Transportation Planner/Senior Transportation Planner

The Metropolitan Council's Transportation Services (MTS) Division is accepting applications for a Transportation Planner OR Senior Transportation Planner.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 20 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional parks and trails, transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) conducts planning for the regional transportation system that includes highways, transit, aviation, freight, and bicycle and pedestrian connections. The Metropolitan Council is the region's federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Metropolitan Council regional transportation planning division develops the overarching transportation policy plan for the region (as the designated MPO for the Twin Cities metropolitan area, this division provides for a continuing, coordinated, comprehensive transportation planning process). Depending on the area of assignment, planners work in transit and highway planning, transit way planning and development, development of the regional transportation improvement program, review of municipal comprehensive plans, travel forecasting, freight planning, air quality monitoring, regional aviation system planning, and participation in the development of other transportation-related plans, programs or policies.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
The Transportation Planner or Senior Transportation Planner hired into this role will join a team of transportation professionals from various backgrounds including planning, engineering, geography, data scientists, outreach, and research, with work values centered on putting people first, working together, and adapting to change.

This position will specifically work in two crucial roles in transportation planning for the region: coordination of local plan review for transportation and regional transportation policy development.

The role of coordinating local plan review for transportation will provide a complete approach to the transportation division's role of translating the region's long-range transportation plan for local governments, coordinating the creation of technical resources for planners working on local plans, and reviewing plans for conformance, consistency, and compatibility. The entire transportation planning team supports this work, but one staff person coordinates the work of the team to ensure it is consistent, track progress, and identify opportunities for improvement. The person in this role will also facilitate transportation elements of environmental reviews required by the Council. This can include reviewing transportation elements of large development proposals (e.g., alternative urban area reviews) or leading the Council's review of environmental documentation for regionally significant transportation projects. This role will lead the coordination of 2050 comprehensive Plan reviews for transportation planning for all cities and counties in the region, which are due by end of 2028.

The role of regional transportation policy development will consist of conducting important research on emerging policy issues, facilitating regional conversations around policy topics, and coordinating or leading a process to develop regional policies for the Transportation Policy Plan. A transportation planner will support other staff working on policy development with research and coordination of the process. A senior planner will lead the policy development process and provide direction to the work of other staff across multiple policy areas in addition to conducting research and coordinating the process. This will include a major review or overhaul of policies and actions in the Transportation Policy Plan every 5 to 10 years. In the interim years, policy work will focus on interpreting regional policies and actions into other products like the Regional Solicitation project selection, major investment studies, and comprehensive plan guidance and tools. This role requires a dynamic and creative thinker that can both come up with original ideas and tailor ideas to the Council's authority and roles.

The person in this role will work with a broad cross-section of regional stakeholders given their role on comprehensive planning and regional policy. This will include major transportation partners like MnDOT and transit providers, local governments like counties and cities, other state agencies like Minnesota Policy Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources, and community representatives and technical experts in other roles. The role will also collaborate extensively within the Council, namely with Community Development.

Note: The salary displayed is the full salary range. The hiring salary will be determined based on the final candidate's qualifications, the Council's internal pay structures, and our total compensation package for the position.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Transportation Planner

• Review or coordinate the review of transportation elements in local Comprehensive Plans. Plan amendments, local planning documents, and environmental reviews for consistency and conformance with the Transportation Policy Plan and compatibility with plans of affected and adjacent jurisdictions.
• Lead the development of individualized Transportation System Statements that tell local governments what is in the Transportation Policy Plan and how it affects their plans.
• Serve as the point of contact between MTS and the Community Development Division for issues related to Comprehensive Planning, System Statements, and local environmental reviews.
• Coordinate the development of guidance, best practices, and technical assistance for local planning partners on issues relating to the implementation of the Transportation Policy Plan, primarily creating and tracking a work plan and guiding other MTS subject matter experts on content creation.
• Lead research on emerging transportation policy issues.
• Coordinate policy development work including supporting policy development teams with background, scheduling, and tools.
• Support other projects in MTS and implementation of regional transportation policy by participating in project teams, reviewing materials, and providing feedback or direction consistent with regional policy.
• Assist with research and technical analysis for the Transportation Policy Plan including GIS work and map-making, peer region assessments, and other work as necessary.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

• Work on more complex projects independently and provide more direction to the work of other staff.
• Lead policy development work, rather than support and coordinate.
• In addition, the position would take on more responsibility and decision-making around comprehensive plan support, including making recommendations for other staff that are subject matter experts.

Education/Experience:

Any of the following combinations of education (in geography, public policy, urban studies, environmental studies, urban planning, transportation planning, community development, or related field) and experience (in planning, transportation planning or local government planning):

Transportation Planner:

• High school diploma/GED and seven (7) years of experience.
• Associate's degree and five (5) years of experience.
• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience.
• Master's degree and one (1) year of experience.

Senior Transportation Planner:

• High school diploma/GED and eight (8) years of experience.
• Associate's degree and six (6) years of experience.
• Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of experience.
• Master's degree and two (2) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience working for or with local governments as a planner with an emphasis on comprehensive long-range planning.
• Experience working on transportation planning and policy development.
• Experience working for/with a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
• Experience in successfully coordinating projects across a large department with multiple staff and multiple deliverables.
• Experience providing or developing technical assistance and resources for community planning issues related to land use. Complete Streets, transportation, community engagement, or other relevant planning topics.
• Racial and social equity experience and/or training along with demonstrated ability, or growth capacity, to participate in conversations about race and equity, as well as identify opportunities to integrate equity initiatives in the work.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Ability to use Geographic Information System (GIS) to perform geographic analysis.
• Skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and the regional planning role that the Metropolitan Council plays in relationship to local governments.
• Extensive knowledge of policy analysis and planning principles, methods, and theory.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant Council stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in the policy analysis or development process.
• Ability to understand the historical context of the Council and the people it serves; and an understanding of how the Council can work to acknowledge, repair, and reduce regional disparities.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage and support staff in contributing to a dynamic work culture that improves the Council's ability to serve the region.
• We encourage and support staff in bringing the full range of experiences and identities that define them to the workplace.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

Transportation Planner:

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade G
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $39.41 - $63.91 hourly / $81,973.00 - $132,933.00 annually
Anticipated Hiring Range: $39.41 - $46.97 hourly / $81,973.00 - $97,698.00 annually

Senior Transportation Planner:

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $42.58 - $69.09 hourly / $88,566.00 - $143,707.00 annually
Anticipated Hiring Range: $42.58 - $50.77 hourly / $88,566.00 - $105,602.00 annually

Work Environment

Work is performed in a standard office setting with hybrid telework options available. Occasional travel between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities Metro area as well as visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as the work requires. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.