Senior Planner

Description

This position is open until filled.

Under general direction, performs complex professional planning activities for transportation projects, including transit and pathway programs, service delivery and grants; conducts analysis and prepares a variety of documents and reports; participates in policy development and project implementation; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management staff. May exercise technical and functional direction over staff.


CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey-level classification in the professional Planner series. Incumbents exercise independent judgment on diverse and specialized planning projects with accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work. Performance of the work requires the use of independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. This class is distinguished from the Planning Manager in that the latter is a management-level classification in the series responsible for oversight of a major planning unit, including long- and short-term project planning, with programmatic and budgetary administration duties.


EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the typical functions of the job.

Ø Performs research, analysis, and prepares reports and recommendations on a variety of transit and transportation-related issues, policies, and programs; gathers, compiles, and reports on data and statistics affecting rail service operations.

Ø Conducts regular data monitoring, analysis and reporting.

Ø Supports transit service planning and coordination.

Ø Prepares analytical and statistical reports, memoranda, graphics, maps and other communications regarding SMART's projects and programs for the public, senior staff, board members, outside agencies and committees.

Ø Assists in managing multiple current and long-range planning projects, general plan updates, grant applications, development projects, and other projects and programs within planning.

Ø Manages specific planning department projects, including project budget, schedule, contracts, communications and public engagement and deliverables.


Ø Represents the District and supports transportation planning and coordination with cities, other local/regional agencies and community groups regarding transit operations, transportation and land use issues and advancement of transit-oriented development projects.

Ø Coordinates with all levels of stakeholders, including partner transit agencies, regional transportation planning authorities, cities, counties, MTC, and Caltrans; participates on a variety of committees.


Ø Reviews a variety of permits, applications, and petitions for compliance to planning regulations, codes, and ordinances; compiles findings and prepares recommendations in written form for general plan and planning projects, including project analysis and conditions for permit approval or denial.


Ø Supports the project environmental clearance process, consistent with federal and state environmental laws.


Ø Reviews planning ordinances or regulations.

Ø Makes presentations before committees and the Board of Directors as required.


Ø Participates in annual budget preparation; identifies resource needs and prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications; monitors expenditures.


Ø Resolves complex customer questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from citizens, other departments, and agencies; recommends corrective actions to resolve issues.

Ø Adheres to all required safety procedures and programs.

Ø Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

Ø Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in transportation planning, urban planning, geography, or a related field.

Experience:

Ø Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in transportation planning, urban planning, or related experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

Ø Possession of, and ability to maintain, California Class C driver's license.

Knowledge of:

Ø Modern principles, practices, and technical and legal issues of transit, active transportation, land use, and system monitoring and evaluation.


Ø Bicycle and pedestrian pathway planning, policy, and design.


Ø Principles and practices of research and data collection, including statistics.


Ø Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.


Ø Project management and contract administration principles and techniques.


Ø Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to planning work.


Ø Geographic Information Systems technology.

Ø Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and District staff.

Ø The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.


Ø Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

Ø Read, comprehend, interpret, and apply laws, ordinances, codes, policies, and regulations in the preparation of written reports and in oral communications.

Ø Identify and define transportation planning design problems.

Ø Interpret and explain complex planning projects and programs to the public.


Ø Review plans and apply provisions of ordinances and codes to determine compliance with regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions.


Ø Perform analysis and make recommendations based on findings in studies, field observation and public contacts.


Ø Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.


Ø Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.

Ø Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.

Ø Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Ø Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.

Ø Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Ø Assist in estimating and administering budgets for studies and in managing planning projects.

Ø Ability to attend occasional meetings outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends.

Ø Ability to follow relevant safety procedures and protocols during the course of work.