SACOG is seeking a self-starting team player who enjoys collaborating as well as working on their own. The Strategic Corridors Program Manager (Classification: Principal Analyst) will lead the ongoing development of the new Strategic Corridors program, including policy and priority initiatives, innovative funding strategies for regional priority projects, and coordination across teams within SACOG and agency partners.

This role is responsible for defining the scope, priorities, and outcomes of the Strategic Corridors program, including how corridor investments support Blueprint implementation, regional mobility goals, and performance-based planning.

SACOG has just adopted the region’s updated Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS), known as the 2025 Blueprint, and has focused agency program areas towards implementation and alignment with key Blueprint outcomes. For the Strategic Corridors program, this includes safety, efficient movement of people across the region, maintenance of existing assets, and leveraging regional and local funding sources for transportation infrastructure needs. To advance this, the Strategic Corridors Program Manager will act as a creative and technical leader for SACOG’s corridor-based planning work that requires big-picture thinking for the transportation network, including the ability to navigate competing regional priorities, strategically approaching projects across all modes, and problem solving with a diverse set of stakeholders and agencies. Priority areas for the program include (but are not limited to) safety-focused planning, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategy and implementation, comprehensive modal coordination, and congestion reduction/management strategies (including pricing).

The Strategic Corridors Program Manager (Principal Analyst), will supervise staff and oversee a variety of planning activities on the Transportation Team; collaborate and coordinate across groups within SACOG; and must foster a collaborative team environment. This position will be required to work collaboratively with a variety of external partners, including local municipalities, regional transportation agencies, and state and federal transportation entities. This position will report to SACOG’s Director of Transportation and is the highest non-management classification at SACOG.

The Team

The ideal candidate will join a team of professionals with diverse transportation planning backgrounds, including transportation funding and grants, transportation demand management, alternative mobility, active transportation, public transit operations and planning, and corridor planning.

This position will be one of three Principal Analysts on the Transportation Team. With the other Principal Analysts focused on funding, grants, and transit planning initiatives, this position will complement the team’s expertise and provide leadership within a critical element of the agency’s work program.

The Organization

SACOG is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the six-county Sacramento region. Formed as a Joint Powers Authority, SACOG is governed by a board of 31 elected officials that directly represent all six counties and 22 cities in the region, and one ex-officio member (Caltrans). While transportation is core to SACOG’s role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, SACOG has over two decades of experience approaching regional issues from an integrated perspective that examines the linkages between transportation, housing, economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and air quality. Under the leadership of its executive director, SACOG has a vision of a vibrant and thriving Sacramento region for all. Its mission is: SACOG convenes and connects the region to advance an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Join our Agency

SACOG values diversity and believes that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that contribute to an innovative and collaborative environment in which talents are fully utilized, uniqueness is valued, and SACOG’s objectives are met. SACOG is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities.

In addition to being an organizational value, we also uphold equal opportunity under the law. SACOG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. SACOG provides fair and equal opportunity for all with no discrimination because of race, creed, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

SACOG employs a dedicated and professional staff of 60 who work together to advance solutions to some of the region’s shared challenges of transportation, housing, air quality, climate change and the protection of the region’s agricultural and natural resources. SACOG fosters an inclusive, mission driven, and fun employee culture and offers flexible schedules.

SACOG will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental disabilities of an otherwise qualified individual who is an applicant or employee.

Why join SACOG?

Teamwork:

• We work towards a shared vision while cultivating a workplace of collaboration, trust, and transparency. We create space for individual strengths and experiences to achieve more, together.

Community:

• We intentionally build an inclusive community where people can be themselves, share ideas, and pursue solutions. Together, we address challenges that are too big for any one person or group to solve on their own.

Dedication:

• We have the courage to tackle new challenges head on. We are driven by the opportunity to leave a lasting, positive impact on the region. We are committed to quality performance as we accomplish the agency’s goals.

Innovation:

• We strive for continuous improvement by reimagining the work and the way we do it. We use data and input to measure our progress, extract new insights, and elevate our work. This allows us to pave new paths into the future.

About the SACOG Region

The six-county Sacramento region exemplifies physical, cultural, and economic diversity. This makes it a stimulating place to work for people in the planning profession but perhaps more important, it also makes it a great place to live. Landscapes range from fertile agricultural lands to the high Sierra Nevada mountains, encompassing a vibrant collection of small towns, established and emerging suburbs, and an urban core that houses the capital of the fifth largest economy in the world, with cultural and sporting events year-round. Pacific coast beaches, Tahoe region ski resorts, and wild Sierra Nevada lakes and mountains are less than two hours’ drive from the City of Sacramento, which sits at the confluence of two major California rivers — the American and the Sacramento — that also offer many recreational opportunities. The American River Parkway provides access to more than 50 miles of paved bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting Downtown Sacramento, through the river canyon, several historic mining camps, and towns, to Folsom Lake; the 20th largest lake in the state and one of the most frequently visited parks in California’s state park system.

