Transportation Prg Planner II - PIPELINE
About MassDOT
An agency on the move, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) takes great pride in connecting the Commonwealth’s residents and communities. Powered by a growing data-analytics discipline – and working in conjunction with municipalities, public agencies and the private sector – we’re finding new ways to improve the Bay State’s transportation infrastructure.
MassDOT is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating transportation policies and projects for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to efficiently plan, design, construct, and maintain a safe statewide transportation system which effectively meets the transportation needs of the Commonwealth.
MassDOT’s divisions include: Highway, Aeronautics, Registry of Motor Vehicles, Rail & Transit, and Planning & Enterprise Services. There are approximately 3,600 employees across the organization.
MassDOT’s goal is to provide employees with greater flexibility in when and where they work while continuing to execute MassDOT’s Safety and Customer Service Mission. Furthermore, MassDOT will be doing our part to lead by example in reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing overall workplace commuting travel during peak hours through telework and schedule flexibility.
Position Summary:
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Office of Transportation Planning (OTP) is a shared service and meets the planning needs of MassDOT’s Divisions and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
OTP looks for the following abilities:
- Be flexible and open-minded: Transportation planning requires that all ideas, concepts, and perspectives are considered. A good planning process should not be pre-determined. The candidate should be open to diverse new ideas and processes, and be inherently flexible.
- Think critically and creatively: OTP needs team members who can draw connections between planning concepts, ideas, existing projects, and organizational strategies. Team members are expected to have strong problem-solving skills that include the use of research, quantitative analysis, reasoning, and judgment. Candidates should also be familiar with current transportation specific software and planning tools.
- Ensure good customer service: Each team member is expected to represent OTP internally and externally and good customer service is expected. As an Enterprise Service it is critical that the rest of MassDOT, as internal customers, can rely on OTP for on-time, on-budget, accurate, creative, and high-quality deliverables. Externally, our customers are the residents, businesses, and visitors to the Commonwealth.
- Work independently: The fast-paced environment of OTP often requires team members to independently execute tasks both with direct support as well as with more limited oversight. OTP fosters a work culture that allows each team member to work in their preferred style with the expectation that outcomes will be delivered on-time and be high-quality.
Capital Planning
The Capital Planning team leads the development of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) annual, multi-billion dollar Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The CIP is a short-term, financially constrained plan that allows MassDOT to execute its strategic priorities. Through data analysis and development of decision support tools, this groups works with the MassDOT Divisions to identify a portfolio of tangible capital programs and projects.
Data & Policy
The Data and Policy team works on a variety of policy and planning initiatives, and is responsible for ensuring consistency in data strategy and policy development across all MassDOT Planning projects. Specifically, the data and policy team supervises the use of datasets and metric development applications; development and maintenance of public-facing and internal transportation data products and tools; coordination of transportation policies, strategies, and projects at an enterprise level between MassDOT Planning, the modal Divisions, and the Secretary’s office; and for leading a catalog of projects to enhance transportation equity efforts across the agency.
Geospatial Technology
The Geospatial Technology team uses geographic information system (GIS) data to create, maintain and/or perform quality control checks on spatial databases, create or update maps, perform spatial analyses, process data requests, and provide assistance in managing short and long-term projects.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Activities
The MPO Activities team oversees planning work for and coordinates with Massachusetts’ 13 MPOs; leads development of the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan, which serves as a vision and strategic planning process for MassDOT; develops the annual State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which programs all the federal funds (highway and transit) received by the Commonwealth; and manages a number of federal programs, including the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), and Scenic Byways.
Multi-Modal Planning
The Multimodal Planning team develops and updates a variety of statewide transportation plans covering the movements and mobility needs of both people and goods. The group examines pedestrian, bicycle, rail, highway, and other transportation facilities, opportunities and challenges. The multimodal team performs, participates in, and manages several types of transportation planning studies, conducted either internally or by other entities such as consultant firms, regional planning agencies, and other Divisions of MassDOT. Often, these studies are part of the standard planning, design, and environmental processes required to advance a transportation project forward to implementation.
Public/Private Development (PPDU)
The Public/Private Development team encourages economic development in the Commonwealth while preserving and enhancing the state transportation system. To that end, PPDU facilitates the environmental review and permitting of the transportation-related elements of private development projects in need of access to the state transportation system. Throughout the process, PPDU works with the MassDOT Divisions for Highway and Rail and Transit, as well as, the MBTA to coordinate the environmental process with the development permit process in order to expedite the review of project proposals and issuance of associated permits.
Research
The Research team oversees MassDOT’s State Planning and Research Part II (SPRII) transportation research and technology transfer program. It organizes and conducts research in the areas of policy, management, safety, environment, planning, engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance in connection to surface transportation by contracting with Massachusetts state universities and other research service providers. The Research team also coordinates MassDOT’s participation in national and regional collaborative research activities. Through an ongoing partnership with the UMass Transportation Center (UMTC), the Research team coordinates SPR-II funded technical trainings to municipal Department of Public Works employees and to Highway Division personnel.
Sustainability
The Sustainability team works on integrating greenhouse gas mitigation into transportation planning processes; alternative fuel and zero emissions vehicle infrastructure planning; climate resiliency; and supporting the achievement of the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Act targets and other sustainability goals.
Transit Planning
The Transit Planning team performs the planning work needed by the MBTA and the Commonwealth’s regional transit authorities (RTA). The team performs, participates in, and manages these planning studies, conducted either internally or by other entities such as consultant firms.
Duties and Responsibilities of OTP Team Members
- Perform, manage, and participate in transportation planning studies through the preliminary, conceptual, and scoping phase in accordance with the MassDOT standards, manuals, policies, and procedures.
- Monitor the activities of program participants to ensure conformance with established standards and compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
- Evaluate program activities to determine progress and effectiveness and to make appropriate recommendations concerning program activities.
- Recommend the methods to be used and procedures to be followed for program monitoring and evaluation.
- Supervise the implementation and administration of plans and programs
- Review and recommend changes in operations relating to program objectives, manage consultant contracts, monitor performance, review work products, and process invoices.
- Draft memos, letters, reports, and other study-related documents and correspondence.
- Determine the methods and approaches to be used in studies and perform various research and data analyses.
- Respond to inquiries, maintain records, attend meetings, and other duties as needed.
- Work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Confer with agency staff to identify problems and needs.
- Perform in a variety of technical analysis, policy development, consultant management, capital planning and stakeholder communication roles.
Qualifications
This requisition will remain open until filled; however, first consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
All job applications must be submitted online through MassCareers to be considered.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or technical experience in urban planning, regional planning, land use planning or transportation planning, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in urban or regional planning or transportation, civil or environmental engineering may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning or transportation, civil or environmental engineering may be substituted for the required experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
Special Requirement:
Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required.
For Non-MassDOT Applicants: Applicants for this position must possess a Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, in urban or regional planning, transportation, civil or environmental engineering for this position.
For MassDOT Employees: Applicants for this position must possess a Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, in urban or regional planning, transportation, civil or environmental engineering for this position, or hold a position in the department in the next lower title than the position applied for, in the same or similar career ladder.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption.
- For questions regarding the job posting, please email Alaina Seitz at alaina.seitz@dot.state.ma.us.
- For general questions regarding MassDOT, call the Human Resources Service Center at 857-368-4722.
- For a disability-related reasonable accommodation or alternative application method, call ADA Coordinator, Heather Ulesoo 857-851-9447.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.