Transportation Planner 4

State of Iowa; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Iowa is seeking a Transportation Planner to lead the Planning Team and guide the ongoing development of Iowa’s State Transportation Plan. This role supports the Iowa DOT’s mobility emphasis and works closely with seven regional planning partners to align planning efforts with statewide funding and performance objectives.

As a state employee, you’ll contribute to team excellence, improve work processes, and deliver value to customers inside and outside the department while enjoying

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to eight years of full-time work in professional transportation planning/engineering.
• Eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning; plus a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (thirty semester hours equals one year).
• Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in transportation planning.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Transportation Planner 3 or Transportation Engineer Specialist.
• Twelve years of current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eight years of full-time work in transportation planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Planning Team and guide planning activities for Iowa's transportation system.
• Develop and maintain the federally mandated State Transportation Plan as the guiding document for the TIP.
• Coordinate modal planning efforts with Iowa's regional planning affiliations and MPOs to integrate plans.
• Balance project assignments and timelines, and provide technical advice and training to team members.

Education

Bachelor's degree (any field)

Professional Engineer licensure

Job description

The Systems Planning Bureau is seeking a Transportation Planner to lead their Planning Team and help solve some of our greatest mobility challenges. This small but impactful team has the exciting task of planning for the future of Iowa’s transportation system, and this position has a critical role in guiding planning activities, supporting the Iowa DOT’s emphasis on transportation mobility.

The mission of the Iowa Department of Transportation is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. We need talented, passionate people working together to make this happen. We are looking to grow our teams with people who share our energy and enthusiasm for making that mission a reality every single day. This position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa DOT’s five CORE values:Safety First, Integrity Without Exception, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and People Matter.

What you’ll do:

Responsibilities of this position will include the ongoing development of the federally-mandated State Transportation Plan, the guiding document for Iowa's Transportation Improvement Program. This position coordinates modal planning efforts and integrates the various plans into the State Transportation Plan. These planning efforts provide statewide investment strategies based on systems analysis, performance objectives, and anticipated funding. This position also provides a critical role in working with Iowa’s 18 Regional Planning Affiliations and 9 Metropolitan Planning Organizations on their transportation planning processes.

The team leader is responsible for facilitating group interaction in developing innovative techniques and approaches to solving problems associated with implementing assigned tasks. This position determines specific project assignments and timelines and ensures they are balanced appropriately among team members. This position is responsible for coordinating work projects with other teams in the Systems Planning Bureau and for obtaining specialized assistance from others internal and external to the Iowa DOT. The team leader reviews team-work products to ensure accuracy; provides technical advice, assistance, and training to team members; and conveys management directions and philosophy to team members. The team leader has a key role in the office's responsibility to provide services of value and excellence to customers inside and outside the department. The team leader is expected to strive for personal and team excellence by continuous improvement, understanding and communicating customer needs and priorities, building a work environment of trust and respect and improving work processes.

What makes you stand out:

• Outstanding leadership and organizational skills
• Commitment to detail and professionalism
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Goal-oriented, organized team player
• Energy and passion for serving others

Schedule: Days, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm with flextime and telework available.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee Benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

Iowa DOT complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the EEO & ADA Officer at 515-689-1009 or via email at [e-mail].

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to eight years of full-time work in professional transportation planning*/engineering.

2) All of the following (a and b):

a. Eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning; and

b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a),where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in transportation planning*.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Transportation Planner 3 or Transportation Engineer Specialist.

5) Twelve years of current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eight years of full-time work in transportation planning*.

* “Transportation planning” includes preparing planning contracts and grants; managing planning grant application submittals and project development; preparing functional classification appeals; developing travel demand models and traffic forecasts; creating cartographic representations and data collection applications; analyzing transportation data, project plans, and reports to identify problems; developing portions of statewide transportation plans; or conducting/coordinating transportation research projects.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.