Transportation Planner - Freight and Goods Movement

Greater Nashville Regional Council • Nashville, TN

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) is seeking a professional planner with experience in freight and goods movement to join its Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The team develops plans and programs that prioritize investments in the multimodal transportation system serving the Nashville metropolitan area. GNRC develops the Regional Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program for the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and partners with public transit agencies, local governments, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and neighboring MPOs and Rural Planning Organizations.

The position leads or assists with local and regional planning, including documenting and analyzing existing conditions and trends, identifying best practices and tools, and recommending policies, actions, or investment strategies. It also involves producing maps and data visualizations, presenting staff reports, coordinating with planning and engineering firms and local jurisdictions, and building partnerships with public, private, academic, and community organizations. The planner is expected to participate in industry associations and continuing education to stay current with transportation-planning practices.

GNRC offers a minimum starting salary of $57,500, with the actual offer dependent on experience and qualifications. The role is not remote; the selected candidate is expected to work regularly from the GNRC office, with flexibility for remote or hybrid working conditions. Regular travel throughout Middle Tennessee is required.

Requirements

• A master's degree in logistics, public policy, engineering, community and regional planning, or a related field, and at least two years of professional experience.
• Alternatively, a bachelor's degree and four years of relevant experience may be substituted for the master's degree.
• Experience in transportation planning or engineering within a state DOT, regional planning organization, transit agency, or local government setting.
• Working knowledge of federal metropolitan planning requirements.
• Valid driver's license and access to personal transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated understanding of freight and goods movement, including national commodity flows, distribution networks within the southeastern U.S., and local rail and trucking routes in Middle Tennessee.

Responsibilities

• Lead or assist in developing local and regional plans by documenting and analyzing existing conditions and trends.
• Identify and assess best practices and tools, and recommend policies, actions, or investment strategies tailored to planning objectives.
• Lead or assist in developing maps and other data visualizations.
• Present staff reports to elected officials, planning boards, stakeholder organizations, and the general public.
• Provide guidance and/or coordinate with planning and engineering firms and local jurisdictions engaged in regional and corridor-level planning studies and engineering analysis.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations and advocates, universities and research institutions, business groups, local governments, public transit agencies, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and others.
• Participate in industry associations and continuing education opportunities to remain current on emerging and best practices in transportation planning.

Benefits

• Exceptional health insurance benefits.
• Fully paid pension through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, with no employee payroll deduction.
• Optional dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match, up to 3% of gross salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level