Senior Transportation Planner - Highway Focused

Anoka County; Andover (MN); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Comprehensive insurance

Flexible time off (24 days)

Paid holidays (12.5 in year 1)

Job summary

Anoka County seeks a Senior Transportation Planner to lead highway planning efforts, manage consultant studies, and secure funding for critical projects. The role centers on coordinating with agencies and the public, delivering technical reports, and guiding complex transportation initiatives from planning to implementation.

The position emphasizes collaboration, data-driven decision making, and community transparency, with in-office work and one remote day weekly.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of job-related experience.
• Experience writing grant and project proposals for transportation funding.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including speaking to large groups.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage submittals for federal and state funding solicitations and oversee RFPs.
• Review and provide comments on highway analyses, maps, memos, and reports.
• Attend meetings with agencies and public forums, leading discussions on topics.
• Manage planning projects, budgets, and consultant coordination; seek additional funds as needed.
• Facilitate open houses/public meetings and communicate project details to the public.
• Oversee the ADA transition plan and coordinate studies for the 5-year program.

Skills

Grant writing

Public engagement

Verbal & written communication

Highway planning

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Hiring range: $85,363 to $102,440 ($41.04 to $49.25 per hour). The starting rate will depend on experience, education, and qualifications. Advancement opportunities exist for individuals motivated to move up within Anoka County.

Come join our team at Anoka County where you can serve your community while enjoying the benefits of work-life balance! This includes 24 days paid of flexible time off and up to 12.5 holidays your first year.

Position Description

At the Anoka County Transportation Division, our vision is to enhance and protect life by delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation solutions. We are seeking an experienced Senior Transportation Planner to lead critical planning efforts that shape the future of our transportation infrastructure. In this role, you will help lead the department’s highway planning initiatives, oversee consultant studies and serve as a point of contact for major highway planning projects. You will also develop technical reports and studies that guide departmental decisions and inform the public, ensuring that our transportation strategies are data-driven and forward-thinking. As a Senior Transportation Planner, you will manage complex projects—including environmental reviews and grant applications—while actively participating in project meetings and public engagement sessions. You’ll serve as a vital liaison between the department and the community, ensuring transparency and collaboration throughout the planning process.

A central responsibility of this position is securing funding for roadway improvements and overseeing the successful implementation of those projects. If you're passionate about creating safer, more efficient transportation systems and thrive in a collaborative, public-facing role, we invite you to apply.

This is a full-time, exempt position based primarily in the office. Interviews will take place the week of 10/19/2026 for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.

• Salary: $85,363 to $102,440 ($41.04 to $49.25 per hour).
• 2025 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 36: $85,363 to $119,496 ($41.04 to $57.45 per hour).
• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits, and more at https://www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits
• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.
• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.

Work Location

• This position will work at the Anoka County Highway building located at 1440 Bunker Lake Blvd NW, Andover MN 55304.
• This position is primarily in-office, with the eligibility for one remote workday per week, subject to business needs.
• Expected work hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of the primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Senior Transportation Planner.

• Prepare and manage submittals for federal and state funding solicitations, oversee the Requests for Proposal (RFP) process for transportation projects, including developing project scopes, drafting RFP documents, evaluating proposals, interviewing consultants, participating in selection committees, negotiating contracts and budgets, and presenting final recommendations to the Transportation Committee and board members. This is a primary function of this position and securing funding for critical transportation projects is a key area where efforts will be focused.
• Prepare, review, and provide expert comments on technical analyses and reports, maps, memos, and other high-priority highway documents, including highway improvement plans and traffic studies, especially those relevant to transportation planning, and communicating project impact to the local community.
• Attend and participate in meetings with government agencies, committees, and public forums, and lead discussions on select topics. Work as part of the project delivery team on highway projects to offer planning expertise during the project scoping and plan development.
• Manage and lead planning projects by reviewing the work of consultants for accuracy and political implications; manage project budget by monitoring expenditures and invoices, making budget adjustments as needed, or seeking additional funds through grants or other opportunities for Anoka County Transportation Division.
• Facilitate open houses and public meetings with members of the general public regarding assigned projects, including planning and setup of events; preparing information; arranging for guest presenters, including elected officials; and talking with members of the public and the media to explain the project and answer questions.
• Overseeing the ADA transition plan,
• Coordinate with local agencies to conduct studies to support the County’s 5-year Highway Improvement Program.
• Participate in Met Council Technical Advisory Committee or other committees as assigned.
• Maintain knowledge of regional and state transportation policies and practices and funding requirements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group.

Qualifications and Requirements

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of job-related experience.
• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience writing grant and project proposals for transportation funding.
• Knowledge of public participation techniques and mediation of issues among project stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including speaking, presenting, and field questions for large groups.
• Knowledge of highway transportation planning and related environmental regulations.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Urban Studies, Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, or closely related field.
• Possess or able to obtain either American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) from the American Planning Association or Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) from Institute of Transportation Engineers.
• Experience working with consultants/engineers, environmentalists and experts in natural and cultural resources, the general public, and local units of government in the state of Minnesota.
• Knowledge of Minnesota and federal transportation funding programs.
• Knowledge in the metropolitan councils planning process and competitive funding programs.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment, travel to various county work sites and meetings as needed.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades and brightness.
• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds.
• Assignments are sedentary, occasionally alternating between sitting, standing, walking, crouching, and kneeling as required to perform job responsibilities.
• Frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work.
• Occasional lifting of 10-20 lbs.
• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.
• Work activities may require contact with uncooperative, angry, and sometimes hostile clients.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Commitment to Aff…

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Aff… plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Aff… plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO