rewarding and provides excellent benefits? The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) invites you to apply today to be considered for a position that provides customer service to the citizens of Maryland every day. The MTA is one of the largest transit systems in the United States and is seeking dynamic and energetic individuals to join the MTA team.

DESCRIPTION

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is recruiting for a highly skilled and experienced professional to join us as Senior Lead for Partner Relationships in our Offices of Planning and Programming. This role involves setting the strategy for project and program-based outreach and relationship management with internal, institutional, governmental, and partner stakeholders. The successful candidate will support MTA's mission by ensuring effective communication of project value, assembling strong coalitions of supporters, and maintaining compliance with standards and policies in external communications. Core parts of this position's responsibilities will include building and maintaining relationships with advocacy groups, assisting project teams in planning and executing thoughtful and inclusive engagement processes, and advancing MTA's interests through strong and consistent relationships with engaged stakeholders.

Additionally, the Senior Lead will provide direct supervision and support to Engagement staff, including managing the budget for these roles and associated project expenses, and ensuring the engagement team's work meets standards and policies, as well as meeting context-specific needs for different projects and programs. This position will also provide oversight to up to three contract administration staff, and provide day to day supervisory support to them, though primary responsibility with contract staff work compliance fall with other MTA positions. This position will also support contract procurement activities, including developing and evaluating responses to RFPs, requesting additional contract authority, and tracking consultant performance.

This vacancy is located in Baltimore, MD.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Guide project teams on stakeholder engagement, review public outreach plans, and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strategic partner relationships such as with advocacy groups and institutions
• Contribute to MTA's overall external communication strategy, and implement key pieces related to building and maintaining coalitions around MTA's efforts.
• Supervise Contract Management staff, oversee public engagement staff, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with standards.
• Draft and edit stakeholder communications and represent MTA in various meetings.
• Coordinate and draft responses to requests from elected officials and government offices.
• Direct and draft content for stakeholder activities, ensuring compliance with policies.
• Manage contracts, review invoices, support procurement activities, and oversee contract performance.
• Prepare information and correspondence for senior officials on proposed projects.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Proven experience in strategic outreach and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong leadership skills with experience supervising and managing teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to represent the organization in various settings.
• Familiarity with contract management, including procurement processes and budget oversight.
• Ability to draft and review official communications, ensuring compliance with policies and standards.
• Experience coordinating responses to government and elected official requests.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of public engagement practices and standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of experience in professional work that includes any or a combination of the following: PR or communications; urban planning, transportation planning, or regional planning; nonprofit development or management; public or institutional administration; public affairs; public policy, transportation policy, or environmental policy; or a related field.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

TO APPLY:

You must complete a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) employment application (Form DTS-1) to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes may not be substituted for the application. It is essential that the application is filled out completely and accurately, listing all relevant experience in detail and addressing the specific requirements shown above. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for within MDOT, one of the Transportation Business Units, or the Authority.

Applications must be completed and submitted online by registering at

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mdotmd. Please make sure you meet the minimum and selective qualifications and follow the instructions on MDOT's Online Employment Center website.

Selected candidates may be subject to background and reference checks.

Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. will be required to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be provided as requested.
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The incumbent in this position will not be a member of a covered bargaining unit.

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration is not sponsoring new employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B at this time due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H-1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees; all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer.

MDOT MTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MDOT MTA Does Not Discriminate Based On: Age, Ancestry, Color, Creed Gender Identity or Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Mental or Physical Disability, National Origin, Race, Religious Affiliation, Belief or Opinion, Sex or Sexual Orientation or any other protected status.
Issue Date: 2/26/2025