The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for a Planner to serve as the lead in the transportation department on planning for freight and goods movement, along with economic development related to these topics. The position will manage regional and local planning efforts (i.e., Freight Cluster Plans) on these topics, manage the ARC Freight Advisory Task Force, work with public and private sector stakeholders, research changes in technology and policy, and assist in pursuing and managing relevant grants.

The Principal Planner will be a part of the Regional Planning team within the Transportation Department. This position may also provide assistance on planning for electric vehicles/alternative fuels, ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems)/TSMO (Transportation Systems Management and Operations), connected and autonomous vehicles, transportation technology, ConnectATL events, climate change and resiliency, CTPs (Comprehensive Transportation Plans), the MTP (Metropolitan Transportation Plan), regional and national economic competitiveness, and other related efforts.

The ideal candidate will be a professional with experience working with the public as well as the private sector, a strong strategic and innovative thinker, and who is organized and self-motivated. The position requires a team-oriented individual who has knowledge of traditional transportation planning practices but is also driven to work in an innovative and challenging subject area.

• Works with multiple projects and multiple team members in a hybrid work environment;.
• Manages regional plans focused on freight and goods movement, along with economic development related to these topics;
• Works to integrate planning for freight into other planning efforts, such as CTPs;
• Provides technical support and expertise to local jurisdictions throughout the region;
• Researches and analyzes public and private sector freight policies, funding opportunities, and deployment programs;
• Develops resources based on new federal, state, and local guidelines;.
• Integrates equity into freight planning to help mitigate the negative impacts of freight movement throughout the region;
• Works effectively with ARC planners across a variety of disciplines, staff and elected officials from local jurisdictions, GDOT and other public agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders;
• Develops project scopes and RFPs, manages project budgets, and processes invoices;
• Reviews work done by consultants and others for completeness, accuracy, and quality;
• Assists in planning related to EVs/alternative fueling, ITS-TSMO, transportation technology, climate change and resiliency, and other topic areas of long-range planning;
• Communicates effectively via written reports, maps/figures, presentations, and other means as appropriate;
• Presents information at ARC committee/board meetings, stakeholder meetings, conferences, and other meetings/events;
• Makes minor updates to the ARC website;
• Provides lead direction to assigned staff. assigning work and monitoring work completion and/or supervises contract and/or temporary staff based on position assignment;
• Performs other duties as assigned to support agency goals and objectives.

• Knowledge of urban and regional planning principles, and of federal transportation planning at the regional level, including federal regulations, policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research;
• Ability to gather data, analyze findings, and effectively communicate the analysis results;
• Knowledge of best practices, trends and emerging technologies in planning and transportation
• Ability to coordinate deadlines, prioritize work demands, and monitor project schedules, status, and compliance;
• Ability to oversee the implementation of and adherence to quality assurance and standards;
• Ability to author and prepare original reports, mapping products, technical documents and presentationsL
• Ability to work well with all ranges of a diverse group of stakeholders, including elected officials, senior staff, members of the private sector, and the public;
• Ability to work independently and work effectively in a team environment;
• Ability to think critically while managing multiple tasks at the same time;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.

• Master’s degree in urban or regional planning, civil engineering, public policy or administration, economics, architecture, landscape architecture or related field;
  
  Three years of professional planning experience.

  OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy or Administration, or related field;
• Five (5) years professional planning experience with an MPO, state DOT, local government, or other public agency;
• AICP certification;
• Experience with GIS, In-Design, and/or other analysis/visualization software.