Director of Data & Analysis

Our 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 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 fourth 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. Sacramento also offers convenient access to the Sacramento International Airport, ranked among the best midsize airports in the country, making regional, national, and international travel easy and accessible. 

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 Organization

SACOG is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 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 an MPO, SACOG has over two decades of experience approaching regional issues from an integrated perspective of transportation, land use, and air quality. Our mission is to convene and connect the region to advance an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future. Our Strategic Plan is structured around four priorities: (1) Build vibrant and inclusive places; (2) Foster the next generation of mobility solutions; (3) Modernize the way we pay for transportation infrastructure; and (4) Build and maintain a safe, equitable and resilient transportation system.

SACOG is one of the “big four” MPOs in California, along with those representing the San Francisco Bay Area, the Los Angeles region, and the San Diego region. It is highly regarded in the industry as one of the best -performing and most innovative MPOs in the nation. 

The Data & Analysis Team

The Data & Analysis Team is integral to ensuring SACOG meets its state and federal statutory requirements and advances its strategic priorities. The team's expertise is crucial in the development, implementation, and monitoring of SACOG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS), also known as the Blueprint. In addition to meeting statutory requirements, the team generates data, analysis, and visualizations to support various agency projects and programs. They also handle data requests from local agencies and partners, leveraging their technical skills to tackle significant policy questions. And they employ a variety of sophisticated tools to present relevant data to SACOG staff, board, member and partner organizations, and the broader public. 

The Position

The Director of Data and Analysis will lead SACOG’s work to advance the agency’s data and analytical functions to meet the region’s economic, equity, and environmental goals. The director is responsible for overseeing the collection, analysis, visualization, and dissemination of regional data and tools that inform planning, policy, and investment decisions. The director leads a multidisciplinary team of 11 analysts and data scientists, and works collaboratively across departments and with local, state, and federal partners. The director will continually engage in external communities of practice to understand rapidly changing policy and technological landscapes of metropolitan planning, modeling, data and analysis, to identify trends and issues that could influence or be utilized to improve the work program or strategic direction of the team. The director will provide vision and leadership for the data and analysis functions of the agency. This means helping to fulfill SACOG’s mission and bridge SACOG’s work to local plans and projects in the near-term, while at the same time looking ahead to how the data and analysis functions will need to evolve with changes in data sources, technology, policy, and the built environment of a growing region. 

The director reports directly to the Deputy Executive Director of Programs and is part of a multidisciplinary management team. We are a collaborative planning organization, so the director will work with staff on projects across multiple teams across the organization. The director will supervise two Principal Analysts that lead the day-to-day work of the two groups within the team.  

The director will delegate and oversee work; coach and develop staff within the data and analysis team; help implement SACOG’s vision; represent SACOG within and outside of the region; contribute to agency policy and growth discussions with peers from the agency management team, and coordinate resources with peers across management groups; empower staff to fulfill the agency’s mission; and explore opportunities to expand our service to the region.

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

Compensation and Benefits

SACOG is offering a competitive salary and benefits package. The salary range is $170,000 to $216,000 annually, but the actual salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Search Schedule: Posting July 28, 2025

Filing Deadline: September 15, 2025

First round interviews: Week of September 29

Second round interviews: Week of October 6 through 13

Reference checks: Week of October 20 through 27

Desired start date: December 2025

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an innovative and strategic leader with strong management skills and a demonstrated ability to contemplate problems that are complex and have multiple considerations, including political, financial, regulatory, and technical. The ideal candidate will evaluate options, act, and adjust to changing conditions and opportunities when applicable. The ideal candidate will have a background in transportation planning, modeling, or analysis, and proven experience to motivate, coach, and grow current and future professionals and leaders. 

Attributes of a successful candidate include:

• A proactive and collaborative management style with team members, leaders, and stakeholders

• Ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and straightforward manner

• Strategic thinker and innovative problem solver who can balance deadlines, quality of deliverables, and staff capacity

• A forward-looking team player who can assess and align their team’s efforts with agency priorities

• Proven ability to build relationships and partnerships based on trust

• Ability to recognize and pursue opportunities, and establish our region, its cities, counties and organizations, as leaders

• Candid communication style and an effective listener