Transportation Planner I/II

Description

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks a Transportation Planner who will work on a wide variety of projects and policies in Greater Boston to encourage more of the region’s trips to involve public transit, bicycling, walking, and electric vehicles. The Planner will report to the Assistant Director of the Transportation Department, and will work on a variety of topics, including bike share, micro-mobility, transportation demand management, parking, transportation finance, climate change, dedicated bus lanes, and other activities. The individual will be a strong representative of the agency in a number of public forums, manage projects, facilitate working groups, conduct research, author reports and technical memoranda, and maintain and advance relationships with numerous stakeholders.

We seek an individual who is innovative, mission-driven, and committed to advancing smart growth, regional collaboration, and equity. This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable future.

About MAPC

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our mission is to promote smart growth and regional collaboration. We are guided by MetroFuture: Making a Greater Boston Region, our regional policy plan for a more sustainable and equitable future, which was adopted in 2008. We are currently working on a successor regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together, which we expect to complete in 2020. MAPC's staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office. MAPC encourages all of our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC's planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times. We strongly support the professional development of each and every staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. For more information about MAPC, MetroFuture, and MetroCommon, please visit www.mapc.org.

Responsibilities

• Help cities and towns develop plans and policies that “right size” the amount of on and off-street parking space;

• Coordinate efforts to establish and operate bike-sharing systems, which operate across municipal lines;

• Help cities and towns to plan for new forms of micro-mobility such as electric scooters and electric bikes;

• Work with municipalities and the private sector to adopt best policies and practices in Transportation Demand Management;

• Review new development sites for their impact on the transportation system and provide mitigation recommendations, as part of local and state permitting processes; • Collect and analyze data for downtown parking management studies and bus improvement corridors;

• Research, analyze, write, and present on a variety of subjects, which may include sustainable transportation funding mechanisms, solutions to reduce the climate impact from the transportation sector, and how changes in land use can reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions;

• Conduct research and oversee projects focused on improving equity in the distribution, quality, and reliability of the transportation system, especially in regard to Environmental Justice populations, transit-dependent individuals and households, and rural communities;

• Support other MAPC staff to conduct planning studies, municipal master plans, and research;

• Maintain and expand relationships between MAPC and relevant stakeholders, including municipal partners, community and advocacy groups, the private sector, academia, and state agencies; and

• Perform other duties as necessary to advance the goals of MAPC and MetroFuture, or in the future, MetroCommon2050.

Qualifications

Candidates are required to have a Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years, or Master’s degree plus 2 years, of relevant work experience in transportation planning, city/regional planning, civil engineering, public policy or management, or a related field.

The successful applicant will demonstrate the following skills:

• Deep understanding of transportation and land use planning concepts, including public transit, micro-mobility, transportation demand and parking management, and climate issues;
• Strong interpersonal and public speaking skills;
• Ability to foster and maintain collaborative relationships with local, state and regional officials, agency heads, civic groups, and the public;
• Strong ability to convene, coordinate, and facilitate meetings and events with a diverse group of stakeholders;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including ability to manage projects and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Strong writing skills in both memo and report formats;
• Strong research and presentation skills, including research design, data collection and analysis, and presentation of results in an effective and accessible format;
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a project team, as well as to work independently and meet project deadlines;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and the Adobe Suite including Illustrator;
• Familiarity with GIS, including creation of shapefiles and spatial analysis.

Compensation and Benefits
Starting salary ranges from $55,000 – $70,000 depending on experience. MAPC employees receive an excellent state employee benefits package, including group health insurance.

How to Apply

Apply online through the MAPC website (www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mapc). Please attach your cover letter, resume and references. The position is open until filled. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region.

MAPC is an EOE/AA employer
MAPC takes pride in the diversity of its workforce and encourages all qualified persons to apply.