Rural Transit Planner

Minnesota Department of Transportation; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 38,930 - 57,073; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public pension plans

Tuition assistance

Paid vacation & sick leave

Fitness center access

Job summary

A state transportation agency in Minnesota is seeking a Rural Transit Planner responsible for rural transit planning efforts in Greater Minnesota. This role involves leading transit planning projects, analyzing trends, and presenting findings to enhance local transit systems. The ideal candidate must have three years of transportation planning experience and hold a relevant degree. This position offers flexible work arrangements and comprehensive benefits including public pension plans and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Three years of professional transportation planning experience.
• Experience with planning principles, methods and techniques.
• Experience with data collection, analysis and reporting methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning effort in partnership with other planners.
• Manage transit planning projects with regional scope.
• Travel required to meet with transit partners.

Skills

Planning principles, methods and techniques

Data collection, analysis and reporting methods

Design planning projects

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Planning, Geography, Urban Studies, Sociology, Political Science

Job description

Rural Transit Planner | Salary Range: $28.26 - $41.43 / hourly; $59,006 - $86,505 / annually

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to get your foot in the door with State of Minnesota? If so, come join our MnDOT team in St. Paul, MN! Begin your journey today and check us out: Why Work For Us

This position may have the flexibility to telework, work a hybrid schedule, or work in the office. The incumbent will be required to make a telework arrangement with their supervisor. The incumbent will be expected to work in the office as determined by policy and discussion with their supervisor.

Our Rural Transit Planner position is responsible for rural transit planning efforts for Greater Minnesota’s twenty‑seven operators. The position will identify transit system trends, identify future transit system needs and most importantly develop local transit service improvements and redesigns. This position will also:

• Lead the planning effort in partnership with other planners in the office and regional transit project managers. Development of transit plans will be guided through the identification and monitoring of statewide, regional, and city/area specific data points.
• Manage transit planning projects with regional and/or statewide scope and single/limited issues with moderate complexity. The rural transit planner will make local, regional, and statewide presentations on transit planning efforts, best practices and data analysis to enhance transit in Greater Minnesota. The position has considerable latitude to plan and consider procedures and methodologies to successfully implement the program to achieve the required results.
• Travel required (20% of time) to meet with transit partners, attend regional and state meetings as well as conferences.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Learn About Our Benefits

• Financial Well-Being: Public pension plans, deferred compensation plan & health care savings plan; life insurance, short & long-term disability insurance, & paid parental leave
• Professional Development: Tuition assistance, employee education, leadership development
• Work/Life Balance: Paid vacation & sick leave including 12 paid holidays each year
• At-Work Benefits: Employee Resource Groups, employee recognition, employee activities, fitness center at our Central Office

Here are the Minimum Qualifications:

Three years of professional transportation planning experience that demonstrates:

• Experience with planning principles, methods and techniques.
• Experience with data collection, analysis and reporting methods.
• Experience with design planning projects.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Planning, Geography, Urban Studies, Sociology, Political Science substitutes for one year of experience.

APPLY ONLINE BY 03/30/2026 (only applications received on mn.gov/careers will be considered)

• Go to www.mn.gov/careers & click “Search Open Positions”
• Enter the Job Opening ID “92884” in the Keywords search box & click “>>”
• Click on the Job Title to view the job posting & click “Apply for Job”
• When prompted for your Referral Source, please list: LinkedIn

Visit www.dot.state.mn.us/careers/ for a listing of all our MnDOT job openings.