Transportation and Land Use Planner (TPS4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Transportation and Land Use Planner to join the Transportation Regional and Integrated Planning (TRIP) Office within the Multimodal Planning and Data Division. This role provides advanced professional planning support to integrate transportation, land use, and state policy objectives, while advancing agency priorities in multimodal transportation, safety, climate, and customer service. The position supports WSDOT’s Land Use Team by reviewing planning and policy materials, identifying transportation implications of land use strategies, and coordinating with local, regional, and state partners. The successful candidate will act as a liaison and a key resource for the department, local governments, and project proponents regarding land use decisions, helping to connect local plans, development patterns, housing, multimodal access, safety, vehicle miles traveled, and state transportation systems through technical assistance, research, policy analysis, guidance development, and implementation support.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to review, interpret, and integrate planning, policy, or program information to support clear and objective recommendations, guidance, technical assistance, and implementation coordination.
Strong understanding of how land use, housing, infrastructure, community design, transportation safety, climate, mobility, and environmental considerations interact within local, regional, and statewide settings.
Ability to analyze relevant complex and emerging planning issues, evaluate potential impacts and implications for WSDOT, identify objective responses and resolutions, and apply sound judgment when working with incomplete information, competing priorities, and sensitive policy issues.
Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, accurate, objective, and well-organized written materials, and communicate complex planning and policy topics to technical and non-technical audiences.
Actively demonstrates ability to identify issues, initiate research, gather relevant information, recommend next steps, and move forward with appropriate independence while keeping supervisors and colleagues informed.
Strong ability to work effectively with internal and external partners, support productive meetings and working groups, clarify issues, document outcomes, and help participants move towards a shared understanding and actionable next steps.
Ability to navigate complex or sensitive topics with professionalism, objectivity, and understand different perspectives.
Ability to support constructive coordination across agencies, disciplines, and different levels of government.
Demonstrated ability to organize and track tasks, schedules, deliverables, stakeholder input, meeting materials, consultant products, or follow-up actions while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and accountability.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Experience reviewing, developing, or supporting comprehensive plans, housing, land use, or transportation elements, municipal codes, land use applications, environmental review documents, or local implementation guidance.
An understanding of how local policies and regulations influence development patterns, housing production, multimodal access, VMT/GHG reduction, safety, and transportation system outcomes.
Ability to understand and apply Washington’s Growth Management Act, State Environmental Policy Act, comprehensive planning requirements, regional transportation planning frameworks.
Ability to apply or learn Washington-specific planning requirements and guidance in state, regional, or local planning contexts.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with local governments, counties, state agencies, MPOs, RTPOs, tribal nations, consultants, community partners, and multidisciplinary teams on planning, policy, implementation, or technical assistance efforts.
Experience navigating complex topics with competing priorities and fostering a supportive and collaborative environment to advance transportation planning initiatives.
Experience coordinating work plans, schedules, deliverables, consultant tasks, stakeholder input, meeting materials, reporting requirements, or implementation activities for planning, policy, guidance, or technical assistance projects.
Ability to organize complex work, track decisions and next steps, and support timely completion of products or implementation activities.

Responsibilities

Assist with the development and implementation of policies, programs, and process improvements that support transportation-efficient development patterns, multimodal access, transportation safety outcomes, vehicle miles traveled reduction, and the coordination of land use, housing, and transportation planning.
Conduct research, analysis, and prepare summaries of relevant planning issues related to the integration of land use and transportation.
Support the advancement of the agency Safe System Approach, specifically, Safer Land Use by helping translate concepts into practical planning guidance, examples, informational materials, implementation steps, and communication products.
Track and analyze state planning requirements, agency policies, partner agency guidance, legislation, and emerging practices that affect land use and transportation integration.
Assist with identifying barriers, opportunities, and implementation strategies that support alignment between WSDOT planning practices, land use, and state transportation policy objectives.
Help assess and prioritize planning issues to identify potential implications for WSDOT programs, facilities, and policy objectives.
Support analysis of proposed legislation and policy changes related to land use, transportation, housing, climate, State Environmental Policy Act, and multimodal planning.
Prepare bill summaries, issue briefs, implementation notes, fiscal and workload considerations, and related materials for review.
Assist with implementation of legislative and budget direction, including statewide planning initiatives related to the integration of land use and transportation.