Senior Transportation Planner

Town of Matthews; Matthews (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Matthews seeks an experienced transportation planning professional to lead a range of municipal planning projects in Matthews, NC. You will coordinate with NCDOT, CRTPO, and internal departments to advance priorities and secure funding for critical infrastructure improvements, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and regional requirements.

This role emphasizes analytical review, stakeholder engagement, and delivering clear, data-driven recommendations.

Qualifications

• Graduation with major in engineering, planning or related field.
• Minimum 5 years municipal transportation experience or equivalent.
• NC Driver's License or ability to obtain within 60 days.

Responsibilities

• Manage transportation planning projects from concept to implementation.
• Coordinate with NCDOT and CRTPO on projects and funding.
• Administer LAP projects complying with federal/state requirements.
• Identify and manage transportation grants and funding strategies.
• Develop reports and presentations to support decision-making.
• Lead public outreach and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Municipal transportation

5+ years experience

Land-use integration

Clear communication

Education

Engineering/Planning degree

Job description

Town Hall
232 Matthews Station Street
Matthews, NC 28105, USA

Town Hall
232 Matthews Station Street
Matthews, NC 28105, USA

Performs difficult professional work involved with planning, organizing, and coordinating activities related to the Town’s transportation needs; works with other Town departments independently managing a diverse portfolio of transportation projects, studies, and initiatives. Coordinate with local, regional, and state transportation partners, including the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), to advance the Town’s transportation priorities and secure funding for critical infrastructure improvements. Work is deadline-driven, and independent work is performed with minimal supervision.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

(The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.)

• Manage transportation planning projects, special studies, and capital improvement initiatives from concept development through implementation.
• Planning liaison for NCDOT and CRTPO projects, including project coordination, environmental document review, plan review, development of municipal agreements, and negotiation of project funding commitments.
• Administer locally administered projects (LAP) and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and regional requirements.
• Identify, pursue, and manage grant opportunities and other funding sources; develop transportation-related budget recommendations and funding strategies.
• Conduct transportation network analysis and planning activities, including evaluation of roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and multimodal transportation needs.
• Support implementation and periodic updates of transportation plans, Complete Streets initiatives, Vision Zero strategies, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure programs.
• Evaluate transportation impacts associated with rezoning requests, development proposals, subdivision plans, and area, corridor, and neighborhood planning efforts to ensure consistency with adopted plans and policies.
• Collaborate with consultants, Engineering Department, and other internal staff to identify, prioritize, and develop conceptual transportation projects and improvement programs.
• Manage consultant contracts, scopes of work, project schedules, budgets, and deliverables for planning and engineering services.
• Develop reports, technical memoranda, presentations, maps, charts, and other communication materials to support decision-making and project advancement.
• Present transportation plans, studies, and project recommendations to elected officials, boards, commissions, stakeholder groups, and the public.
• Lead public outreach and engagement efforts, including facilitating public meetings, responding to stakeholder inquiries, and maintaining project communications through websites and other media.
• Conduct field investigations and site assessments to support transportation planning, project development, and operational improvements.
• Apply knowledge of transportation operations, traffic management, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and multimodal transportation planning to improve mobility, accessibility, and safety.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with regional transportation agencies, partner organizations, elected officials, and community stakeholders to advance transportation initiatives and identify future opportunities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

(The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough knowledge of modern principles and practices of municipal transportation; at least five years of experience in municipal transportation; experience coordinating with NCDOT in transportation projects a plus
• Fundamental understanding of the interconnectivity of land use and transportation elements; ability to prepare and present technical information clearly.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, subordinates, municipal officials and the general public.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, fingering, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to maintain records and reports, review maps and drawings, inspect work for quality of methods and materials, operate a computer terminal and use measuring devices.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Must be conscious of potential hazards and safety practices to avoid injury to others and themselves; May be subject to hazards, including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as noise, proximity to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, dust, mists, fumes, oils, tight quarters, and narrow passageways. This position is subject to all State and Federal OSHA regulations, including, but not limited to the following: bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication/GHS, personal protective equipment, slips, trips, and falls, etc.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with major course work in engineering, planning or a related field.

CERTIFICATE AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Must possess or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina Driver's License within 60 days of employment with a safe driving record. (If you possess a South Carolina Driver’s License and maintain residence in South Carolina, you are not required to attain a North Carolina Driver's License.)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Town of Matthews requires background checks to be conducted on the final candidate(s) applying for any position with the Town of Matthews. For this position, final candidates must pass a background process to include but are not limited to work history verification, professional/personal reference checks, pre-employment drug screening and physical, criminal background, driving record checks, etc. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test and/or participate in other assessments.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

The Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town of Matthews provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws in all terms and conditions of employment.

The Town of Matthews is an at-will employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.