Civic Data Analyst – Sustainable Mobility

Mannik Smith Group; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Alta Planning + Design seeks a Civic Data Analyst (Sustainable Mobility) for our Minneapolis office. The role focuses on turning civic data into actionable insights for multimodal transportation planning, with emphasis on equity, safety, and environmental resilience.

The candidate will develop repeatable analyses in Python/R and GIS, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to analytical product development and client deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field or planning/engineering with software/data science exposure.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis and data interpretation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop prototypes of repeatable analysis in R, Python, and GIS.
• Lead development of analytical products aligning with firm objectives.
• Collaborate with planners, designers, and engineers on data analysis and visualization.
• Automate labor-intensive analyses to create organization-wide value.
• Work on diverse mobility projects and present data-driven narratives.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Quantitative analysis

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or another quantitative field

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or Engineering with some experience in software development and/or data science

Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Statistics, Data Science, Engineering, Math, or Social Sciences

AICP Certification

Tools

PostGIS

QGIS

ArcGIS Pro

geopandas

Flask

Django

FastAPI

Tableau

PowerBI

R-Shiny

Job description

Civic Data Analyst (Sustainable Mobility)

Department: Planning

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Compensation: $65,000 - $77,000 / year

Description

Alta Planning + Design seeks a Civic Data Analyst (Sustainable Mobility) for our Minneapolis office. This position is a great opportunity for someone who believes in the importance of active, multimodal, and sustainable transportation and who is interested in growing their career as a professional working at the intersection of civic data and sustainability. If you are looking to join an innovative organization and do work that connects people to places while advancing social justice, safety, and environmental resilience, apply with Alta today!

About Alta

Alta is a mission‑driven company working to mitigate climate change and advance safety and social justice by shaping sustainable, people‑centered communities. We bring together expertise across planning, design, engineering, education and encouragement programs, and community engagement to help communities thrive. Our work is grounded in the belief that how places are designed and experienced has a profound impact on equity, health, and opportunity—and that people should always be at the heart of those decisions.

Founded in 1996, Alta was at the forefront of the active transportation movement and has spent nearly 30 years partnering with communities to imagine a more connected, resilient, and inclusive future. Today, with more than 225 staff across the United States and beyond, we are a global leader in creating environments that support everyday life, strengthen human connection, and respond to the challenges of a changing world. Alta offers the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, contribute to meaningful work at every scale, and be part of a team committed to making lasting, positive change for people and the places they call home.

Day to Day

Serve as a technical expert and analyst across various disciplines, project types, and regions. Develop prototypes of repeatable analysis in R, Python, and GIS to advance place‑based sustainable transportation solutions. Over time, foster an entrepreneurial approach to analysis through staff training, research, tool development, and custom web applications.

Engage across Alta’s disciplines to understand data analytics needs, priorities, and expectations, fostering a data‑informed decision‑making culture. Lead the development of new analytical products that align with the firm's objectives and the multidisciplinary nature of the practice. Collaborate closely with planners, designers, and engineers in tasks related to data analysis and visualization, ensuring the developed solutions bring valuable mobility insights and can scale organization wide.

Delve into data analysis and visualization components of client projects and R&D efforts, employing complex methodologies. Address mobility and access challenges through innovative analytical solutions, and articulate data‑driven narratives effectively through reports, technical memos, and presentations. Be proactive in identifying labor‑intensive processes and analysis, exploring avenues to streamline and automate them to create organization‑wide value. Work on a range of projects including active transportation plans, safety action plans, complete streets planning, safe routes to school, new mobility plans, and economic benefit studies. Each day, you will keep a community‑focused perspective by pushing forward solutions that help communities inform narratives about people, address multifaceted community goals, prepare communities for change, and build a more just transportation system.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or another quantitative field with demonstrated experience in the transportation planning field, OR a Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or Engineering with some experience in the software development and/or data science fields.
• Proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL
• Proficiency in Quantitative Analysis: A solid background in data analysis, cross tabulation, and data interpretation is essential. Candidates should be able to apply data‑driven techniques to inform evidence‑based decision‑making in planning and design contexts.
• Strong understanding of databases, GIS, coding, and familiarity with transportation planning at an advanced level.
• GIS Proficiency – both open‑source (PostGIS, QGIS, geopandas, etc.) and the ESRI suite (ArcGISPro, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, etc.).
• Ability to create informative data visualizations through code (e.g. D3, ggplot, matplotlib, plotly, kepler.gl, etc.).
• Experience designing, implementing, and documenting analytical solutions using code. Ability to execute an analysis entirely with code.
• Data specifications & database acronyms like OSM, MDS, GTFS, GBFS, GPS, CDS don’t scare you.
• Proficient in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, similar products.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

There are a number of additional skills, experience, and education that would be beneficial to this position including, but not limited to:

• Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Statistics, Data Science, Engineering, Math, or Social Sciences
• 1+ years of experience in a consulting environment or public entity. You have experience working on responses to public sector requests for proposals.
• AICP Certification.
• Experience using Deltek VantagePoint.
• Active participation in industry‑relevant professional associations and committees.
• Demonstrated work of applied statistics or machine learning techniques to transportation challenges.
• Basic familiarity with deploying analytical solutions over the web with the use of Flask, Django, Fast‑API, Tableau, PowerBI, ArcGIS Enterprise, or R‑Shiny.

What We Offer

Flexible Schedule

Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In‑office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values.

Compensation

The pay range for this job in Minneapolis is $65,000‑$77,000 annually. Placement within the range is based upon experience, skill‑sets, and qualifications.

Benefits

• Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans, Alta pays 75% of the cost
• Dental/Vision: PPO, Alta pays 90% of the cost
• Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation
• 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%
• PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start
• Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability
• Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities