Principal Planner of Transportation Safety | Metropolitan Planning & Analysis

About Houston-Galveston Area Council
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than  7  million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day.
We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being of our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive.
Position summary
Under the general direction of the Supervisor of Transportation Safety, the Principal Planner of Transportation Safety will be leading and coordinating on a wide variety of the agency’s transportation safety planning initiatives. The incumbent will lead the continued development and coordination of the Regional Safety Action Plan, Local Safety Action Plans, safety intersection audits, Complete Streets and assist with safety education and outreach campaigns, among other initiatives as needed. This role is also responsible for contributing to broader aspects of long range and short-range planning in accordance with regional planning goals, performance measures, and investment priorities.

What will I be doing?

• Managing consultant supported safety studies.
• Participate in other relevant region-wide, subregional, municipal, or other sub-area studies.
• Coordinate research and briefing documents on safety-related topics including but not limited to the regional safety needs, safety considerations in complete streets, active transportation, freight, vehicle technology, infrastructure technology, land use and safe streets, and other planning initiatives.
• Represent H-GAC on external safety focused committees and forums to ensure that agency priorities found in H-GAC’s Long Range Transportation Plan are consistent with all future regional and local safety planning efforts.
• Coordinating the administration of the Transportation Safety Committee.
• Assist in other H-GAC planning initiatives, programs and studies, such as future updates to the Regional Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Plan, regional system performance measures, local safety investments, complete streets, and capital investment while analyzing data, providing policy guidance, and offering subject matter expertise on draft deliverables.
• Participate in Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation Policy Council meetings, and relevant subcommittees and work groups.
• Provide education and consultation regarding application of safety strategies in various settings internally and around the region.
• Managing consultants, contracts, procurements and invoices.

Key Qualifications  

• Experience in the development of scopes of work, contracts, budgets and related processes, conducting data analysis, gathering public input, management of consultant teams, review of invoices and reports, in the implementation of transportation planning studies consistent with federal, state, and local requirements
• Experience working with a team
• Demonstrated program management and organizational skills
• Experience developing policy recommendations, and investment priorities that garner broad stakeholder and public support
• Team player, with an “all hands-on deck” attitude, who is passionate about doing whatever it takes to improve quality of life for our citizens
• Strong project management, written and verbal communication and presentation skills are crucial for success in this role
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex data with the public

Do you have… 

• Bachelor’s Degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study (urban planning, public administration, etc.)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with local or regional government agencies, nonprofit programs, or similar job-related duties 
• Experience in urban or regional or transportation planning, monitoring and reporting
• Thorough knowledge of transportation planning and operations
• Ability to plan and effectively manage complex, long-term projects

Salary Range: $95,000 - $105,000

All employees of H-GAC are required to reside within the agency’s region of service to support our commitment to excellence in service of our region.

H-GAC is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or protected veteran status.