The City of Pasadena Department of Transportation is seeking an Assistant Planner in the Transit Division of the Department of Transportation. The Transit Division is responsible for the City’s fixed route bus service, Pasadena Transit, and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride which is a shared demand response service for older adults and individuals with a disability.
The Transit Assistant Planner duties may include field work at bus stops and on buses; in person and phone customer service for both Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride; data input and monitoring; schedule development; coordination with other City departments, contractors, consultants, and other agencies; representing the City at public meetings, including presentations; grant applications; development of marketing collateral; using GIS to create maps; among other duties.
The ideal candidate is a customer-focused team player who possesses excellent written, organization, and interpersonal skills, with knowledge and experience in current transit/transportation planning. Experience in public transit/transit planning is desired, including knowledge of transit operations, bus scheduling and on-time performance, bus zones, local return guidelines and/or community outreach is a plus.

Essential Functions

The following list represents some of the essential functions of the position. Assignments may vary. For more detailed information, please refer to the job description for Assistant Planner.

• Works with Transit Division to implement the City’s fixed route and paratransit services programs and other transit related programs, including the supervision of contract compliance of transit service providers.
• Researches, monitors, analyzes, performs data collection, and identifies trends of the service operations based on various data gathering, direct observations, statistical methods and reports from contractor and third party evaluators.
• Actively identifies strategies and develops programs to increase and improve transit services to the community.
• Prepares reports and presents recommendations using applied mapping and data analysis tools such as ArcGIS.
• Performs professional planning work associated with researching, preparing, and administering local, state, and federal grants.
• Performs detailed field assessments and inventories of bus stops and zones.
• Performs in-field bus route and schedule monitoring and evaluations.
• Where applicable to transit services, evaluates current development projects by detailed review of proposed plans.
• Performs field surveys to identify needs, conditions, and/or problems prior to, during construction, and upon completion of projects to ensure conformance with applicable requirements and conditions; and coordinates with City staff, other agencies, developers, and others accordingly.
• Increases public awareness of transit services through various marketing strategies and community outreach efforts, which may include attending community events as well as making presentations to elected and/or appointed officials, commissions, community groups, at interagency meetings, and in other public settings.
• Provides customer service assistance on fixed route and paratransit services, including helping customers on the phone and at the front counter, and handling questions, comments and requests for information related to the transportation programs.
• Performs a variety of other tasks related to the transit and transportation programs, as required.

• Adaptability responds positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires.
• Analyzing & Interpreting Data draws meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data.
• Critical Thinking analytically and logically evaluates information and claims.
• Customer Focus attends to the needs and expectations of customers.
• Relationship Building establishes rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Self-Management shows personal organization, self-discipline and dependability.
• Teamwork appreciates the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace.
• Writing communicates effectively in writing.

Qualification Guidelines

• A bachelor’s degree in planning, public policy, public administration, geography, or a closely related field.
• One year of recent professional planning experience in public transit/transit planning.
• Public sector experience preferred.
• A masters degree in planning, public policy, public administration or a closely related field is desirable.

Special Requirements

Possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record may be required for some assignments.