Principal Transportation Planner

About the Role

This position is the highest-level transportation planning role at INDOT. The incumbent oversees the agency’s planning office, directly managing planning staff, performance, programs, initiatives, administrative needs, and serves as the lead expert on environmental, sustainability, and planning products.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and indirect administrative oversight of federally required transportation planning activities and agreements, including development/review of regional plans, thoroughfare plans, transportation improvement programs, congestion mitigation analysis, air quality conformity analysis, public outreach, unified work programs, ADA transition plans, agreements, and certification reviews.
• Support and work directly with the Outreach Manager in executing all programmatic aspects of planning-related public involvement meetings, community outreach/advisory committees, civic leadership engagement, conferences/workshops, educational training, focus groups, special interest/advocacy groups, and similar events.
• Manage and perform complex, large-scale, interdisciplinary, and sensitive professional planning projects/studies, research, planning studies, programs, initiatives, analysis, and activities.
• Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning; make recommendations for improvement.
• Assist the Director with developing and coordinating plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision, and expectations of the agency or program.
• Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
• Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, authorizing assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
• Assist with monitoring agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
• Communicate with news and other media, responding to questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
• Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities for professional development.
• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees.
• Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of transportation planning concepts, principles, techniques, federal/state regulations, land use, multi-modal planning, travel demand model theory, economic development, transportation funding, market analysis, historic preservation, and basic traffic/transit operations.
• Ability to research and analyze transportation planning issues/trends, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare and present effective staff reports and presentations.
• Ability to execute all programmatic aspects of planning-related public involvement meetings, community outreach/advisory committees, civic leadership engagement, conferences/workshops, educational training, focus groups, special interest/advocacy groups, and similar events.
• Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
• Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
• Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
• Ability to make logical, well-informed, and objective decisions, perceiving the impact and implications of decisions.
• Ability to assign work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively provide feedback, guidance, or corrective action to coach and develop employee skillsets.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

A degree is not required for this position.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Location

This position is with INDOT's Central Office in Indianapolis.

Pay

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $75,010.00 but may vary based on education and work experience.

Benefits

• Three medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards.
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution.
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two fully-funded pension plan options.
• Robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave.
  • Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off.
  • 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years.
• Education Reimbursement Program.
• Group life insurance.
• Referral Bonus program.
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits.
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Free parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.