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Job Description
The employee in this position will be the principle manager and leader of all transit service planning efforts for VTA's bus and light rail network, with the assistance of a junior transportation planner that this employee will supervise. Service planning efforts include developing the agency's annual transit service plan, conducting transit service analyses, developing service changes, conducting transit service discussions, and managing special transit service planning projects.

Definition
Under direction, the Senior Transportation Planner supervises professional planners, support staff and consultants, carries out activities that provide direction for future transportation services and improvements, and identifies and secures transportation funds.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This is the first supervisory level involving responsibility for a major functional area. Substantial judgment and initiative are essential for resolving problems and making recommendations with regard to various projects.

Classification Bargaining Unit: AFSCME

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

• Supervises, develops, and evaluates professional, support staff, and consultants, assigns work and evaluates work products, may counsel and discipline staff;

• Manages major transportation planning projects, such as a specific transit plan, corridor study, or multi-modal project;;

• Prepares and presents items to boards and committees;

• Serves as liaison with cities, other local/regional agencies, and community groups regarding transportation, land use, and related issues;

• Develops work plans, schedules, and budget estimates for studies and projects;

• Coordinates planning activities with various departments within VTA;

• Prepares and presents planning project information to the public and community groups;

• Prepares reports, correspondence, and other documents;

• Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications - Employment Standards
Training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in transportation planning, urban planning or related field and four (4) years progressively responsible professional experience, at least 2 years of which must be demonstrated project lead experience (a Masters Degree in transportation or urban planning or related discipline may be substituted for one year of the required experience).

Knowledge of:

• Concepts, principles, techniques and legal aspects of transportation planning;

• Research and statistical methods;

• Governmental organizations and operations;

• Community interrelationships;

• Basic supervision methods and principles;

• Project management methods and techniques;

• Some positions may require knowledge of travel processes using regional network systems and sensitivity analysis;

• Some positions may require system measures of capacity, congestion, levels of service and traffic engineering techniques.

Ability to:

• Analyze issues and numerical measures associated with transportation planning projects, including estimates derived from computer models, estimates of costs and benefits, and public input;

• Estimate and administer budgets for studies and schedule and manage planning projects;

• Perform analysis and make recommendations based on findings in studies, field observation, and public contacts;

• Write correspondence, Board memorandums, planning and technical reports, and fact sheets designed to be understood by all audiences, including the general public;

• Simultaneously manage multiple projects;

• Maintain project objective and integrity when conflicting interests may influence the project outcome;

• Resolve conflicts between contractors and VTA on the interpretation of contractor project responsibilities;

• Communicate effectively, both written and verbally;

• Establish and maintain effective relations with those contacted in the course of work.