Principal Planner, Subregional

About the role

Position Summary: This position will have lead oversight and guidance for a variety of planning studies undertaken by subregions. These studies are data-driven, have extensive stakeholder and public participation, and involve agencies at the municipal, regional, and state levels. Studies also include components to address coordinated land use and transportation, access to economic opportunity, environmental quality, resiliency, and safety. See https://njtpa.org/ssp/ for examples of current and previous studies. The incumbent will also be responsible for the program solicitation and reporting processes and will work with the Finance and Administration Division to ensure that studies comply with federal guidance. The NJTPA operates this program in compliance with 2 CFR 200, Federal Uniform Administrative Requirements. Additionally, the incumbent will, as requested, conduct and collaborate on a variety of planning efforts to advance NJTPA’s regional planning agenda to address priorities identified in Connecting Communities. This includes, but is not limited to, contributing to the plan’s update, which occurs every four years.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and technical guidance for all aspects of the NJTPA's Subregional Studies Program (SSP), working closely with various NJTPA functional divisions, NJTPA subregions, and partner agencies such as NJ TRANSIT and the NJ Department of Transportation.
• Coordinate with the Senior Planner, Subregional Programs, in the administration of the Subregional Transportation Program (STP)
• Manage or support NJTPA planning studies, conduct analysis, provide input on draft analysis, and create other deliverables.
• Serve on technical advisory committees for special studies and projects.
• Contribute to the research, analysis and writing for the Long-Range Transportation Plan, and other initiatives
• Contribute to the writing and presentation of graphs, data, and maps and make presentations to Board of Trustees, standing committees, the subregions, central staff, and the general public as needed
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Graduation with a master’s degree in planning, environmental studies, public policy, engineering, or a related field.
• Five (5) years’ experience in city planning, regional planning, and/or transportation planning, including project management.

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience at a metropolitan planning or other regional planning organization preferred.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) preferred but not required.
• Background or willingness to learn federal grant requirements, and the ability to understand project budgets and administrative guidelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively and to foster an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork.
• Ability to identify and communicate with supervisors and others about critical issues and offer proactive solutions.

Skills

• Accomplishment Aptitude: Establishes and follows through on a systematic course of action for self or others to assure accomplishment of a specific objective. Determines priorities and allocates time and resources effectively, producing desired results at the level expected for the position.
• Achievement/Goal Orientation: Demonstrates a concern and aptitude for achieving or surpassing results against an internal or external standard of excellence, showing passion for improving the delivery of services with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Creativity/Innovation: Generates novel and valuable ideas and uses these ideas to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, or services.
• Initiative: Evaluates, selects, and acts on various methods and strategies for solving problems and meeting objectives within parameters of position before being asked or required to do so; self-directed rather than passively complying with instructions or assignments