Senior Transportation Planner within YMPO (This is not a Yuma County Position)

Yuma County•230 West Morrison Street, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under limited supervision of the Executive Director, performs advanced professional and technical work in regional and multimodal transportation planning and programming for the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (YMPO). The Senior Transportation Planner serves as a senior technical planning lead and manages complex transportation planning programs, studies, and projects. Responsibilities include metropolitan transportation planning and programming, project and consultant management, regulatory research and compliance, grant and funding coordination, data analysis, public involvement, and regional intergovernmental coordination. The position exercises a high degree of independence, initiative, professional judgment, and discretion in researching complex transportation issues, evaluating alternatives, developing recommendations, and managing assigned projects and programs. The position coordinates closely with federal, state, tribal, regional, county, municipal, and transit partners and provides technical support to the YMPO Executive Board, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) composed of member agencies, Executive Director, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in engineering, transportation planning, or planning-related field may include municipal, urban, or regional planning
Five (5) years of professional planning experience
Two (2) years of supervisory experience
Possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license
Maintain a clean Motor Vehicle Report
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local statutes, codes, and regulations pertaining to MPO and/or regional planning, development, and community general plans
Knowledge of ADOT local governments manual
Knowledge of procedures and techniques for evaluating technical operations and compliance issues
Knowledge of budget preparation and expenditure control
Knowledge of land use regulations and zoning codes
Knowledge of principles and practices of project management
Knowledge of environmental planning
Knowledge of economic development
Knowledge of long-range planning and zoning
Knowledge of research techniques for land use trends and regulations
Knowledge of computer hardware
Knowledge of graphic & digital mapping display techniques and topographic mapping
Skills in interpreting technical documents and map specifications
Skills in collecting, tabulating, organizing, evaluating, analyzing, and presenting data and information
Skills in presenting technical information to the general public, boards, commissions, and elected officials clearly and concisely
Skills in reading, interpreting, understanding and applying planning standards and procedures, applicable federal rules and regulations, city policies and procedures
Skills in working under the pressure of deadlines
Skills in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relations with employees, officials, other agencies and the public
Skills in operating a personal computer and utilizing a variety of business software
Skills in effective oral and written communication
Ability to sit, stand, walk, and bend
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, and in writing
Ability to develop, administer, interpret, and communicate plans, policies, and data
Ability to interpret, explain, and apply applicable laws, rules, and regulations
Ability to serve as an advisor to the Board, TAC, member agencies and their staffs, on planning matters
Ability to prepare and enforce procedures relating to personnel, training, budget, and organization
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with subordinates, elected/appointed officials and their staffs, and the general public
Regular and reliable attendance
Attend work-related events during evenings and weekends, as directed

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering, transportation planning, or planning-related field
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
Certified Transportation Planning Accreditations

Responsibilities

Leads and coordinates the development, maintenance, amendment, and implementation of federally and state required metropolitan planning and programming documents, including the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
Manages complex regional transportation planning studies, programs, and special projects from initiation through completion, including development of project scopes, schedules, deliverables, budgets, and performance expectations.
Develops scopes of work and assists with the preparation of Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Request for Qualifications (RFQs); participates in consultant selection process; and coordinates consultant activities and monitors project progress, schedules, budgets, and deliverables in support of contract administration.
Directs and monitors the work of consultants to ensure compliance with approved scopes of work, schedules, budgets, contract requirements, and expected deliverables.
Researches, interprets, and applies applicable federal and state transportation laws, regulations, policies, funding requirements, and planning guidance, and evaluates their impact on YMPO programs and member agencies.
Independently researches complex transportation planning, programming, funding, and policy issues; evaluates alternatives and develops recommendations for consideration by the Executive Director.
Coordinates transportation projects, programs, funding, and planning activities with YMPO member agencies, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, tribal governments, transit agencies, consultants, and other regional partners.
Provides technical assistance to member agencies regarding regional transportation planning, project programming, funding eligibility, grant opportunities, and applicable federal and state planning requirements.
Assists with the identification, research, development, and administration of federal, state, and other transportation funding and grant opportunities.
Collects, evaluates, analyzes, and presents transportation, demographic, project, financial, performance, and other technical data in support of regional planning and programming activities.
Coordinates and provides primary staff support to the YMPO TAC, including the development of meeting materials, technical recommendations, presentations, and follow-up activities.
Prepares and presents reports, technical analysis, planning documents, recommendations, and briefings to the Executive Director, Executive Board, TAC, member agencies, and public.
Facilitates public involvement, stakeholder meetings, workshops, and other outreach activities associated with regional transportation plans, studies, and programs.
Oversees or coordinates assigned transportation data and monitoring activities which may include traffic count, performance monitoring, mapping, and related transportation data programs.
Establishes project priorities, schedules, and work plans for assigned programs and projects, and monitors progress toward established objectives and deadlines.
Monitors assigned project budgets and expenditures; exercises responsible stewardship of YMPO financial resources; and ensures compliance with applicable procurement, purchasing, travel, grant, and financial policies and procedures.
Serves as a liaison and YMPO representative on committees, task forces, working groups, and other federal and statewide or regional transportation planning activities as assigned.
Researches, develops, revises, and maintains planning documents, policies, procedures, guidance manuals, and technical publications to support YMPO programs, organizational initiatives, and compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.
Performs other duties as assigned.