Summary:

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Transportation Planner III or IV (Depending on Qualifications) to assist in professional-level planning activities that support metropolitan transportation planning. The Transportation Planner position, as part of the Systems Performance Planning Team, will primarily play a role in facilitating regional coordination and communication of regional roadway safety and freight planning issues, as well as assisting in the management of the Regional Roadway Safety Program. The successful candidate will also have responsibilities including authoring technical and policy-oriented reports on metropolitan transportation issues, the collection and analysis of data for transportation planning studies, presenting to the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and COG committees and subcommittees, and assisting with federal performance planning requirements. The position requires program management and data analysis skills, ability to establish and maintain relationships with partners, and the candidate should be familiar with general transportation planning and engineering issues, metropolitan transportation issues, and transportation performance measurement.

Duties will include:

• Support the execution of annual cycles of the Regional Roadway Safety Program (RRSP), a TPB technical assistance program that promotes roadway safety. Example activities include evaluating program applications, leading panel selection discussions, representing COG at key project meetings, assist with data analysis and reporting of performance metrics, such as highway safety targets, as required by federal regulations.
• Conduct project management of metropolitan transportation planning studies such as the regional safety study and National Capital Region Freight Plan. Example activities include developing project scopes, schedules, and milestones, and monitoring progress toward completion.
• Coordinate and work with federal, state, regional and local transportation agencies and organizations, regularly interacting with and participating in other organizations’ planning activities, attending meetings and representing the TPB’s interests and summarizing meeting discussions.
• Author and present technical and policy-oriented information reports for a variety of audiences including elected officials, technical experts, and the public.
• Make oral and graphic presentations of metropolitan transportation data, issues, findings and recommendations to TPB and COG committees and subcommittees.
• Facilitate the planning of key events such as symposiums or forums on safety or freight topics, such as curbside management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No direct staff supervisory responsibilities but may be involved in recruitment, supervising interns, and/or oversight of consultants to ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and demonstrated skill in critical thinking, judgment, and data analysis, including demonstrated knowledge in the application of data visualization and geospatial technologies. This candidate will also have a strong background in transportation planning, data analysis, and project management.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

To be considered for the Transportation Planner III position, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field, and three (3) or more years of directly applicable work experience, or a master’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field, and one (1) or more years of directly applicable work experience.

To be considered for the Transportation Planner IV position, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field, and four (4) or more years of directly applicable work experience, or a master’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field, and two (2) or more years of directly applicable work experience.

An equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills and abilities may be considered.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Background and demonstrated experience using the following: ArcGIS; scripting languages (e.g. Python, R); Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); statistical software, database software, and data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, Power BI).

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders and citizens. Ability to articulate intended project workflows to direct supervisors. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to evaluate technical options and implement solutions based on individual project needs. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

No Requirements

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

WORK LOCATION

The candidate will be required to report to work at the COG offices in Washington, D.C. This is not a fully remote work position. COG policy currently requires all employees to work three (3) days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and an additional day as approved by a supervisor) in COG offices, and allows up to two (2) days teleworking from a remote location.

Transportation Planner III $73,728 - $90,000 grade 7, Depending on Qualifications

Transportation Planner IV $84,037 - $100,000 grade 8, Depending on Qualifications