Assistant Regional Planner

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC DOT is seeking an Assistant Regional Planner to support engagement with NYMTC, foster collaborative planning along the city’s periphery, and assist with operational, fiscal, and administrative workflows. The role emphasizes project management and strong communication skills in transportation policy and intergovernmental coordination.

The incumbent will develop expertise in NYMTC processes, participate in planning activities, manage federally funded regional projects, and coordinate with

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and two years of experience in community work or related activities; or a high school diploma with six years of related experience; or an equivalent combination with at least one year of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key technical advisor to NYC DOT staff on NYMTC regulations, programs, and funding matters.
• Engage NYMTC and partners to advance transportation priorities and participate in committees/working groups.
• Develop and maintain relationships with adjacent jurisdictions for cross-border planning and data sharing.
• Manage UPWP-related planning activities, budgets, and reports for policy recommendations.
• Lead procurement and fiscal tasks complying with federal funding requirements.

Education

Bachelor's degree

High school diploma

Equivalent education/experience

Job description

• Job Category: Policy, Research & Analysis
• Salary Band: $90,000 to $100,000
• Compensation: USD 62,868 - USD 97,593

Job Description

NYC DOT is seeking an Assistant Regional Planner to support the agency’s engagement with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), foster collaborative planning along the city’s periphery, and assist with operational, fiscal, and administrative workflows. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, internally motivated professional with strong project management and interpersonal/communication skills who is interested in transportation planning policy, regional and intergovernmental coordination, public administration, and advancing collaborative solutions to transportation challenges that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
Working to support DOT’s goal of ensuring the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods across NYC, the incumbent will report to the Deputy Director for Planning Coordination on the Regional & Long-Term Planning team, a team responsible for providing internal policy guidance, leading innovative programs, engaging regional partners on megaprojects and in metropolitan planning fora, strategically managing the agency’s federal planning funds, and supporting planning and coordination at the city’s periphery.
The Assistant Regional Planner will develop a strong working expertise in metropolitan planning processes, NYMTC’s planning activities and procedures, and the federal and regional programs through which transportation planning and funding are advanced. The incumbent will support DOT’s participation in NYMTC committees, working groups, and other planning activities while managing federally funded regional planning projects and developing new opportunities for collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions. Working under general supervision with latitude for independent judgment, the incumbent will:

1. Serve as a key technical advisor to NYC DOT staff including its Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC) representative on NYMTC regulations, programs, and funding matters. Translate federal and regional requirements into clear, actionable guidance to support agency leadership and project managers throughout the project development lifecycle. Coordinate agency-wide collaboration to build consensus on pertinent issues. Actively cultivate opportunities to showcase DOT’s innovative work in regional fora.
2. Engage NYMTC, its member agencies, and other partners to advance NYC’s transportation priorities, including on megaprojects. Actively represent DOT in NYMTC committees and working groups. Contribute to development of the NYMTC-led Regional Transportation Plan and other long-term agency planning objectives. Coordinate DOT’s participation in the September 11th Memorial Fellowship Program, its participation in NYTMC’s annual emissions conformity run, and its use of NYMTC Community Planning Workshop program, including associated public outreach.
3. Develop and maintain relationships with transportation planners and local officials, particularly in jurisdictions adjacent to NYC, to identify opportunities for joint planning, data sharing, technical coordination, and coordinated approaches to cross-border projects. Cooperate with neighboring jurisdictions and regional partners to enhance multimodal connectivity and alignment at the city's periphery. Establish proactive internal frameworks for collaborative planning in neighborhoods that extend across the city’s borders. Represent DOT’s interests in interagency planning efforts, including the current DCP-led White Plains Road Neighborhood Plan.
4. Manage federal planning activities included in the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), including the current Coordinated Planning at the City's Periphery study. Develop work plans and schedules, coordinate internal and external partners, and manage both consultants and deliverables as needed. Maintain operational and fiscal accountability across projects by actively monitoring budgets and preparing comprehensive reports and policy recommendations for agency leadership.
5. Support the operational, fiscal, and administrative workflows that support the full expanse of the R portfolio. Lead end-to-end procurement processes and complete fiscal tasks to ensure strict alignment with federal funding requirements and project timelines. Establish, optimize, and maintain the team’s internal file management architecture, tracking systems, and performance metrics. Design high-impact visual presentations and briefing materials to synthesize technical data for dot leadership, ensuring the team’s strategic insights effectively drive agency-wide decision-making.

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.