Supervising Transportation Planner

King County, WA; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Road Services Division of King County’s Department of Local Services is seeking a highly organized Supervising Transportation Planner (Transportation Planner IV) to guide multimodal planning for unincorporated King County roads. You will supervise three planners and lead cross‑disciplinary teams, shaping policy, plans, and capital programs.

This role emphasizes collaboration with engineers, GIS analysts, and regional partners, with a focus on equity, data analysis, and delivering complex

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in transportation planning, urban or rural planning, civil engineering or related field and five years of related experience.
• Advanced knowledge of transportation planning principles.
• Experience supervising staff, evaluating performance, and leading with purpose and vision.
• Expert research and data analysis skills with strong quantitative reasoning.
• Experience with performance management and metrics development.
• Strong project management with multiple complex projects and budgets.
• Excellent written and oral communication for diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines; strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office 365 Suite, SharePoint and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and lead high-profile transportation and strategic planning efforts and ADA plans.
• Oversee and conduct research and analysis of asset, socioeconomic, GIS, traffic, and financial data.
• Analyze transportation needs at various scales and contexts.
• Identify and prioritize maintenance, operational, capital, and process-improvement needs.
• Develop, interpret, and write policy, legislation, and code.
• Directly supervise three planners.
• Lead project teams with consultants and internal SMEs; manage scope, schedule, and budget.
• Represent the division on interdepartmental teams and external committees.
• Develop performance measurement strategies and reporting.

Skills

Transportation planning principles

Staff supervision

Analytical data analysis

Project management

Oral and written communication

Time management

MS Office 365 / SharePoint / Teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in transportation planning or related field

Tools

GIS

Microsoft Office 365

SharePoint/Teams

Job description

The Road Services Division (Road Services) of the King County Department of Local Services is currently seeking a highly organized, team-oriented, results-driven Supervising Transportation Planner (Transportation Planner IV) to join our dynamic team.

The Supervising Transportation Planner will oversee the division’s transportation planning team, providing professional guidance and supervision. Responsibilities include setting strategic direction for multimodal transportation planning of or affecting unincorporated King County roads. You will help with the development and delivery of technical plans, reports, special projects, and studies that support the division’s operations and capital improvement programs.

The position will be located in Road Services’ Grants, Planning, and Strategy Unit. The unit works across the agency with engineers, environmental scientists, maintenance professionals, budget finance team members, and many other subject matter experts. Additionally, team members collaborate with partners from other King County agencies, regional authorities, and other governmental and non-governmental entities. You will be joining a team of problem solvers and analysts who enjoy collaborating with a diverse array of colleagues within and outside of King County government.

If you are a highly motivated, energetic, and collaborative transportation planner with a passion for creative problem-solving and continuous improvement, we want to hear from you!

About Us

The Road Services Division of King County’s Department of Local Services designs, builds, operates, and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel.

To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice

The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

• Oversee and lead high-profile transportation and strategic planning efforts, such as updates to the transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan, the Transportation Needs Report, the division strategic plan, the transportation element of subarea plans, and the ADA Transition Plan.
• Oversee and conduct research and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, such as asset condition data, socioeconomic data, transportation patterns, natural systems and hazards, geospatial (GIS) data, traffic data, and financial data.
• Analyze transportation needs at a range of scales (e.g., intersection, neighborhood, countywide) and contexts (e.g., rural, suburban, urban).
• Identify and prioritize maintenance, operational, capital project, and process-improvement needs and solutions.
• Develop, interpret, analyze, and write policy, legislation, and code.
• Directly supervise three planners.
• Lead project teams comprised of consultants and internal subject matter experts from a wide variety of disciplines; manage project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on transportation planning and policy, contemporary multimodal planning practices, and community engagement.
• Provide cross-disciplinary analysis that incorporates safety, political, strategic, fiscal, environmental, mobility, equity, legal, and land-use considerations.
• Synthesize highly technical information to clearly and accurately communicate with decision-makers and the public in both written and spoken contexts.
• Produce and contribute to reports, proviso responses, grant applications, budget proposals, and responses to complex questions from political leaders and the public.
• Represent the division on interdepartmental teams, external workgroups, and committees.
• Develop and implement performance measurement strategies and reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in transportation planning, urban or rural planning, civil engineering or related field AND minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience with transportation planning OR any combination of education, skills, training and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this position.
• Advanced knowledge of transportation planning principles.
• Experience supervising staff, evaluating staff performance, managing conflict, and leading with purpose and vision.
• Expert research and data analysis skills; exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and quantitative reasoning skills.
• Experience with performance management frameworks including the selection of meaningful metrics.
• Project management experience that includes managing multiple complex projects, developing scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas, present information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines where goals and interests may conflict.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient using a variety of technologies, including Microsoft Office 365 Suite products, SharePoint and Teams.
• Superior attention to detail with strong follow-through.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:

The first round of interviews for this position is scheduled to take place the week of December 7, 2026.

WHO MAY APPLY:

This position is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months. First consideration will be given to current PROTEC17 members in the same classification that are eligible for lateral transfer.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Janice Antonio at [e-mail]

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf

WORK SCHEDULE:

The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS:

This position has been designated as: Mission Critical in an Emergency, a designation that describes employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized.

Unless otherwise directed by the King County Executive, department director, or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:

PROTEC17

TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT:

We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. The primary onsite location is at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.