Senior Transportation Planner

JOB SUMMARY

The ideal candidate: 

• Is committed to providing excellent customer service, is a team player, and can effectively communicate complex transportation policies, programs, and procedures to a broad audience, including residents, stakeholders, and policymakers.
• Has experience working in an environment with sensitive and confidential information, demonstrating sound judgment, personal initiative, and discretion. 
• Has exceptional project management skills, a track record of delivering innovative transportation solutions, and knowledge of urban bikeway design, street design, autonomous urbanism, and active transportation design standards.
• Is skilled in developing scopes of work, managing contracts, and ensuring the successful delivery of projects through external consultants.
• Is passionate about creating safe, equitable, and accessible streets that serve all community members. 

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Job Summary:
Serves as lead staff member and performs complex technical and professional functions related to transportation planning projects and programs, including: serving as project manager for various transportation programs and projects; management of traffic impact projects, related analysis, forecasting, initiatives and land use changes; providing advice; collecting, analyzing and presenting transportation related data to internal staff, various groups and organizations; interacting and preparing reports for presentation to various groups, commissions, etc.

• Carries out lead staff member responsibilities, including: training in job skills; assigning and directing work; assisting staff in resolving problems and reporting problems to supervisor. 
• Serves as project leader for transportation related projects/programs including; travel demand forecasting; determining effects of infrastructure of road/transit projects; transportation demand management initiatives and land use changes; designs, manages and oversees traffic models, traffic engineering and planning projects using complex transportation software and various complex software programs; preparing feasibility studies; developing, conducting and analyzing surveys; creating outreach programs; collecting and organizing traffic impact data, demographics, etc.; maintaining information and creating and maintaining filing systems; conducting on-site inspections; receiving and resolving problems and complaints; reading and interpreting plans, maps, etc.; developing graphic presentations; reviewing site plans and reviews.
• Manages transportation project related contracts, including: developing requests for proposals (RFP); analyzing and evaluating responses; assisting in selecting contractors; negotiating contracts; monitoring and evaluating services; maintaining cost efficiency; correcting problems; creating, implementing, compiling and evaluating surveys and reports; analyzing statistical data; recommending improvements; managing fiscal aspects of contracts; reviewing billings; processing purchase orders and payments; reconciling contracts; assuring compliance with contract specifications, regulations and monitoring expenditures and revenues; prepares and manages traffic studies related to the environmental review process including studies prepared by consultants.
• Responsible for ongoing maintenance, calibration and validation of current transportation/traffic model.
• Determines the effect of infrastructure related projects (road and transit).
• Provides information/updates to elected officials, staff, constituents, etc.; and preparing agendas and facilitating meetings; developing and managing budgets; consulting and communicating with staff, external agencies, contractors, constituents, etc.  
• Prepares written reports and makes presentations and/or represents the City and or manager to the public, committees, City Boards, Commissions and City Council. 
• Serves as a liaison and/or member of various commissions, committees, boards, and/or teams and collaborates, persuades, presents reports to and negotiates with others outside own work area to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
• Researches, develops, interprets, communicates, and monitors ordinances, regulations, policies, procedures, codes, standards, etc.; recommends improvement when necessary and writes/revises same.
• Participates in the development review process, including: reviewing applications; assuring compliance with transportation laws, ordinances, etc.; interpreting and relaying information; coordinating and facilitating meetings to review requests; reviewing and approving transportation related plans.
• Oversees and completes various transportation programs and functions, including: providing transportation information to interested parties; conducting research and disseminating findings; reviewing preliminary plans and applications and retrieving files for inspection.
• Interacts with a variety of high level individuals, both internally and within the community, to provide information, disseminate departmental information and assist in resolving administrative issues. 
• Composes correspondence in accordance with standard policies; answers various inquiries; explains policies and procedures; processes routine and non-routine matters independently.
• Performs specialized research and statistical work on assigned subjects.

• Coordinates division activities with other departments, divisions and/or outside agencies; responds to constituent inquiries.
• Conducts research related to policy analysis; compares the policies of various jurisdictions.
• Attends and speaks at neighborhood meetings.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• May serve as backup for other positions within the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field; and,
• Five to seven of progressively responsible experience; or, 
• Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Valid California Driver’s License

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and legislative issues.
• Principles and practices of transportation operations.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting and implementation.
• Basic traffic engineering principles and practices.
• Complex transportation planning principles, theories and research methods.
• Traffic modeling software. (TransCAD, TRANPLAN)
• Regional transportation agency services and funding sources.
• Principles and practices of public administration, including knowledge of government organizations and operations.
• Principles, practices, and techniques of effective customer service and collaborative problem solving.
• Principles and practices of transportation planning.
• Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis and report presentation.
• Project management techniques, including contract management.
• Budget development processes and procedures.
• Internal departmental policies and procedures.
• External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
• Principles, practices and research methods of land use development.
• Traffic engineering principles.
• Principles and practices of research, analysis, data compilation and effective report writing.
• Environmental review policies. (CEQA) 
• Office administrative practices and procedures, such as business letter writing and the operation of standard office equipment. 
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.

• Planning, organizing, assigning, directing, reviewing and evaluating the work of staff; selecting and motivating staff and providing for their training and professional development.
• Public speaking techniques.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines. 
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems and accomplish tasks; analyzing, resolving, and/or making recommendations regarding a variety of administrative, financial, and operational issues. 
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials. 
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Communicating orally and in writing with internal staff, the public, and City and government officials in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Using a computer and appropriate computer applications to perform the essential and important functions of the job.
• Preparing and delivering presentations.
• Preparing charts, maps and other graphic presentations.
• Negotiating with various parties to reach consensus.
• Analyzing and resolving technical data, situations and problems.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials. 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to communicate in English both orally and in writing at the appropriate level.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the appropriate level.
• Ability to learn and follow City and departmental policies procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as operation and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several complex variables in non-standardized situations.

• Work is performed in a normal office environment and in the field, including construction sites, where there may be extreme temperatures, exposure to sun, dirt and/or dust.
• The incumbent's working conditions are typically moderately quiet, but can be loud at some locations.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive.  It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job.   Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.  Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.