TRANSPORTATION PLANNER III

Bring your passion for public service and improving the Houston community to our team as a Transportation Planner III. The work we do has a lasting impact on the future of our city. Houston is a place where the cost of living is more than 25% below the top 20 metro average, and with no state income tax, home ownership is very achievable. As the fourth largest and most ethnically diverse city in the U.S., Houston has first-class access to medical care, recreation, food, festivals, sports, museums, and the performing arts.

About Us

The City of Houston’s Planning & Development Department is a key player in the mayor’s efforts to improve public safety and infrastructure, enhance the quality of life, and maintain an efficient government that works for more than 2 million residents. Much like Houston itself, we are a culturally diverse team committed to improving Houston’s built environment. Our team draws and retains passionate, curious, lifelong learners, and big-picture thought leaders who make a difference every day by balancing the needs and interests of the community we serve. We strive to operate as a customer-focused, goal-oriented, and efficient organization. We treat ourselves, our partners, and our customers with respect while placing continuous learning at the center of our operations.

About the Role

The City of Houston’s Planning & Development Department Transportation team offers an exceptional opportunity to make a significant and tangible impact on the daily lives of one of America’s largest and most complex urban environments. Houston is not a one-size-fits-all city. In this role, you will be at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to improve mobility, expand access, and provide safe active transportation for all. The dynamic nature of Houston’s growth means you will work on a wide variety of projects including the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan, Mayor Whitmire’s sidewalk initiative, bike-to-trail plan, waterways plan, and safe railroad crossings plan.

You will work closely with the GIS team to assemble data for the high injury database and leverage third-party traffic data to enhance our toolbox for decision-making. You will coordinate mobility and transit projects with other agencies such as METRO, HGAC, TXDoT, Harris County, TIRZs, Management Districts, Houston Parks Board, and more. A career in public service with the City of Houston Planning & Development Department Transportation team provides a chance to engage in challenging work that directly shapes the urban landscape, ensuring the city’s transportation network supports a high quality of life and economic opportunity for everyone.

The position requires advanced transportation professional planning experience of heightened complexity and variety. You will be involved with larger and more complex transportation planning projects or assignments, exercising greater independence and judgment with only general guidance from supervisors or managers. Intermediate to advanced proficiency in GIS and transportation modeling software is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Presents, or assists in presenting, detailed reports or studies to community groups, government agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Consults with community groups, government agencies, stakeholders, and appointed officials in the development and implementation of regulations, plans, projects, or programs.
• Coordinates the development of studies in support of new or updated plans, programs, projects, or regulations.
• Writes, or assists in writing, formal and technical reports, planning documents, grants, and correspondence.
• Reviews project proposals of heightened complexity for compliance with applicable regulations or standards.
• Provides technical assistance and professional support in the administration of specific transportation planning programs, regulations, grants, or projects.
• Researches and compiles information on a variety of planning issues from multiple sources.
• Prepares maps and other graphical representations of data of varying complexity.
• Works closely with the public on transportation planning programs, requirements, or projects.
• Creates and maintains data in a geographical information system or other database format.
• Coordinates the development and updates of the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP), sidewalk program, bike-to-trail plan, waterways plan, safe railroad crossings plan, and other plans.
• Researches, writes, and coordinates applications for grants for the sidewalk program, bike-to-trail plan, waterways plan, safe railroad crossings plan, and other plans.
• Assists with the programming and updating of the high injury network database.
• Supports other Planning Department divisions, other City of Houston departments, partner agencies, and the public with information and research regarding the City’s Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan and other planning studies.
• Provides research for making recommendations on preliminary Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects.
• Conducts research and understands best practices and policies in transportation planning.
• Manages and participates in interagency planning activities such as Sub-Regional Mobility Planning Studies, Livable Center Studies, and other planning studies.
• Conducts community engagement efforts for multiple planning projects.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Requirements

• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of transportation planning principles, practices, and policies, as well as in-depth knowledge within one or more urban planning disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience in leading more complex transportation studies and analysis.
• Experience working with federal, state, or local planning regulations related to transportation planning and programming.
• Proficiency in data analysis, especially travel and crash data, and knowledge of the Texas CRIS database.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency in ArcGIS and other specialized software such as TransCAD, Remix, etc.
• Ability to communicate orally, graphically, and in written form about transportation planning programs, studies, and projects to the public and technical audiences.
• Project management, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Attention to detail; time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines; proposes new ideas and solutions; success working with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

Educational Requirements: Requires well-developed knowledge of planning principles, practices, and policies, as well as in-depth knowledge within one or more planning specialties. This level of knowledge is typically obtained through experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Geography, Public Policy, or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program directly related to the type of work being performed.

Experience Requirements: Six years of progressively responsible planning experience required, with at least two years of professional transportation planning experience. A Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Geography, Public Policy, or a closely related field may be substituted for two years of experience.

Preferences

• Knowledge of transportation funding opportunities from the Federal, State, and regional levels.
• Experience in grant writing and implementation.
• Demonstrated design skills related to transportation infrastructure, such as street design and appropriate dimensions for street components in urban areas.
• Intermediate and above proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel.
• Intermediate and above proficiency in ArcGIS and other specialized software such as TransCAD, Remix, etc.
• Veterans or reservists in the United States Armed Forces.

Working Conditions

There are occasional minor discomforts from exposure to less-than-optimal temperature and air conditions. The position may involve dealing with modestly unpleasant situations, such as occasional exposure to office chemicals and/or extensive use of a video display terminal.

This is a Planning and Development Position at the Tier III Level. All duties and responsibilities may not be included in the above job description.