Are you a creative, passionate, and visionary planner with an eye toward community and transit development?    The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) wants you to apply to be a Strategic Planner on our Long Range and Strategic Planning team.  Help UTA keep moving forward as you take a key role in shaping the mobility, growth, and long-range plans to improve transit across the Wasatch Front.

You will be at the forefront of various transit projects and studies aimed at improving access to and increasing service for the future of public transit in Utah. You will partner with people across the agency as well as partners and the community to plan and develop projects to make the use of transit easier to use and more readily available for Utahns.

This is a Career-Ladder position, meaning it can be filled at either the III or II experience level:

In addition to what is listed for Strategic Planner II below, as an upper-level Strategic Planner III, you will:

Produce, or supervise the production of, financial programming plans, agency plans, or various long range, strategic, or tactical transit studies, analyses, or projects.
Act as a primary resource to other UTA departments and external agencies, coordinating with local and federal agencies to advance and implement projects.
Lead the UTA portion of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) and the Statewide TIP assembled by UDOT.
Report directly to the Manager of Long Range & Strategic Planning Manager.
You may be asked to take a supervisory role over Strategic Planner I and II’s.

As the mid-level Strategic Planner II, you will:Conduct self-directed work, participate, and lead in a team environment.
Work with moderate supervision and must be able to apply general planning principles and think analytically.
Conduct project development, system planning, strategic planning, and financial programming activities.
Assist in the development and implementation, whether internal or through the contracting of external resources, of project scope/schedule/budget.
Assist in the production, or supervise the production of, financial programming plans, agency plans, or various long range, strategic, or tactical transit studies, analyses, or projects.
Conduct research and analysis activities on transit service, projects, or initiatives.
Act as a resource to other UTA departments and external agencies, coordinating with local and federal agencies to advance and implement projects.
Participate on both internal UTA and external multi-disciplinary teams as a technical planning advisor.
Represent UTA in project related public involvement initiatives, and work to create positive solutions for the community.
Coordinate with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and local governments to assist in developing transportation plans and programs.
Assist with the UTA portion of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Statewide TIP assembled by UDOT.
Report directly to the Manager of Long Range & Strategic Planning or to a Strategic Planner III, if applicable.
You may be asked to take a leadership role over Strategic Planner I.
Minimum Qualifications
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES
Strategic Planner III8 years of transit planning experience, 6 years transit planning and 2 years of other related planning experience, OR 6 years of transit planning and a master’s degree or professional planning certification.
Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, Transportation Planning, Geography, Engineering, Economics, Business, Math, or another related field.
Master’s degree preferred, but not required.
AICP certification, ITE, Professional Transpiration Planner (PTP) certificate, Professional Engineer (PE) or other professional certification is preferred but not required.
A valid Utah driver’s license with a good driving record is required. Must be a safe driver with no more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years and no convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the past 10 years.

Strategic Planner II
In addition to the education, certifications and licenses listed for the Strategic Planner III, to qualify for the Strategic Planner II you only need:4 years of transit planning experience, 2 years transit planning and 2 years of other related planning experience, OR 2 years of transit planning and a master’s degree or professional planning certification.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS
For the Strategic Planner III, you must have knowledge of at least 8 of the following areas.  For the Strategic Planner II, you must have knowledge of at least 6 of the following areas.  For some openings, knowledge of specific areas may be required:GIS
Local general plan requirements and preparation.
Zoning and land use regulations
Transportation system planning
Travel demand modeling
Financial analysis of public agencies
Federal and State environmental requirements
Federal Transit Administration Project Development process.
Local transportation and public works project development.
Transit operations and route planning relationship between land use, urban design, and transit.
Basic statistical analysis of surveys and operations data
Basic administrative tools, i.e., word processing and spreadsheets – preferred
Project Management
Alternative Analysis
Federal Transit Administration Project Development process.
RFP process and general procurement rules and regulations
NEPA process

ABILITIES
In addition to what is listed under the Strategic Planner II below, as the Strategic Planner III you must be able to:Work with Contracts department to produce procurement documents including Requests for Proposals and contracts.

As a Strategic Planner II, you must be able to:direct the preparation of a report including appropriate graphics and the review and edit reports in each of the areas listed as having experience in.
prepare and present plans and proposals to the City Council, MPO or other decision maker forum.
represent the agency in a variety of public settings.
prepare and track task schedules and budgets for complex multi-jurisdictional studies.
prepare agendas for both technical and public meetings.
contribute to Feasibility, Corridor, or Alternatives Analysis studies.
direct work and supervise others.
develop work scope, schedule, and pricing documents.
identify and resolve issues in a timely manner.
work efficiently with minimal supervision.

– OR –
an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
[UTA reserves the right to determine the equivalencies of education and experience.]
UTA’s benefits package for full-time administrative employees includes:

Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance (eligible after 30 days of employment), with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts.
Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, and dependent children.
days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
Retirement options – Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching.
Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
Free transit passes for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
Employee assistance program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
UTA Well – a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness.

For more information on UTA’s Total Rewards benefits package, please visit: https://jobs.jobvite.com/rideuta/#benefits

Pay Ranges:
Strategic Planner II: $69,000 per year or more, depending on experience.
Strategic Planner III: $77,500 per year or more, depending on experience.

Position open until filled