The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire a transportation planner or analyst to lead and/or contribute to regional transportation planning projects and initiatives in northeastern Illinois. The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate thorough knowledge of transportation planning principles and an understanding of federal regulations that dictate transportation project implementation. This position could be either full-time or part-time, compensation would reflect employment status, professional experience and advanced education.

This position will be housed within CMAP’s Research, Analysis and Programming (RAP) division. Successful candidates will assist in or be responsible for quantitative and qualitative analysis across a range of transportation planning and policy topics. Examples of work to which the successful candidate could contribute include:

• Multi-modal corridor plans
• Congestion management plans
• Transportation systems analysis
• Prioritization of capital investments
• Evaluation of federal obligations and progress toward project implementation
• Tracking federal transportation performance measures

The selected candidate may be hired into an associate, analyst/planner, or senior level position based on their professional experience. Candidates with education and experience in transportation planning and/or engineering are welcomed.

See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key functions the employee will be expected to perform regularly:

• Manages or supports multiple staff-led and/or consultant-led projects from inception to completion.
• Establishes objectives and timelines to ensure effective completion of projects or project tasks. Supports colleagues and others to further the implementation of CMAP’s regional plan.
• Assists project managers and participates on project teams that requires conducting analyses, investigations, preparing recommendations, reports, and data visualizations.
• Designs or contributes to empirical research processes, data collection, data quality assurance, and data contextualization through analysis and data visualization.
• Builds and maintains positive relations with external partners, stakeholders, and communities. Serves on committees, task forces, and other bodies where CMAP representation is needed.

Required Skills and Abilities

Minimum knowledge and skill necessary to perform the role:

• Thorough knowledge of transportation planning principles.
• Understanding of federal regulations that dictate transportation project implementation.
• Familiarity with transportation systems operations and strategies to improve efficiency and reduce delay.
• Skill in general principles of research, data collection and analysis, and technical writing and data visualization.
• Excellent writing and communication skills; effectively communicates technical information to external and internal audiences orally, in writing, and in presentation form.
• Skill in utilizing spreadsheets, and skills or familiarity with statistical and/or geospatial analysis.
• Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical information and to prepare technical reports.

Education and Experience

Required and preferred education and professional experience for the position:

Associate

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, transportation engineering, urban planning, or a related field.
• Exposure to planning through internships and/or limited professional practice is preferred.

Analyst or Planner

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, transportation engineering, urban planning, or a related field.
• 2 years directly applicable professional experience (not including research assistantships or internships).
• Master's degree preferred.

Senior

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, transportation engineering, urban planning or a related field.
• 5 years directly applicable professional experience (not including research assistantships or internships).
• Master's degree preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.

Salary ranges

CMAP positions are categorized across 12 grades with salary ranges for each grade. When hiring, CMAP considers multiple factors — for example, experience and education — to determine starting salary. Most often, this is between the starting and mid-point of the grade range.

Minimum to midpoint ranges

Associate: $57,746 - $70,739

Analyst: $66,409 - $81,351

Senior: $73,375 - $93,553

Details regarding benefits are at www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers#benefits.

If you are unable to complete this application, or need an accommodation under the ADA, or have questions, please contact CMAP Human Resources at hr@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8774.