Sacramento is a richly diverse region, home to a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and immigrant communities that contribute to its dynamic character. The region’s much lower cost of living and housing compared to coastal California, as well as its ethnic diversity, have led to a population boom and a revived and vibrant downtown. Its reputation as the Farm to-Fork capital of America also draws foodies and tourists. The 22nd largest metropolitan region in the nation, Sacramento lies at the confluence of commerce in northern California. Interstate 80 delivers an east-west connection from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and Interstate 5 opens the entire West Coast from Mexico to Canada for goods movement, recreation, and economic vibrancy. Multiple rail lines extend in all directions through the heart of the region and provide quick and frequent passenger train service between San Francisco, Sacramento, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Commuting and traveling within and beyond the Sacramento region are easy thanks to the region’s integrated transportation network. With two interstate freeways, an international airport, and 6 Amtrak stations with long distance connections to Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, and Chicago. The region’s light rail system provides commuters, residents, and visitors a ready alternative to driving with more than 40 miles of track and 26 stations with connections to the region’s most robust job centers, the historic Sutter Street in Downtown Folsom, the Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station, and numerous suburban communities along the Interstate 80 and Highway 50 corridors.

Hybrid Position

As an integral part of our organization, employees will provide support in a flexible work environment. This position will have the ability to telework three days per week. The remainder of the work week will be in-person. Employees are required to live within 200 miles of Sacramento.

We support telework because it:

• • Enhances employee productivity, satisfaction, and ability to collaborate.

• Improves recruitment and retention

• Reduces greenhouse gas emission, vehicle miles travels (VMT), traffic and parking congestion, and air pollution

Filing Deadline: July 24

First round interviews: Week of August 17

Second round interviews: Week of August 24

Desired start date: September 2026

This position serves on the Transportation Team at SACOG, and regularly coordinates with staff across the agency. The Strategic Corridors Program Manager oversees multiple program areas and projects. Essential duties include:

• Manage and oversee of data collection and analysis, and use to assist in development of transportation planning priorities and policy.

• Interpretate and communicate trends identified through performance monitoring and analysis, including explaining causal factors, key drivers, and implications for policy, investment, and program decisions.
• Provide clear direction to technical staff and ensure work products are translated into decision-ready information, including staff reports, presentations, and policy recommendations.

• Guide, manage, and oversee general planning assistance, including reviewing and commenting on studies; leading external coordination meetings; and collaborating and providing input into the larger agency efforts, including policy development and updates of the MTP/SCS (or 2025 Blueprint).
• Lead and coordinate SACOG quarterly partner meetings across the 6 counties.
• Review program and project status, progress and deliverables, and provide status reporting and monitoring.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and program initiatives, including coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing consultant contracts, developing scopes, schedules, and budgets, and resolving technical, schedule, and stakeholder issues using independent judgment.

• Engage with high-level managers and officials inside and outside of SACOG, on matters of high visibility to SACOG and the region, including representing SACOG positions, facilitating alignment across jurisdictions, and navigating competing regional priorities.
• Provide recommendations to the SACOG management and executive leadership teams regarding program and project priorities.
• Supervise multiple staff, including oversight of technical work product from SACOG staff, partner organizations, and consultant teams.
• Exercise direct and general supervision over assigned team members.
• Represent SACOG at external meetings with partner agencies, state agencies, elected officials, and regional stakeholders.

Required

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. We welcome applicants with non-traditional pathways to education and experience. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Transportation/Urban Planning, Public or Business Administration, Political Science or related field.
• Five (5) years of full-time progressively responsible program management work in transportation planning, transportation funding and/or transportation grants, including at least one (1) year of project lead and/or supervisory experience.
• Experience must include responsibility for leading multi-disciplinary teams or supervising staff, managing multiple concurrent projects or programs, and exercising independent judgment in resolving project, technical, budget, schedule, or stakeholder issues.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment due to travel requirements throughout the six-county region.

Desired

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Five years of progressively responsible program management experience, and 2 years of project lead and/or supervisory experience

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

This is primarily a sedentary classification and the employee works in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. The employee interfaces with staff, management, other agency representatives, member jurisdictions, government officials, business representatives, and the general public in explaining SACOG policies and requesting and providing information.