Senior Planner - Transportation Safety | Metropolitan Planning & Analysis

Houston-Galveston Area Council; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston-Galveston Area Council seeks a Senior Planner of Transportation Safety to support regional safety initiatives across eight-county MPO. You will guide plans, manage projects, and coordinate with local governments, TxDOT, and partners to reduce fatalities and injuries.

The role emphasizes program development, funding execution, performance monitoring, and effective communication with committees and stakeholders to advance regional transportation safety.

Qualifications

• Experience working for a local government, county, metropolitan planning organization, or other regional public agency.
• Collaborative, adaptable team member with strong project management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of transportation safety planning, performance management, and funding processes at the federal, state, and regional levels.
• Experience translating adopted safety plans into programs, projects, funding strategies, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing complex projects, including the oversight of consultants, contracts, budgets, and diverse stakeholders in accordance with applicable requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of transportation safety plans, programs, policies, and initiatives that reduce fatal and serious-injury crashes throughout the region.
• Manage consultant-led projects, including developing scopes, schedules, budgets, and procurement documents; reviewing deliverables and invoices; and monitoring contract performance.
• Coordinate transportation safety studies and project-development activities.
• Develop technical guidance, data resources, and educational materials to help local agencies apply proven roadway safety practices.
• Support calls for projects, project prioritization, and other funding initiatives. Provide technical assistance to local sponsors.
• Support the administration of the Transportation Safety Committee and present safety information and recommendations to H-GAC committees, elected officials, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Convene and coordinate with local governments, TxDOT, law enforcement, public health organizations, school districts, transportation providers, advocacy organizations, and other multidisciplinary partners.
• Perform other transportation planning, program-management and/or operations duties as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Safety planning knowledge

Funding processes knowledge

Contract management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning, transportation planning, or related field

Tools

GIS

Crash databases

Safety analysis tools

Data visualization

Statistical analysis

Job description

About Houston-Galveston Area Council

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than 7 million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day.

We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being of our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive.

What Will I Be Doing?

H-GAC’s Safety and Operations division developed a comprehensive road safety plan that identifies projects, programs, and policies to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries across the eight-county Metropolitan Planning Area.

Under the general direction of the Supervisor of Transportation Safety, the Senior Planner of Transportation Safety will support a range of transportation safety planning, program development, project implementation, funding, performance monitoring, operations, and coordination activities. Responsibilities may evolve based on agency priorities, regional needs, and program development, and will include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Support the development and implementation of transportation safety plans, programs, policies, and initiatives that reduce fatal and serious-injury crashes throughout the region.
• Manage consultant-led projects, including developing scopes, schedules, budgets, and procurement documents; reviewing deliverables and invoices; and monitoring contract performance.
• Coordinate transportation safety studies and project-development activities.
• Develop technical guidance, data resources, and educational materials to help local agencies apply proven roadway safety practices.
• Support calls for projects, project prioritization, and other funding initiatives. Provide technical assistance to local sponsors.
• Support the administration of the Transportation Safety Committee and present safety information and recommendations to H-GAC committees, elected officials, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Convene and coordinate with local governments, TxDOT, law enforcement, public health organizations, school districts, transportation providers, advocacy organizations, and other multidisciplinary partners.
• Perform other transportation planning, program-management and/or operations duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Experience working for a local government, county, metropolitan planning organization, or other regional public agency.
• Collaborative, adaptable team member with strong project management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of transportation safety planning, performance management, and funding processes at the federal, state, and regional levels.
• Experience translating adopted safety plans into programs, projects, funding strategies, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing complex projects, including the oversight of consultants, contracts, budgets, and diverse stakeholders in accordance with applicable requirements.

Do you have…

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study
• 5 years of experience in related job duties

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s/master’s degree in urban planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, public administration, public policy, geography, data analytics, or a related field.
• Experience working for a local government, county, metropolitan planning organization, or other regional public agency.
• Experience with geographic information systems, crash databases, safety analysis tools, data visualization platforms, or statistical analysis.
• Experience conducting or overseeing crash analysis, network screening, safety performance monitoring, or before-and-after evaluations.
• Experience managing consultant-led planning or technical studies.

All employees of H-GAC are required to reside within the agency’s region of service to support our commitment to excellence in service of our region.

H-GAC is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or protected veteran status.