Community Planner - DIRECT HIRE

This position is open to U.S. citizens and is filled under Direct Hire Authority/SME.

About the Role

The ideal candidate for this position is a transportation planning professional skilled in managing transportation planning programs or technical areas. This candidate effectively represents the agency to Federal, State, and local officials and the general public, demonstrating strong communication, negotiation, and partnering skills. The role operates in a challenging, complex, and innovative environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a resource on FTA procedures and guidance related to transportation planning and Federal laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and directives for tribal, urban, suburban, and/or rural public transportation systems.
• Stay current with recent or emerging changes affecting FTA programs and projects.
• Review and oversee the state and metropolitan transportation planning process to ensure development of an efficient transportation program consistent with local, state, and Federal objectives.
• Review office programs related to community planning for technical and program management effectiveness; report findings and offer suggestions for improvement.
• Provide technical advice and coordinate planning or related problems or projects with stakeholders.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Submit application and resume online by the closing date.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

Conditions of Employment

• Serve a 1-year probationary period, during which employment is evaluated for fitness and alignment with public interest. Continued employment requires written certification.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• A government contractor-issued travel card will be provided for official travel.
• Successful completion of a background security investigation is required; failure may result in termination.
• Applicants may be required to complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must:

• Meet the Education Requirement for the series and provide transcripts for verification.
• Meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

GS-12 Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11, including:

• Experience planning, coordinating, or monitoring planning projects or studies, or carrying out operating assignments.
• Experience developing and/or evaluating transportation planning and program development processes at a local, regional, state, or national level.
• Experience developing reports and presentations for meetings and conferences.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

GS-13 Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12, including:

• Experience planning, coordinating, or monitoring grants, planning projects or studies, and/or carrying out operating assignments.
• Experience improving or assisting others in improving transportation planning processes or programs with an emphasis on emerging areas.
• Experience developing, evaluating, and/or overseeing the development of transportation planning and program development processes at a local, regional, state, or national level.
• Experience representing an organization during public meetings and conferences, addressing programmatic and technical issues raised by stakeholders.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience.

Education

Basic Requirements:

• Degree: Community planning or a related field such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration that included at least 12 semester hours in:
  • The planning process,
  • Socioeconomic and physical elements of planning,
  • Urban and regional economic analysis, and
  • Development finance.
• Note: Applicants with degrees in related fields who do not have the 12 semester hours of specified coursework must have at least 1 year of work experience in community planning under the supervision of a community planner.
• Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process and socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Skills

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Public Planning: Knowledge of functions, principles, methods, and techniques related to community planning, including demand forecasting, environmental impact analysis, financial forecasting, and land use planning and zoning.
• Planning and Evaluating: Ability to organize work, set priorities, determine resource requirements, establish goals and strategies, coordinate with other organizations, and monitor progress and outcomes.
• Oral and Written Communication: Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations, listen effectively, clarify information, and write in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner.
• Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including costs and limitations.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on specific benefits offered.

Additional Information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history record before a conditional offer of employment is made. Certain positions are exempt from this provision. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance Act may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation at FairChanceAct@dot.gov. For more information, visit The Fair Chance to Compete Act page.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.