Senior City Planner – Transportation Planning

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

1d • $80,217 - $132,358 • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), through its employees, enhances the quality of life in Denver by efficiently delivering effective, high quality, safe and equitable public infrastructure, and services. For more information, please visit the DOTI website . DOTI’s Commitment to Equity: DOTI is committed to providing attention and resources to the areas, assets, and people of the city with the greatest need through equitable contracting, equitable investments, and equitable workforce development. DOTI’s culture revolves around four key principles: (1) Invest in Our People, (2) Operate with Discipline, (3) Use Data to Drive Decisions, and (4) Deliver Results. The Transportation Planning Division of DOTI is responsible for planning and programming changes to the city’s multimodal transportation system in conjunction with other city, local, regional, and state agencies. This includes providing policy guidance pertaining to Denver’s transportation vision, coordinating studies to identify short- and long-term infrastructure needs, conceptual planning for capital improvements, and seeking additional funding opportunities. The Transportation Planning Team is a high energy, self-motivated, passionate, creative, and dedicated staff. City Planners in DOTI have excellent communication skills and commitment to achieving Denver’s ambitious mobility-related goals. DOTI Transportation Planning is seeking to hire up to three Senior City Planners with experience and expertise in multimodal transportation planning, with a focus on bicycle, pedestrian, traffic safety, transit, transportation demand management, private development review, and complete streets-related projects. Senior City Planners will support the implementation of Denver Moves Everyone (DME), the City’s strategic transportation plan, by managing multimodal transportation plans and projects, conducting research and studies on active transportation, managing data collection, and producing reports on multimodal transportation that advance DME’s vision and goals. Two positions will more focus on managing the delivery of multimodal projects. One position will be involved in the creation and implementation of employer-based and neighborhood-focused Transportation Demand Management (TDM) initiatives, managing incentive programs, and driving outreach campaigns to encourage behavior change. All three positions will support general Planning Team functions as described further in this job ad. Up to two positions will focus on managing Multimodal Programs and Projects . Program Managers within DOTI oversee portfolios of similar projects—for example, Pedestrian Intersections, Traffic Calming, Bicycle and Micromobility Infrastructure, Transit, and Traffic Signals. Responsibilities include managing funding for project packages, forecasting future funding needs, and ensuring projects progress successfully from planning through design and into construction. These roles will also lead the planning phase of multiple concurrent multimodal projects, including area plans, corridor studies, and spot improvements. All work is grounded in a multimodal approach—improving safety and comfort for all users. Planners lead communication strategies across all project phases. One position will act as the City’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program Manager leading Denver’s efforts to reduce single-occupant vehicle travel and promote sustainable, multimodal transportation options through strategic program design, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. The role includes shaping citywide TDM policies, analyzing data to measure program effectiveness, and ensuring compliance with development requirements. Through fostering partnerships with regional agencies, developers, and community organizations, and securing grant funding for innovative projects, the TDM Program Manager plays a critical role in advancing Denver’s climate, equity, and mobility goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Engineering, or a related degree.
• Five (5) years of professional planning experience.
• One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Engineering, Public Policy and Administration, or a directly related degree
• 3–5 years of professional experience in multimodal transportation projects, including at least two years serving as a project manager with demonstrated experience leading projects from initiation through completion.
• Experience with the planning and supporting design of multimodal street elements (pedestrian, bicycle, transit, traffic calming, traffic signals, and roadways), vision zero and safe routes to school work, and other related improvements.
• Experience managing projects on scope, schedule, and budget
• Experience working with transportation engineers to deliver mobility projects
• Experience developing both technical and public facing presentations, with the ability to speak to a variety of audiences, including DOTI leadership, Denver City Council, stakeholders, and the general public
• Knowledge of the MUTCD, AASHTO, and NACTO design guidelines
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Proficiency in GIS with experience developing desktop and web maps and spatial tools to support planning and analysis.
• Microsoft Excel: Skilled in organizing, manipulating, and synthesizing complex data sets to support planning functions and decision-making.
• Adobe Suite: Experienced in using Adobe programs to create graphics, maps, public outreach materials, and formatted reports for planning projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple complex planning projects that implement the Denver Moves suite of plans (Denver Moves Everyone, Bicycles, Transit, Pedestrians & Trails, Safe Routes to School, and Vision Zero), including scope, schedule, and budget oversight.
• Lead all phases of projects, including developing project scopes of work, schedules, and budgets ; lead existing conditions assessments, alternatives analysis, phasing strategies, and data-driven recommendations with integrated equity considerations.
• Support and lead program and initiative management for multimodal capital investments (e.g., bicycle, pedestrian intersections, transit, signals, or others), including coordinating a pipeline of projects from planning and design through implementation, advancing capital programming priorities, tracking performance metrics, and evaluating outcomes to inform future investments.
• Program development for reducing single occupancy vehicle travel through Transportation Demand Management (TDM ), identifying resource needs and leading the implementation of actions which fulfill regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate across teams including consultants, DOTI divisions, City departments, external agencies, adjacent jurisdictions, stakeholders, and the public to advance projects, programs, and transportation services.
• Guide implementation of the Denver Moves network recommendations and principles by ensuring alignment with other programs, projects, development, and applicable regulations.
• Serve as a technical transportation planning expert to DOTI, City leadership, City Council, planning committees, and community groups on multimodal topics.
• Perform advanced technical analysis supporting transportation planning work, including building spreadsheets in Microsoft excel, GIS analysis, coding, and mapping, and developing website material, online tools, and web maps.
• Facilitate public and stakeholder meetings ; present complex concepts clearly; synthesize feedback; and build consensus among groups with differing perspectives.
• Foster growth of more junior teammates through delegation and oversight of tasks , sharing technical expertise to successfully collaborate and deliver joint efforts.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees