Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is seeking a highly motivated Principal Management Analyst to play an essential role in in the financial and administrative management of the Planning Division. When you join SCAG, you can expect a culture where collaboration and team work are fostered. SCAG's workforce is highly educated, passionate, and committed to innovation that improves the quality of life for all Southern Californians. SCAG promotes an environment that values employees and encourages work/life balance.
 
The Principal Management Analyst is an integral part of the Planning Division and will have high level management responsibilities, working directly with the Planning Director, to establish procedures and oversee processes related to the development and monitoring of the Division Work Plan and Budget. The Planning Division has a workforce of 70 full-time regional planners and transportation modelers with an annual budget of $70M. The Division consists of 8 departments that oversee various planning functions including transportation, goods movement, modeling, environmental planning, active transportation, and more.
 
The Principal Management Analyst will coordinate, support and/or represent the Planning Division on inter-division and inter-agency committees and working groups aimed at enhancing communications, coordination and aligning work flow within the Division and across the agency.  This includes coordination with the Clerk of Board on agenda development for monthly meetings of SCAG's Policy Committees and Regional Council. This position will be required to partner with Planning Managers and Project Managers to plan and coordinate key milestones for programs, ensure compliance to all SCAG planning procedures and policies and ensure successful completion of work in the division. This position serves as the liaison between the Planning Division and the Budget and Grants department and coordinates the administrative and financial functions for the Planning Division This is a critical position that will oversee the Division's budget and support accomplishing the Planning Division's work plan as it supports SCAG's visionary strategic plan for the region.

OUR LOCATION
SCAG headquarters is located in the hub of busy downtown Los Angeles, at Figueroa and 7th streets. SCAG has relocated to the 900 Wilshire Building, a new, multi-use hotel and office complex that features state of the art architecture and technology. The downtown area has expanded with LA Live, new restaurants, music, sports, shopping, libraries, museums and theaters. SCAG is in a culturally diverse area near Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Olvera Street and Grand Central Market. Southern California boasts near-perfect weather and close proximity to mountains, beaches and deserts, which encourages physical fitness and year-round activities.
 
For ease of commuting, the LA office is located across the street from the Metro Red Line 7th St. station and is easily accessible by commuter trains and buses serving surrounding areas. Metro's light rail and subway connect downtown LA to Hollywood, Universal City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Azusa, Long Beach and many vibrant and up-and-coming neighborhoods.

WHO WE ARE: 
Founded in 1965, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is a Joint Powers Authority under California state law, established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. Under federal law, The SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities in an area covering more than 38,000 square miles. The agency develops long-range regional transportation plans including sustainable communities' strategy and growth forecast components, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing needs allocations and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality management plans. Currently, the Regional Council consists of 86 members. 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

MISSION
To foster innovative regional solutions that improve the lives of Southern Californians through inclusive collaboration, visionary planning, regional advocacy, information sharing, and promoting best practices.
 
VISION
Southern California's Catalyst for a Brighter Future.

SCAG CORE VALUES

• Be Open: Be accessible, candid, collaborative and transparent in the work we do.
• Lead by Example: Commit to integrity and equity in working to meet the diverse needs of all people and communities in our region.
• Make an Impact: In all endeavors, effect positive and sustained outcomes that make our region thrive.
• Be Courageous: Have confidence that taking deliberate, bold and purposeful risks can yield new and valuable benefits.

• Provide high level administrative, financial, budgetary and analytical support for SCAG's Planning Division and authorizes the reallocation of resources to resolve operational problems and/or changes in priorities.
• Oversee the development, analysis and reporting of the Division's annual budget and the analysis of all other expenses budgeted in support of the unit's operational functions.
• Direct the development and implementation of effective operating performance monitoring and analysis activities to determine and maintain appropriate staffing levels.
• Direct research in all areas of operational effectiveness, including staffing allocations, production and cost efficiencies and organizational issues.
• Participate in management meetings and decision-making processes to provide a strategic approach to problems and issues.
• Manage the monitoring and analysis of on-going financial forecasts to ensure compliance with both the adopted budget and SCAG's agency goals.
• Develop project plans, project deliverables, budgets, and schedules; review the work of project consultants/contractors/vendors; ensure projects progress on schedule, within the approved budget, and at a consistently high level of quality.
• Monitor and supervise professional services and consultant work to ensure that project objectives, budgets and schedules are consistent and conform to Agency plans and policies.
• Oversee and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities for the Planning Division's work plan.
• Analyze and make recommendations for the solution of problems related to budget planning, implementation and monitoring; participates with Planning Managers in budgetary planning; prepares necessary budget documents regarding new and renewed programs for presentation to the Director of Planning.
• Coordinate information across planning departments and provide information and assistance regarding programs and projects; receive and respond to routine concerns and questions.
• Coordinate division-wide reporting, including progress reports, prioritization, task management, budgets, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate with the Clerk of the Board to coordinate the agenda development process for the Planning Division and review board reports, policies, procedures and other written communication.
• Research and analyze information and prepare comprehensive technical records and reports to present and interpret data, identify alternatives, and make and justify recommendations.
• Conduct surveys and perform research and statistical analyses on administrative, fiscal, budgetary, personnel, and operational problems or issues within the Planning Division.
• Coordinate the work activities of assigned technical and administrative support personnel; review work for accuracy; recommend improvements in work flow, procedures and use of equipment and forms.
• Serve as project manager on major financial and analytical projects.
• Supervise lower level administrative or planning staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION: Any combination equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public or Business Administration or other related field. A Master's degree is desirable.

EXPERIENCE: Equivalent to six years of administrative and analytical experience.
 
Knowledge of: General principles and practices of government management, budget preparation and grants administration; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis, evaluation, development and implementation on programs, policies and procedures; pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations; research and reporting methods, techniques and procedures; public relations techniques; modern office procedures, methods and computer software and hardware; principles and procedures of record keeping; survey analysis and utilizing results to provide recommendations.
 
Ability to: Research, analyze, and evaluate programs, policies, and procedures; prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports on a variety of financial, budgetary, and administrative issues; understand the organization and operation of the assigned department and of other agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; conduct research on a wide variety of administrative topics, organize and direct the work of assigned staff; perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Important Applicant Information: SCAG provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SCAG complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
 
SCAG expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SCAG's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including termination.
                                                                                                                                                       
SCAG RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR REVOKE, WITHOUT NOTICE, ANY OR ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN PRIOR TO THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT, AND TO WAIVE ANY NON SUBSTANTIVE JOB REQUIREMENT AND MAKE SUBJECTIVE DECISIONS INTERPRETING AND ASSESSING THE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF ANY CANDIDATE, INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION THAT NONE OF THE CANDIDATES, EVEN THOSE WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE POSITION.