Senior Transportation Planner

Full Job Description

About WSDOTThe Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence.

Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state.

In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The OpportunityWSDOT is currently seeking a Senior Transportation Planner in our Northwest Region Mount Baker Area (MBA)!

This position will serve as the department's land use specialist and is responsible for leading and developing an annual work program for monitoring land use action, transportation study progress, and projects of local and regional planning jurisdictions and agencies.

This position will also serve as the community engagement specialist supporting MBA project offices, delivery of Complete Streets projects, corridor studies, HEAL Act implementation and other department planning functions as assigned.

This position will involve coordination with local jurisdictions and agencies, regional transportation planning organizations, and WSDOT HQ.

regions, Project Engineering Offices and specialty services to address the statewide multimodal transportation plan, highway corridor analysis and studies, and planning efforts assigned.

Key responsibilities will involve reviewing and providing comments on local jurisdiction plans and actions, developing and implementing community engagement plans, analyzing data, writing reports, and organizing and facilitating meetings with internal/external partners.

This position requires independent judgment and the ability to manage multiple projects under tight time constraints as well as working with internal and external stakeholders, technical staff, and tools to identify short-term and long-term needs and alternatives to make recommendations consistent with WSDOT's mission, vision and goals.

What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Coordinate, develop and implement inclusive community engagement plans and activities.
• Responsible for developing an annual work program for monitoring local, regional, and state jurisdictions and agencies land use and transportation policy plans and implementation progress.
• Independently review and provide technical assistance and coordination on land use, transportation issues, and development regulations and plans with local jurisdictions, regional transportation planning organizations, transit, tribes, and state agencies.
• Organize and facilitate oral and written comments and testimony to support WSDOT policies and procedures with internal and external partners and subject matter experts.
• Review and comment on national and state environmental documents.
• Monitor the progress of local and regional planning efforts to support and facilitate transportation in the region.
• Collect and analyze transportation, land use, social-economic, environmental, and other transportation data.

Qualifications

• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to collaborate, develop, and facilitate projects and activities with established timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• Land Use and Transportation Analysis: Demonstrated ability to apply land use, multimodal transportation planning and environmental principles and analysis methods, tools, or models to support decision-making for specialty studies, plans and projects.
• Community Outreach and Engagement: Experience creating and implementing community engagement plans and activities.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Experience working collaboratively on multi-disciplinary teams to complete transportation or infrastructure-related analyses or studies.
• Problem Solving: Ability to identify issues, evaluate data, and recommend solutions related to multimodal transportation system performance, safety, equity, or mobility.
• Data Interpretation and Visualization: Ability to communicate complex multimodal transportation or technical data clearly through written, visual, and verbal methods to diverse audiences.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Urban and Regional Planning Expertise: Demonstrated ability to apply planning principles, practices, and land use and transportation analytical methods to support urban, regional, or transportation planning functions.
• Transportation Planning Proficiency: Ability to perform planning review, analysis, and coordination for land use, development proposals, and transportation-related projects or studies.
• Professional Planning and Project Management Standards Knowledge: Knowledge of nationally recognized planning and project management practices and ethical standards consistent with professional certification requirements (e.g., AICP, PMP).
• Geospatial Mapping and Visualization Skills: Proficient in using GIS-based tools (e.g., ArcGIS) to produce maps, spatial analyses, and visual representations that support planning decisions.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.

In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.

For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28of the Washington Administrative Code.

• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have a choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency.

Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.

Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at Sidra.Fields@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference Senior Transportation Planner-13245 in the subject line.