Transportation Planner II

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

County-issued laptop

Job summary

King County Metro Transit is seeking a Transportation Planner II to support the Speed and Reliability Workgroup within the Capital Division. The role focuses on capital planning for corridor and trolley projects, data analysis, and stakeholder coordination.

A hybrid work setup combines on-site and remote work while advancing transit improvements across King County. The ideal candidate will lead projects, analyze data, and prepare planning documents and reports, contributing to equitable and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Planning or 2+ years of related transportation/planning experience.
• Ability to work with internal/external stakeholders and manage diverse workloads.
• Experience with GIS, data analysis, and analytical tools like PowerBI and R.
• Strong writing and communication skills; ability to translate technical data for non-technical audiences.
• Commitment to equity and social justice in planning.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Lead routine trolley and spot improvement projects, guiding internal and external teams through planning, scoping/design and implementation.
• Query, analyze, and report on transit data and metrics from various databases.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, agency staff, and project teams.
• Review plans and proposals, addressing traffic, transit and transportation issues.
• Prepare updates and summaries for coordination with teams and external stakeholders.
• Write annual reports with visuals (maps, tables, graphs) to support programs.

Skills

Data analysis

Communication

Team collaboration

Writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Planning

Public Administration

Tools

GIS

PowerBI

R

Excel

Job description

King County Metro Transit is seeking a Transportation Planner II to join the Speed and Reliability Workgroup within the Capital Division! The Speed and Reliability Workgroup, part of the Capital Planning Section, conducts near and mid-term capital planning activities for transit corridor improvements, spot improvements, and trolley expansions/modifications in partnership with local jurisdictions. The Workgroup is responsible for identifying, planning, and prioritizing projects, as well as monitoring design and implementation phases of projects delivered by partner agencies or Metro Capital Project Delivery Section.

The individual selected for this position is expected to work on a variety of capital planning and implementation projects and activities for corridor, spot improvement, and trolley expansion programs. This position will spend the majority of their time on spot improvements, routine trolley projects and general team wide data analysis and program support.

Recruitment Information: This recruitment will be used to fill one Career Service vacancy. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Career Service, Special Duty Assignment, or term-limited temporary vacancies that may occur in this classification and workgroup within the Capital Division. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the time it is established and may be extended or used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who may apply:

We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the public.

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

As a Transportation Planner II, you will:

• Lead and manage routine trolley and spot improvement projects. Work will include leading internal and external teams in all aspects of planning, scoping/design and implementation.
• Work with various transit databases and datasets to collect, query, analyze and report on data and metrics.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with project stakeholders, local agency staff, and project team members.
• Review plans and proposals for projects led by others and address traffic, transit and transportation issues.
• Conduct analysis or review analysis done by internal subject matter experts or by others (consultants or local agencies). Review and interpret findings and develop presentations and strategies to obtain concurrence and/or resolution on situations.
• Prepare and track project updates and provide summaries for project coordination with project teams and/or external stakeholders as needed.
• Write annual reports with visual aids including maps, tables, and graphs to support team programs.
• Collect, study, and analyze traffic, collision, and other transportation data to identify patterns and problems and recommend solutions.
• Prepare planning and closeout memos for spot improvement and trolley projects
• Perform traffic field studies to investigate possible problems and recommend solutions or to observe transit operating conditions after project implementation
• Assist other staff on projects by providing research, analysis, planning, and technical support.
• Fill in for and support Transportation Planner III and IV in meetings, presentations, events, and other requirements as necessary.
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Planning (Land Use, Urban, Regional, Transportation, Environmental), Public Administration, OR at least 2 years of progressive experience supporting transportation or planning projects throughout project phases including project initiation, planning, design, implementation and closeout.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to develop solutions to complex problems. Able to take direction and work both independently as well as in a cooperative team environment with a diverse group of individuals from a variety of different positions and backgrounds with diverse interests to achieve goals.
• Ability to manage and prioritize a diverse workload to accomplish tasks on defined timelines and in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to support negotiations for partnership opportunities.
• Experience with GIS software, mapping, and analysis.
• Experience with data analysis and analytical tools such as, PowerBI and R.
• Demonstrated technical writing and communication skills showing ability to effectively translate and interpret quantitative and technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Understanding of equity and social justice principles and ability to apply them to tasks and projects in a deliberate and impactful manner.
• Ability to use multiple types of qualitative and quantitative data to draw conclusions and build data-driven recommendations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

The most competitive candidates will also meet these desired qualifications:

• Knowledge of transit planning and project management principles, practices and methodologies and a strong understanding of how transit planning interacts with land use planning, sustainability, policy, non-motorized travel options, public health and environmental justice.
• Experience using Adobe Suite software (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc).
• Familiarity with King County Metro and key partners and stakeholder groups.
• Experience with SharePoint

Selection Process:

Applications and required documents will be reviewed for clarity, thoroughness, competitiveness, and writing skills. Your application must confirm and support your answers to the supplemental questions and any experience mentioned in your resume. If responses cannot be validated within your application, or if applications are missing the required materials listed in this job announcement, candidates may be removed from consideration.

The most competitive candidates may be asked to participate in one or more panel interviews. Final scores may be weighted to consider overall application materials, relevant experience, and interview scores. Offers and start dates will be finalized after completing any required pre-employment screenings, such as reference checks and/or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule:

Our regular business hours are 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. However, work outside of these hours may occasionally be required. This position is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and therefore, is eligible for overtime pay. We may also consider flexible hours.

Work Location:

The main work site associated with these positions is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle WA 98104.

This is a hybrid role, requiring a combination of remote and onsite work at various King County facilities. Employees are currently expected to work onsite 2 days per week, and this is anticipated to increase to 3 days per week starting 2027. A County-issued laptop will be provided, and employees must maintain a dedicated workspace with reliable internet access to perform their duties efficiently and remain accessible during scheduled work hours.

Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Safety Responsibility:

• Responsible for understanding this policy and their role in safety
• Report all safety concerns
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system

Union Representation: C4 Protec17

Class Code: 241704 Transportation Planner II

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

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.