Senior Transportation Planner

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $78,315 - $100,185 Annually

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

Non-Represented Employment Opportunity

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, please visit norta.com/jobs

This bulletin is posted to establish or add to a qualified list of candidates

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) gets people moving around New Orleans. Our transit services bring hard-working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools and fun seekers to entertainment, shopping areas and restaurants. We provide mobility to residents of the city, as well as its many visitors. NORTA’s system includes five streetcar lines, 34 bus routes, two ferry routes and paratransit services. Our passengers take more than 19 million rides every year. NORTA has entered an exciting period of transformation and modernization as a fully public agency well underway implementing its Strategic Mobility Plan including a recently completed network redesign in late 2022; over $55 million awarded to build passenger facilities, and acceptance into Capital Investment Grant program for its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

REPORTS TO
Director of Planning & Development

TITLES OF POSTIONS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THIS JOB
None currently. May be required to supervise staff in the future.

JOB SUMMARY
This position will take a leading role in transit planning activities related to the preparation of project plans for service and capital projects, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), transit corridors, and other strategic initiatives to improve the quality and effectiveness of transit in Greater New Orleans. This position works with a high degree of independence and is expected to carry out necessary activities with limited direction. This position is responsible for managing and coordinating projects with multiple stakeholders including internal agency staff, community partners, and local, state, and federal government agencies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as Project Manager for assigned projects and studies, overseeing the work effort and the management of staff, consultants and contractors.
• Develop and manage the agency’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program to advance corridors into design phase.
• Support implementation of key initiatives of the RTA’s Strategic Mobility Plan related to BRT and transit priority corridors and support development of plan updates
• Support development and implementation of Capital Improvement Program and Transit Asset Management plan.
• Evaluates the costs, benefits, and risks associated with alternative funding plans, programs, and projects
• Monitors, reviews, and contributes to the maintenance and updating of transit elements of the relevant local and regional short and long-range plans.
• Supports implementation of fare collection modernization initiative.
• Conducts research and analysis into quality and performance of transit service and develops insights and recommendations to improve speed, reliability and comfort to better serve existing riders and grow ridership.
• Prepares documents, reports and presentations on status, findings and/or recommendations to staff, RTA Board of Commissioners, outside agencies, and/or public.
• Leads preparation of Federal, State and other grants for submission in coordination with department staff
• Assists with departmental efforts to develop materials to communicate to the public on transit plans, project and initiatives.
• Coordinates with local and regional governmental and non-governmental agencies and partners on transit related projects.
• Executes cooperative agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and certification requirements with other entities
• In coordination with Procurement, develops Request for Proposals (RFPs) and other relevant solicitations and participates in consultant/contractor selection
• Assists in development, management and maintenance of department document and information management, data libraries, and standard operating procedures.
• Provides staff support and coordinates on various projects with other departments and divisions.
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of RTA are carried out

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or a combination of experience and training to the equivalent.
• A Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, engineering or urban planning, is preferred, and may be considered in lieu of up to two (2) years of experience
• A combination of education and related experience may be considered in lieu of education requirements.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in transit, transportation, community development, urban planning, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years managing projects or initiatives with budgets and schedules to completion including supervising of staff and/or consultants.
• Grant and technical writing.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS/DEMANDS

• A valid Louisiana Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Must provide proof of being fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine before start date.
• Must submit to criminal background check, the results of which must meet hiring criteria for the role.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong verbal and written communication especially working with peoples from vulnerable populations, report writing, delivering presentations, and preparation of content for websites, social media and handouts.
• Strong project and task management skills
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Familiarity with New Orleans and RTA

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Some periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer in a normal office environment. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Must be able to work in the field.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions upon request

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT
NORTA is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on job-related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.

This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority. This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.