GIS Field Technician (Planning Technician II)

International Downtown Association; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County Department of Transportation seeks a Planning Technician II to join the Active Transportation, Capital Projects, and Traffic Engineering Division. You will support on-street parking projects, collect field data, and help manage curbside programs.

The role requires a high school diploma and at least three years paraprofessional planning or zoning experience; GIS skills with ArcGIS are preferred; you will use sign inventories and review MUTCD standards.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or GED; plus three years paraprofessional planning or zoning work.
• Knowledge of traffic engineering and analysis preferred.
• GIS tools, database, design software, and traffic analysis tools experience.
• Experience creating maps with ArcGIS and related toolsets.
• Ability to collect field data and ensure data accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex paraprofessional work requiring analysis and judgment.
• Visit field locations to collect traffic data and curbside information.
• Determine locations for highway sign installations and prepare GIS maps.
• Conduct annual county-wide highway sign inventory and maintenance.
• Review signs for MUTCD and FHWA compliance and issue maintenance orders.
• Maintain GIS layers and databases; coordinate data accuracy.
• Update public content and program maps on web pages.
• Prepare and place hearing signs for new/expanded parking districts.
• Provide technical assistance with on-street parking programs.
• Prepare written materials to complete projects and assignments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Traffic engineering knowledge

Paraprofessional planning experience

GIS data collection

Field data collection

Signage placement experience

Project management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

ArcGIS

ArcCatalog

ArcToolbox

Excel

Job description

Job Announcement

: Since 1977, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has served the Fairfax County community by enhancing mobility, safety, and the quality of life of residents, businesses, and visitors through planning, coordinating, funding, implementing, and sustaining a multimodal transportation system. FCDOT is seeking an innovative, motivated, and qualified Planning Technician II to join the Active Transportation, Capital Projects, and Traffic Engineering Division. This position works on projects with Fairfax County’s On-Street Parking Team, which include Residential Permit Parking Districts, Community Parking Districts, commercial No Parking, and curbside management. Performs other duties as assigned, including assisting other transportation and traffic programs.

Responsibilities include:

• Performing complex and technical paraprofessional work, requiring independent review and analysis of information, complex calculations, judgment, and decision making

• Visiting field locations to collect transportation data, such as road measurements, traffic and parked vehicle counts, and location and condition of curbside features including highway signs

• Determining location for new highway sign installations, preparing GIS maps to document installation locations, and preparing sign graphics and spreadsheets for new sign orders

• Conducting annual county-wide highway sign inventory and maintaining signs using hand tools

• Reviewing existing highway signs for MUTCD and FWHA requirements, creating necessary maintenance orders to include associated maps, and monitoring sign maintenance/replacement status

• Maintaining relevant GIS layers and associated databases and coordinating with staff to ensure documented field data is accurate and up to date

• Evaluating and updating public content for program web pages, including program maps

• Preparing and placing public hearing signs for new or expanded parking districts

• Providing technical assistance with on-street parking programs and projects

• Preparing written materials as required to successfully complete projects or assignments

• Performing other duties as assigned

Employment Standards

: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to:

High school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus three years of paraprofessional planning or zoning related work, as defined by the area to which assigned.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Valid driver’s license

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of traffic engineering and analysis

• Three or more years of paraprofessional experience in traffic engineering, transportation planning, or urban planning program support

• Two years of experience in using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, database software, design software, and/or traffic analysis tools, and ability to create maps using ArcGIS, ArcCatalog, ArcToolbox, and generate MapBooks

• Experience conducting field data collection and data analysis

• Experience in signage placement and installation in addition to ability to work independently and to make routine decisions regarding compliance with MUTCD and FHWA standards applicable to highway signs

• Experience in coordinating with local and state government entities, including elected officials

• Project management experience with the ability to organize and coordinate multiple projects and assignments at various stages of completion and establish priorities

• Good written and oral communication skills, and computer skills with experience in a variety of software tools to include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, public officials, and the general public

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to use hand tools. Work is generally sedentary, however, employee may be required to do some waking, standing, bending, and carrying of items under 25lbs in weight. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.