Director of Planning and Performance

26-DPP

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), formerly the Regional Transportation Authority, was created by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker to make transit across northeastern Illinois work for riders as one regional transit system. NITA is seeking to fill a newly formed role with the Director of Planning and Performance for the Capital Programming and Planning department. The incumbent reports to the Chief Transition Officer and is responsible for managing, directing, and coordinating overall operations for the Planning department.

The incumbent coordinates with the service boards (i.e., CTA/Metra/Pace), other government entities, civic partners, and department staff to support complex regional and local planning and transit-supportive land-use programs; data services and analytics; regional transit planning teams to advance the regional transit strategic plan.

NITA sets regional fares, service standards, and schedules across the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace; plans and funds regional capital investment; and oversees the performance and finances of the three Service Boards serving riders across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.

As of September 1, 2026, NITA has expanded authority under Public Act 104-0457. People who join NITA now will help build the systems, policies, and partnerships that shape regional transit for years to come.

The successful candidate should possess a strong understanding of the regional planning landscape, highly developed information-management, and people-management skills with a keen eye towards analytical and administrative excellence and demonstrated experience with innovation and collaboration both internally and with external partners. As NITA’s planning requirements and duties are determined through the transition process, this position will lead the team and coordinate with the transit agencies and partners to deliver a more unified transit system for riders.

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Understanding of and experience in managing transit expansion projects, bus priority and BRT projects, alternative analyses, grant processes, and federal, state, and local regulations.
• Develop, manage, and support the work plan for the department that consists of regional planning, local land-use planning, and data services and analytics.
• Develop, implement, and support the regional transit strategic plan.
• Oversee the coordination to develop, implement, and monitor performance-based policies and transit asset management of the Service Boards.
• Oversee development, evolution, and coordination of the Community Planning and the Access to Transit programs and management of projects and align them to meet NITA’s requirements.
• Overhaul internal operations and GIS capabilities of NITA’s public website that includes the region’s transit data to meet NITA’s new requirements.
• Oversee regional service planning, a regional signage program, a new combined NITA transit benefit program, and other regional coordination activities.
• Oversee the administration of the federal Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program.
• Guide the development and implementation of planning and analysis tools and models.
• Reorient NITA to take on a leadership position in planning and research activities with Service Boards, DOTs, CMAP, other public agencies, universities, and non-profits.
• Develop reports for and deliver presentations to the Agency Board of Directors, management and staff, counterparts at the Service Boards, local and regional governments and planning bodies and other public transportation related entities.
• Coordinate resources and reports with Chief Internal Auditor to…