Senior Planner, Chicago

Cambridge Systematics•Chicago, IL

1d•$155,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Cambridge Systematics, Inc. (CS) is a transportation-focused firm that provides policy and planning solutions, objective analyses, and technology applications to help clients anticipate future transportation needs and improve existing infrastructure and operations. The Transit and Shared Mobility group delivers data-driven planning services to transit agencies, cities, and metropolitan planning organizations across the United States, drawing on national knowledge and regional expertise to address complex industry challenges. The Senior Planner provides leadership and support across transit planning areas such as policy, market analysis, strategic and service planning, operations, capital planning, data analysis, finance, funding, corridor studies, and public engagement. The position calls for strong relationships and qualifications with transit agencies, cities, MPOs, and statewide agencies, particularly in Chicago and the Midwest. The Senior Planner collaborates with technical leaders and project managers across business units to develop integrated technical approaches and serve as a company-wide resource. The role includes training, managing, and mentoring junior staff; motivating colleagues and subconsultants to deliver work on time and within budget; building relationships with current and prospective clients; identifying future opportunities; and leading teaming negotiations with consulting firms as part of proactive and reactive marketing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy, or a related area.
10 or more years of industry-related experience.
3 or more years of experience managing projects.
Experience leading corridor studies, network redesigns, market analyses, fare studies, long-range transportation plans, and related transit plans.
Strong communication, presentation, and technical writing skills.
A strong professional network in the transportation industry.
Located in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy, or a related area.
5 or more years of experience in public sector consulting and professional services.

Responsibilities

Deliver projects on time, on budget, and to the satisfaction of the client or project manager.
Provide constructive, ongoing feedback to project team members and mentor junior staff in project delivery skills.
Give project staff clear direction on project objectives and their roles in achieving them.
Develop and implement a project delivery plan for each project.
Plan, produce, and deliver thorough, polished, high-quality work that reflects well on CS.
Provide value-added service to project managers and clients and communicate consistently with internal and external team members.
Listen actively and seek to understand client and project manager needs.
Participate in regional, business unit, practice area, and other business development meetings to identify and coordinate business development and marketing activities.
Contribute to bid/no-bid decisions.
Develop win themes, teaming strategies, pricing strategies, and technical content for proposals in the area of responsibility.
Build and maintain long-term client relationships and actively listen to client needs.
Build positive relationships with management, senior consultants, and marketing and communications staff to develop winning proposals.
Collaborate with technical leaders and project managers across business units to develop integrated technical approaches and serve as a company-wide resource.
Train, manage, and mentor junior staff, and motivate colleagues and subconsultants to deliver work on time and within budget.
Develop relationships with current and prospective clients, identify future opportunities, and lead teaming negotiations with consulting firms.