Senior Planner

Job Summary

Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.

Looking for a career where your work has a real impact every day? Join BART and help connect more than 200,000 riders across the Bay Area to jobs, schools, healthcare, and the opportunities that matter most. As a Senior Planner, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of one of the nation's most vital transit systems while contributing to a more connected, sustainable, and equitable region.

BART is seeking talented professionals who thrive on solving complex challenges, enjoy working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, a hybrid schedule and are passionate about public service.

Reporting to the Group Manager, Station Area Planning, Senior Planners are responsible for a combination of planning duties in support of station area planning, including land use/Transit Oriented Development (TOD), station access, and station upgrade projects as well as developing and coordinating the acquisition of funding for projects and programs with other transportation agencies; and performs related duties as assigned.

The most qualified candidate will demonstrate the following in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications:

• Experience with station area, land use, transportation, and access planning.
• Familiarity with station design, including capacity analysis, multimodal station access, and urban design best practices.
• Understanding of the relationship between land use, transit and travel demand.
• Experience with placemaking, to better connect BART to surrounding communities and enhance customer experience.
• Knowledge of travel markets, and regional growth trends and policies to be used in transportation modeling, ridership analysis, and analytical assignments.
• Demonstrated clear, concise verbal and written communication skills.

The most qualified candidates for this position will have highly developed competencies in the following areas, which will be reinforced in the related work experience and will be articulated during the selection process:

• Understanding of local land use/transportation planning decision making processes, and experience coordinating with local governments. Familiarity with AB2923, SB79 and the MTC TOC Policy.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate policies and strategies related to the adopted District policies, such as the Station Access and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policies.
• Knowledge of BART's role in the regional economy, environment, land use patterns, and public service.
• Knowledge of planning and funding efforts at federal, state, regional, County and jurisdictional levels.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to transit system and station area planning development (i.e. California Environmental Quality Act, Federal Title VI, Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Knowledge of station access and accessibility guidelines (NACTO, PROWAG, etc.).
• Proven ability to engage the public and key stakeholders with effective communication techniques in writing and at in-person and on-line meetings, activities, and events.

If you are ready to make a difference for the Bay Area while building a fulfilling and stable career, we encourage you to apply and join the team that keeps the region moving.

Reports to: Group Manager, Station Area Planning

Application & Selection Process (Internal/External)

This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). All applicants must apply online at Applications must be completed in full and include all requested information, including dates of employment, positions held, hours worked, and a detailed description of duties performed.

Applicants may attach a resume to provide supplemental information; however, the resume does not substitute for completing the application form in its entirety. Only information included in the application at the time of submission will be used to determine whether applicants meet the minimum qualifications for the position. All application materials must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received after the closing deadline will not be considered.

Applicants who require assistance with the online application process may contact the Talent Acquisition Division at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

The selection process for this position may include one or more of the following: a skills or performance demonstration, written examination, and/or panel or individual interview.

All applications will be reviewed by the Talent Acquisition Division to determine whether applicants meet the established Minimum Qualifications (MQs). Applicants who meet the MQs may be referred to the hiring department for further evaluation as part of the selection process.

The selected candidate must demonstrate a work history reflecting reliability and dependability and may be required to provide copies of certificates, diplomas, or other documentation required by law, including proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Pre-employment processing will include a background check. This requirement does not apply to current full-time District employees unless the position requires additional evaluations or clearances.

Examples of Duties

1. Participates in the more complex and difficult work of staff responsible for planning service extensions and service access improvements in District joint transportation projects, service capacity improvements, station rehabilitation, and ridership growth, generates feasibility analyses and technical reports as required.
2. Develops, maintains and updates program databases, including database reports, scenarios, and cost benefit analyses; responds to input from staff regarding database use; implements program changes.
3. Conducts environmental impact assessments; researches, assembles, analyzes, and presents data; works closely with District Architects office to develop a plan to identify the use of water by the District and to reduce water usage; coordinates inter-departmental, outside agency and public review of plans; presents recommendations to District management.
4. Manages and coordinates multiple diverse planning efforts at and related to stations within the BART system, including BART long-term vision, conceptual planning for station modernization, and immediate project-level improvements.
5. Develops, recommends or assists in formulating policy and strategies for implementing plans and planning services and secures capital funds from diverse sources.
6. As assigned, serves as District's representative to coordinate on joint agency planning projects; reviews plans, reports, and studies from other agencies which reference District plans; comments on plans, reports, and studies.
7. Develops scopes of work for feasibility studies, policy research, and project evaluation.
8. Represents District at meetings with local, state, and federal agencies and public; provides information on District plans, policies, and procedures.
9. Oversees inter-operator service agreements and contracts including transportation planning and contracted services, transit schedules, express bus service, and service modifications.
10. Manages the implementation of special accessibility projects including ADA programs; serves as liaison to communicate District program policy, goals and objectives.
11. Prepares and monitors project budgets to ensure project is completed within budget guidelines; pursues funding opportunities; drafts grant proposals; prepares requests for proposal and contract agreements for assigned projects.
12. Directs annual station surveys; reviews and analyzes results of surveys; integrates results into planning recommendations.
13. As assigned, plans, assigns, directs, and reviews work of planners and other staff on an ongoing or project basis.
14. Planning and hosting community outreach events; directing online and community outreach and education.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in transportation planning, urban planning, economics, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Experience: Three (3) years of (full-time equivalent) verifiable professional experience in transportation planning and analysis. Other Requirements: Must possess a valid California driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record. Must be willing to occasionally travel within the state. Substitution: Additional professional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. A college degree is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of a transportation planning program.
• Advanced methods and techniques of transportation planning.
• Current and complex principles and practices of transportation planning and analysis.
• Principles and practices of bus operation, schedules, and equipment utilization.
• Procedures and practices of procurement and contract management.
• Computer software programs utilized in transportation planning models.
• Advanced mathematical principles. Statistical techniques, methods and formulas.
• Methods and techniques of financial cost/benefits