Principal Planner/Analyst

Metropolitan Transportation Commission; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Bay Area seeks a Principal Planner to lead Housing and Local Planning efforts. You will manage the grant and technical assistance program, develop policies, and guide a team of grant managers while working with local jurisdictions and consultants.

This role supports regional housing, land use, resilience, and transportation goals, including Transit-Oriented Communities policy, RHNA, PDA grants, and regional housing technical assistance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: advanced degree in urban planning or related field and strong understanding of housing and land-use policy.
• Experience coordinating with local jurisdictions and managing consultants is preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and implement grant and technical assistance programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the grant and technical assistance portfolio and ensure alignment with regional goals.
• Develop program policies and procedures to improve efficiency and impact.
• Provide direction to a team of grant managers and staff.
• Engage with local jurisdictions and stakeholders to advance housing and land-use initiatives.
• Manage consultants and ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Design and implement future programs to support local planning efforts.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Policy development

Grant management

Project management

Team management

Education

Master's degree in Urban Planning or related field

Tools

GIS

Excel

Budget modeling

Job description

Be ready to rethink your assumptions about the public sector. Dedicated and motivated colleagues?

Beautiful, high amenity building for on-site work and collaboration? Flexible schedules and hybrid work options?

Yes, yes, and yes!

ABOUT THE SECTION

The Principal Planner will be a member of the Housing and Local Planning team within the Regional Planning Program serving MTC and ABAG. The Regional Planning Program guides regional planning activities related to housing, land use, resilience, and transportation to create an affordable, connected, diverse, healthy, and vibrant Bay Area for all.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Within the Regional Planning Program, the Housing and Local Planning team advances regional housing and land use goals by developing and implementing key regional policies and by providing grants and technical assistance to local jurisdictions. Examples of programs and initiatives managed by the team include the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy, Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process, Priority Development Area (PDA) grants, TOC grants, and Regional Housing Technical Assistance program.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Principal Planner will play a lead role within the Housing and Local Planning team. Over the next few years, the position is anticipated to lead strategic initiatives that provide support to local jurisdictions implementing housing and land use solutions consistent with regional goals. Responsibilities will include managing the grant and technical assistance program by overseeing the existing portfolio of grants and technical assistance, developing program policies and procedures, providing direction and support to a team of grant managers, engaging with local jurisdictions, managing consultants, and designing and implementing future programs to support local planning efforts.