Description
Are you a creative, forward-thinking, and visionary planner with an eye toward community and transit development? The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) wants you to apply to be a Strategic Planner on our Long Range and Strategic Planning team. Help UTA keep moving forward as you take a key role in shaping the mobility, growth, and long-range plans to improve transit across the Wasatch Front.
You will be at the forefront of various transit projects and studies aimed at improving access to and increasing service for the future of public transit in Utah. You will collaborate with people across the agency as well as partners and the community to plan and develop projects to increase access to public transit for Utahns.
This is a Career-Ladder position, meaning it can be filled at either the III or II experience level:
In addition to what is listed for Strategic Planner II below, as an upper-level Strategic Planner III, you will:
- Produce, or supervise the production of, financial programming plans, agency plans, or various long range, strategic, or tactical transit studies, analyses, or projects.
- Act as a primary resource to other UTA departments and external agencies, coordinating with local and federal agencies to advance and implement projects.
- Lead the UTA portion of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) and the Statewide TIP assembled by UDOT.
- Report directly to the Manager of Long Range & Strategic Planning Manager.
- You may be asked to take a supervisory role over Strategic Planner I and II’s.
As the mid-level Strategic Planner II, you will:
- Conduct self-directed work, participate, and lead in a team environment.
- Work with moderate supervision and must be able to apply general planning principles and think analytically.
- Conduct project development, system planning, strategic planning, and financial programming activities.
- Assist in the development and implementation, whether internal or through the contracting of external resources, of project scope/schedule/budget.
- Assist in the production, or supervise the production of, financial programming plans, agency plans, or various long range, strategic, or tactical transit studies, analyses, or projects.
- Conduct research and analysis activities on transit service, projects, or initiatives.
- Act as a resource to other UTA departments and external agencies, coordinating with local and federal agencies to advance and implement projects.
- Participate on both internal UTA and external multi-disciplinary teams as a technical planning advisor.
- Represent UTA in project related public involvement initiatives, and work to create positive solutions for the community.
- Coordinate with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and local governments to assist in developing transportation plans and programs.
- Assist with the UTA portion of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Statewide TIP assembled by UDOT.
- Report directly to the Manager of Long Range & Strategic Planning or to a Strategic Planner III, if applicable.
- You may be asked to take a leadership role over Strategic Planner I.
As the entry-level Strategic Planner I, you will:
- Provide support to transit project development activities, long range transit planning and program development including feasibility studies and alternatives analysis.
- Support UTA operating business units by participating in task teams, collecting, and analyzing data and preparing and presenting transit planning materials.
- Represent UTA on Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) technical committees, local planning development committees.
- Provide transit planning support for various transportation related studies.
- Report findings and recommendations to groups inside and outside UTA
Minimum Qualifications
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES
Strategic Planner III
- 8 years of transit planning experience, 6 years transit planning and 2 years of other related planning experience, OR6 years of transit planning and a master’s degree or professional planning certification.
- Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, Transportation Planning, Geography, Engineering, Economics, Business, Math, or another related field.
- Master’s degree preferred, but not required.
- AICP certification, ITE, Professional Transpiration Planner (PTP) certificate, Professional Engineer (PE) or other professional certification is preferred but not required.
- A valid Utah driver’s license with a good driving record is required. Must be a safe driver with no more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years and no convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the past 10 years.
Strategic Planner II
- In addition to the education, certifications, and licenses listed for the Strategic Planner III, to qualify for the Strategic Planner IIyou only need:
- 4 years of transit planning experience, 2 years transit planning and 2 years of other related planning experience, OR2 years of transit planning and a master’s degree or professional planning certification.
Strategic Planner I
- In addition to the education, certifications, and licenses listed for the Strategic Planner III, to qualify for the Strategic Planner Iyou only need:
- This is an entry level position, no previous experience required.
- Completion of a 6-month planning related internship (urban, transportation, municipal, environmental) is preferred.
KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS
For the Strategic Planner III, you must have knowledge of at least 8 of the following areas. For the Strategic Planner II, you must have knowledge of at least 6 of the following areas. For the Strategic Planner I, you must have knowledge of at least 4 of the following areas. For some openings, knowledge of specific areas may be required:
- GIS
- Local general plan requirements and preparation.
- Zoning and land use regulations
- Transportation system planning
- Travel demand modeling
- Financial analysis of public agencies
- Federal and State environmental requirements
- Federal Transit Administration Project Development process.
- Local transportation and public works project development.
- Transit operations and route planning relationship between land use, urban design, and transit.
- Basic statistical analysis of surveys and operations data
- Basic administrative tools, i.e., word processing and spreadsheets – preferred
- Project Management
- Alternative Analysis
- Federal Transit Administration Project Development process.
- RFP process and general procurement rules and regulations
- NEPA process
ABILITIES
In addition to what is listed under the Strategic Planner II and I below, as the Strategic Planner III you must be able to:
- Work with Contracts department to produce procurement documents including Requests for Proposals and contracts.
In addition to what is listed under the Strategic Planner I below, as a Strategic Planner II, you must be able to:
- direct the preparation of a report including appropriate graphics and the review and edit reports in each of the areas listed as having experience in.
- prepare and present plans and proposals to the City Council, MPO or other decision maker forum.
- represent the agency in a variety of public settings.
- prepare and track task schedules and budgets for complex multi-jurisdictional studies.
- prepare agendas for both technical and public meetings.
- contribute to Feasibility, Corridor, or Alternatives Analysis studies.
- direct work and supervise others.
- develop work scope, schedule, and pricing documents.
- identify and resolve issues in a timely manner.
- work efficiently with minimal supervision.
As a Strategic Planner I, you must be able to:
- Ability to write and edit a report chapter covering one of the areas listed above.
- Ability to assist in preparing presentation materials for public meetings
- Ability to work cooperatively with customers and the general public in controversial situations
- Ability to prepare agendas for technical meetings
- Ability to manage a project up to $50,000 dollar value
– OR –
an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
[UTA reserves the right to determine the equivalencies of education and experience.]
UTA’s benefits package for full-time administrative employees includes:
- Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance (eligible after 30 days of employment), with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts.
- Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, and dependent children.
- days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
- 10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
- Retirement options – Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching.
- Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
- Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
- Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
- Free transit passes for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
- Employee assistance program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
- UTA Well – a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
- Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness.
For more information on UTA’s Total Rewards benefits package, please visit: https://jobs.jobvite.com/rideuta/#benefits
Pay Ranges:
Strategic Planner I: $26.202 per hour or more, depending on experience.
Strategic Planner II: $69,000 per year or more, depending on experience.
Strategic Planner III: $77,500 per year or more, depending on experience.
If interested, please apply before: Open until Filled
PM21
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