Principal Planner - Transportation

Reporting to the Supervising Planner-Transportation within the Office of Planning, the Principal Planner-Transportation will be a technically proficient, detail-oriented, cutting-edge, creative and thoughtful, big thinker who demonstrates deep understanding of best practices for the planning and implementation of transportation infrastructure and policy across all travel modes to address the safe, equitable, and efficient movement of people and goods. The Principal Planner conducts and manages technical planning work of moderate complexity as a part of Middlesex County’s transportation planning program and does other related duties as required.  

The Middlesex County Office of Planning is a busy, fast-paced office engaged in a county-wide strategic plan, Destination 2040, that guides the County’s policies, plans, programs, and investment decisions in five broad focus areas: Land Use, Development and Housing; Sustainability and Community Resilience; Healthy, Safe and Inclusive Communities; Economic Development and Workforce Competitiveness; and Transportation and Mobility. Comprising twenty-five urban, suburban, small-town, and rural municipalities, Middlesex County is New Jersey's second most populous county and is strategically located midway between New York and Philadelphia.

Responsibilities:

• Develops transportation and mobility focused plans related to the County’s strategic plan, Destination 2040, and updates and implementation plans related to the Vision Zero Action Plan.
• May prepare environmental documents for transportation projects to comply with State and federal environmental reviews and regulations.
• May prepare reports that assess the social, economic and land use consequences of transportation projects, and may provide recommendations to mitigate negative impacts and reduce crashes.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate and informative transportation and other planning reports and studies containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. 
• Reviews, interprets and analyzes complex statistical and transportation systems data.
• Conducts studies and surveys and provides guidance and instruction to technical and graphics production staff.
• Oversees, prepares and presents technical briefings, reports, studies surveys, maps, charts graphs, correspondence and reports.
• Reviews and analyzes technical reports prepared by consultants.
• Represents the Office of Planning and coordinates transportation planning and programming activities with other state and local planning efforts.
• Participates in the preparation of contracts for transportation planning activities; assists in the preparation of fiscal documentation, and monitors expenditures related to transportation planning projects.
• Establishes and maintains liaison and cooperative working relationships with other agencies and interested parties involving planning matters and issues.
• Participates in meetings with government officials and other interested parties.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Provides guidance and instruction to planning and other support staff.
• Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the theories, practices and principles of transportation systems planning.
• Knowledge of the varied transportation problems associated with the growth of urban centers, the movement of goods and people, and other attendant conditions.
• Knowledge of transportation trends including transit, complete streets, Vision Zero, green streets, and bicycle and pedestrian planning, micromobility, microtransit, EV charging infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles.
• Knowledge of the technical problems associated with comprehensive transportation planning activities.
• Knowledge of the various conditions affecting transportation systems.
• Knowledge of the techniques used in data collection and the conduct of surveys, and in other planning and research methods.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to provide guidance and instruction to planning and support staff.
• Ability to identify and analyze current transportation conditions, trends and needs.
• Ability to conduct research and survey activities.
• Ability to assess the social, economic and land use consequences of transportation projects.
• Ability to prepare maps, charts and graphs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved with the work of the unit.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret laws and regulations.
• Ability to keep current with trends and significant developments in the field of transportation systems planning.
• Ability to provide professional advice and guidance on planning matters.
• Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate and informative reports and studies containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to assign and instruct technical and other employees and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to multi-task and oversee competing priorities and multiple projects at once.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Experience with commonly used technology such as ArcGIS, Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite.

Qualifications:

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in planning or a related field. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Seven years of professional experience in a planning discipline, with at least 3 years of experience in transportation planning.
• Or Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in professional planning subjects and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience in transportation planning.
• Or Possession of a master's degree in planning from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience in transportation planning.
• Or Possession of a current and valid license as a Professional Planner in New Jersey issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Planners; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience in transportation planning.
• Or Possession of a current and valid credential as a Certified Planner issued by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience in transportation planning.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a post-interview, employer-paid physical examination, drug screening, and background check, in accordance with applicable New Jersey and federal law.
• This position requires New Jersey residency in accordance with R.S. 52:14-7 (New Jersey First Act).

License(s):

• NJ Professional Planning License is preferred.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred.
• The appointee must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.