Director, LinkUS Program Interface

COTA'S DIRECTOR OF LINKUS PROGRAM INTERFACE

Salary : $101,566.40 - $119,496.00 Location : 33 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215

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 Director of LinkUS Program Interface plays a pivotal leadership role in driving strategic integration across all facets of the LinkUS initiative. This position is responsible for orchestrating seamless collaboration among internal departments, external partners, and multidisciplinary program teams to ensure unified execution. By proactively managing complex interfaces and interdependencies, the Director safeguards against operational silos, mitigates risks, and accelerates program delivery-ultimately advancing COTA's mission to transform regional mobility through innovation and connectivity. Perform 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

• Act as the primary liaison between program teams (e.g., planning, design, construction) and internal COTA departments, including operations, maintenance, and innovation / technology.
• Build and sustain relationships with community partners and facilitate effective communication with external stakeholders such as local agencies and contractors.
• Lead the coordination and management of critical project interfaces, including transit systems (e.g., BRT infrastructure); transit-supportive infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, bike lanes); technology integration (e.g., real-time information systems, fare collection); and, third-party transportation projects.
• Ensure cohesive alignment across design, construction, and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with engineers, planners, and technology experts to proactively resolve interface challenges.
• Conduct thorough interdisciplinary design reviews to address overlapping concerns and ensure integrated solutions.
• Monitor project schedules and milestones, identifying and mitigating delays caused by interface misalignments.
• Support risk management efforts by assessing and addressing risks related to program interdependencies.
• Provide regular updates to the Chief LinkUS Program Officer and senior leadership on interface progress, issues, and resolutions.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to track interface performance and resolution status.
• Ensure all interface solutions comply with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as COTA standards.
• Coordinate with legal and compliance teams to fulfill contractual obligations related to interface management.

Minimum Education & Experience Required

Requires a bachelor's degree in transportation planning, civil engineering or a related field and a minimum of five to seven (5-7) years' experience in transportation program management, with a focus on large-scale, multidisciplinary projects. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered. 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.