Assistant Vice President, Transit Planning

WSP•Detroit, MI

About The Position

This Opportunity We are looking for a transit-focused planning professional based in Southeast Michigan who has strong technical skills in data-driven analysis, multimodal network planning, and transportation systems. This person will play a key role in leading and supporting transit-centric projects by managing project teams, incorporating regulatory requirements, and delivering high-quality, forward-thinking transit solutions to enhance Michigan’s transit network. Your Impact Explain complex technical information to diverse audiences. Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, infographics, cross-sections, and 3D illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex and larger scale data, findings, or analyses. Organize and lead public meetings, respond to public inquiries for the client, and support long-range planning on large or complex projects. Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, approval or permitting strategy, impact assessments, and regulatory strategy, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion. Provide high level oversite for desk-based research and site work, including measurements, data interpretation, demographics, patterns and trends, and computer modeling. Strong understanding of transit service, corridor, and network planning and how transit investments support land use, and economic development goals. Analyze and interpret field data to help develop action plans that reduce community, economic, and environmental impacts. Coordinate with clients, resource agencies, and planning and technical staff, providing a high level of strategic advice, consultancy, and subject matter expertise. Demonstrated experience working with transit data sources such as the National Transit Database (NTD), using performance, asset, and service data to inform transit planning, funding, and system improvement decisions. Knowledge of federal transportation grants and policy (FTA and FHWA), including using planning and performance data to support grant development, compliance, and alignment with federal funding and policy priorities. Develop a client base for providing high level transportation planning services including identifying additional business development opportunities and engaging in proposal writing and submission. Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development. Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients. Remain current in latest transportation planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques. Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures. Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs. Who You Are

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, or a related field (or equivalent experience.)
A minimum of 10 years of experience in transportation planning, including work on plans, zoning updates, public engagement, regulatory compliance, and projects involving equitable development, demand management, mobility, multimodal access, surface transportation, and funding.
Experience providing critical reviews for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
Experience with discipline-specific software (i.e. ArcGIS/ QGIS, ReMIx).
Extensive critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree is preferred.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
#LI-MP1

Responsibilities

Explain complex technical information to diverse audiences.
Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, infographics, cross-sections, and 3D illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex and larger scale data, findings, or analyses.
Organize and lead public meetings, respond to public inquiries for the client, and support long-range planning on large or complex projects.
Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, approval or permitting strategy, impact assessments, and regulatory strategy, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
Provide high level oversite for desk-based research and site work, including measurements, data interpretation, demographics, patterns and trends, and computer modeling.
Strong understanding of transit service, corridor, and network planning and how transit investments support land use, and economic development goals.
Analyze and interpret field data to help develop action plans that reduce community, economic, and environmental impacts.
Coordinate with clients, resource agencies, and planning and technical staff, providing a high level of strategic advice, consultancy, and subject matter expertise.
Demonstrated experience working with transit data sources such as the National Transit Database (NTD), using performance, asset, and service data to inform transit planning, funding, and system improvement decisions.
Knowledge of federal transportation grants and policy (FTA and FHWA), including using planning and performance data to support grant development, compliance, and alignment with federal funding and policy priorities.
Develop a client base for providing high level transportation planning services including identifying additional business development opportunities and engaging in proposal writing and submission.
Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
Remain current in latest transportation planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques.
Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.