Under the direction of the Manager of Planning, Grants and Programming, the Senior Planner (Planner) is responsible for leading and overseeing advanced, highly-complex professional planning studies and activities, that include but are not limited to, carrying out of short-and long-range passenger rail and transit planning, agency coordination, advocacy, station area development, environmental, and network integration with other transportation services/expansion programs (including high-speed rail) efforts for both the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and San Joaquins rail services. The Planner will assist with the development and preparation of competitive grant applications, capital project development, project tracking and reporting, and coordinate with other San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) departments and external partner agencies. The position also supports ACE and San Joaquins financial planning and programming, grant program compliance and oversight, as well as capital projects coordination. The position will involve project implementation, making decisions to solve problems, working closely with state and local partners, and representing SJRRC and San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) at public events and meetings.

The Planner will split their time leading tasks supporting the ACE, San Joaquins, and high-speed rail (HSR) services. For ACE and San Joaquins, the work is focused largely on the joint ACE/San Joaquins improvement and expansion program known as "Valley Rail". A goal of Valley Rail is to improve and expand ACE to serve Modesto, Merced, Sacramento, Butte County, and Union City/BART. The Valley Rail Program includes several projects and initiatives to improve and increase the frequency of the San Joaquins service and expand the San Joaquins to Butte County. The Planner will lead the critical network integration planning and coordination with HSR (see Figure 1 attached).

The Planner will oversee the Departmental efforts in planning tasks related to ACE and San Joaquins service improvements and expansion as well as planning tasks related to network integration with the HSR Early Operating Segment (EOS) between Merced and Bakersfield and the operations of HSR EOS (SJJPA is expected to be the Operating Agency for the HSR EOS).

This position is distinguished from the Associate level by the assignment and oversight of the full range of duties and responsible for major functional area.