Job Specification Details

This is the third level of professional inter-disciplinary planning work developing, coordinating and implementing long range planning activities for the Policy & Planning and Intermodal Development Division of the Agency of Transportation. Overall, this job requires independence and significant responsibility over a sustained period of time to produce outstanding work of a highly technical nature. Work principally involves conceiving, planning, facilitating and managing the Agency's most complex planning studies/projects in conjunction with other Agency divisions, state agencies, regional planning commissions and the metropolitan planning organization, Vermont's cities and towns and appropriate federal funding partners e.g. Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration. Incumbents are trusted to represent the Agency and its positions, and are responsible for explaining and defending decisions and policies to the public, municipalities, legislators, other state agencies, the federal government, and the regions.

Work involves development of strategic planning documents which influence agency spending, preparing applications for the agency's major competitive grant opportunities, decision making and effective resource management. Requires independent judgment in selecting, adapting, and applying planning methods, utilizes complex analytical tools and techniques to solve problems and conducts complex planning processes and projects. A class incumbent is a technical expert in several areas of transportation planning and the project development process.

Incumbent is responsible for interpreting, organizing, executing and completing assignments in accordance with State and Federal guidelines and accepted policy and planning practices. Incumbents receive managerial direction from an administrative supervisor, but works independently and are fully accountable for assigned activities and projects based on policy direction provided by the administrative supervisor, Division Director or Secretary. Project supervision may also be exercised over Planning Coordinator I or II and/or other agency technical staff.

Plans, designs and implements, or manages the implementation, of the agency's most complex planning projects and special studies pertaining to highway, rail, air, bicycle & pedestrian, public transportation and freight movement. Special studies may include legislative studies, transportation finance, economic and demographic analyses, environmental assessments for modal projects, and development of asset management and prioritization processes.

Serves as project manager for various program plans, major discretionary grant applications, policy plans and statewide modal studies. Responsible for completion of assigned projects from beginning to end, and for the quality and timeliness of work performed by consultants hired to assist the agency with planning.

Serves as a liaison to regional planning commissions (RPCs) and/or Vermont's lone federally designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and provides direct administrative oversight of all aspects of their contractual and technical relationship with the agency. Coordinates extensively with other divisions within the agency; other state agencies; other statewide transportation stakeholders; and agencies of the Federal and local governments as necessary.

Drafts policy documents, technical analyses, proposed results, conclusions and recommendations at the request of division directors and the agency Secretary. Coordinates development and prepares agency's major discretionary grant applications, internal Agency reviews and response to planning products developed internally or by the RPCs/MPO and coordinates reviews by other state agencies, Federal agencies and metropolitan, regional and local planning commissions.

Represents the Agency at various hearings and meetings and may serve as the Secretary's designee at policy meetings, technical conferences, and as a voting member of the MPO policy Board. May serve as the Secretary's designee for other activities or projects. Presents and explains the results of studies to policy makers, other agencies, non-governmental organizations, municipal officials and the public. Testifies as an expert witness at hearings or before legislative committees. Provides planning advice and assistance to planning offices and agencies at all levels throughout the state and serves as advisor to senior level Agency staff.

Normal office working conditions general apply. Incumbents must be prepared to attend meetings, conferences or seminars which will occur outside normal working hours. Legislative and major discretionary grant application deadlines result in significantly short project timelines, leading to work spikes during parts of the year, and associated high stress levels. Private means of transportation is required for a significant amount of travel to field sites. There will be periodic need to travel outside the state to attend meetings, conferences and training. When making public presentations or facilitating meetings, strong differences of opinion may be expressed. Interaction with a variety of persons may generate strong differences of opinion when making public presentations, facilitating meetings or explaining Agency policies and procedures.

Overall, this job requires independence and significant responsibility over a sustained period of time to produce outstanding work of a highly technical nature.

Expert knowledge of transportation planning principles, practices and theory; and of Federal transportation long range state and metropolitan planning requirements and procedures; and, of the principles of land use planning. Expert knowledge of the local, national and international social, economic, demographic, industrial and other factors affecting the State's transportation system.

Considerable knowledge of public participation methods and processes, and the ability to clearly and credibly present information about Agency policies and transportation planning issues in public forums. 

Considerable knowledge of the Vermont Agency of Transportation programs, objectives and procedures, including the project development process and of the structure and interaction among federal, state, regional, and local organizations involved in planning and project delivery.

Considerable knowledge of transportation planning tools and methods, particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications, applied statistics, development and application of spreadsheet and database models, and transportation modeling.

Ability to plan, develop and implement, or manage the implementation, of complex transportation planning studies.

Ability to coordinate transportation planning effectively within the required Federal and state processes.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to design and conduct quantitative and qualitative studies, perform complex statistical research, and analyze results.

Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of audiences.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Master's degree in planning, engineering, economics, natural resources, transportation land use, public administration, or related field AND two (2) years of experience in transportation planning, environmental planning, land use and community planning, city and regional planning, transportation engineering and/or natural resources planning.
OR
Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, economics, natural resources, transportation land use, or public administration AND six (6) years of experience in transportation planning, environmental planning, land use and community planning, city and regional planning, transportation engineering and/or natural resources planning.
OR
Eight (8) years of experience in transportation planning, environmental planning, land use and community planning, city and regional planning, transportation engineering and/or natural resources planning.

Supervisory or team/project lead experience   .
Eligibility for or membership in AICP (American Institute of Certified Planning.