Careers in Quality

Title:  Transportation Planner

Category:  Full Time Professional (Exempt)

Supervisor:  The Transportation Planner works under the general direction of the Executive Director and the supervision of the Transportation Program Manager

Salary Range: $65,000-$80,000 depending on qualifications and experience

Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Functions: : Employee primarily engages in technical planning support work as staff for the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) funded by and in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Lowell Regional Transportation Authority (LRTA), and other local, state and federal transportation-related entities.

Job Responsibilities:

• Performs and provides advanced professional level planning and project work assisting with the administration of the regional transportation planning program designed to achieve the region's transportation goals, including highway, bridge, Complete Streets and bicycle/pedestrian planning and projects
• Assists in development of Federal Certification documents including the regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the Long Range Transportation Plan (RTP)
• Maintains current knowledge of local, state and federal transportation planning issues
• Collects, organizes and analyzes data for the region’s transportation projects, studies and activities, including traffic count data, crash data, and pavement condition inventories
• Performs field work including traffic counts, turning movement counts, parking utilization counts, crosswalk and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure audits
• Performs technical analyses and calculations, in accordance with standard and accepted transportation planning and engineering standards and practices
• Maintains and updates transportation-related databases
• Develops and prepares transportation-related technical studies and reports
• Presents to community and business groups and engages the community as part of transportation plans and projects
• Responds to inquiries from the public, member municipalities, and state and federal agencies regarding NMCOG’s transportation planning projects
• Participates in transportation-related technical committees, advisory committees, working groups and task forces, as appropriate
• Attends evening meetings as required
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Skills

• Communicating effectively, verbally and in writing, with strong public speaking and presentation skills

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with member municipalities, advocacy groups, consultants, and the public
• Operating a computer and related software including Microsoft Office 365 suite, knowledge of or experience with Highway Capacity software, pavement management software, and other technical software programs
• Managing projects, time and project load appropriately
• Maintaining professionalism and diplomacy

Education and Experience

• Candidates must have a Master's degree in Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Engineering, or related field and five (5) years of experience in transportation planning, engineering, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
• Familiarity with the MPO and transportation planning process

Licenses, Certifications, and Equipment

• A valid driver’s license is required
• AICP certification preferred but not required

The position is open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Jennifer Raitt, jraitt@nmcog.org. Candidates selected to interview may be asked to submit a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the US and a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. NMCOG participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States.

NMCOG offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment. NMCOG is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

About Northern Middlesex Council of Governments

The Northern Middlesex Council of Governments is one of thirteen regional planning agencies within Massachusetts. Formed under Chapter 40B of the Massachusetts General Laws, NMCOG works with the communities of the Greater Lowell region to support and enhance a wide range of planning objectives related to land use, environmental protection, energy, economic development, housing, public health, public safety, municipal service delivery and transportation. NMCOG maintains a staff of professional planners to assist member communities in designing, facilitating, and implementing community development programs and planning initiatives which further the interests of the overall region. Special legislation (Chapter 420 of the Acts of 1989) also allows the Council to perform a wide variety of non-planning functions on behalf of its members.

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