Salary: $78,900.00 – $106,152.00 Annually
Location: Spokane County – Spokane, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Job Number: 22DOT-ER-61198
Closing: 10/17/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Learn more about this position and apply today at WSDOT’s Government Jobs page.

Job Description:

About WSDOT:

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world’s longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world’s widest tunneling project. 

The Opportunity:

WSDOT has an exciting opportunity for an innovative transportation planner who has a passion and sound understanding of transportation’s role in planning and developing thriving, sustainable, and equitable communities. As the Principal Planner, you will support the Eastern Region Planning office by serving as a consulting expert and leader. Having strong analytical and communication skills, this position will work across disciplines to develop and implement a program of collaborative and coordinated community engagement and environmental justice strategies throughout the entire project development process. The team is charged with leading implementation of a new program directed by the Legislature; designing inclusive community engagement strategies for capital delivery, including a mega-project; and contributing subject matter expertise to statewide policy and process development as part of agency-wide teams. The position and staff promote a total system approach, connecting local and state transportation services for integration of land use and multimodal transportation (public transportation, active transportation, freight, and private vehicles). To thrive in this role, qualified individuals will need to be self-starters, facilitate innovation, embrace diverse and inclusive processes, be willing to explore opportunities to collaborate and leverage transportation investments towards community development, and have a strong commitment to advancing the policy goals of WSDOT.

What to Expect:

You’ll apply and grow your knowledge and expertise at an agency where executive leaders emphasize workforce development, resilience, diversity, and inclusion.   You’ll join a talented and committed multidisciplinary community working to navigate change and implement new programs.

As a member of a region planning team, among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Principal Planner will:

  • Design and direct extensive, inclusive, collaborative, and transparent community engagement processes for WSDOT project delivery for multimodal transportation systems, typically with high pollical attention. 
  • Establish and sustain professional relationships with various WSDOT functional areas, tribal governments, state partnering agencies, local agencies, key stakeholders, respective neighborhoods, and other potentially affected parties.
  • Regularly provide presentations and guidance to community partners and local agency partners regarding respective planning processes (studies).
  • Oversee staff responsible for tribal consultation as well as building and expanding tribal partnerships and engagement.
  • Serve as subject matter expert for community engagement components of regional planning studies in coordination with region communications.
  • Lead planning and development of a program to lease available lands for community purposes to remedy past impacts to historically marginalized populations in accordance with Senate Bill 5853.
  • Design and implement a work program including scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Provide consulting expertise on grant application submittals and consultant procurement and oversee staff implementation.
  • Supervise business unit staff.
  • Lead consultant delivery.

Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

  • Ability to lead teams to generate and implement workable and useful solutions to difficult problems and identify appropriate courses of action in response to situations.
  • Experience effectively communicating with others both written and verbally.
  • Knowledge of transportation planning principles, related federal, state, and WSDOT policies, standards, and guidelines.
  • Ability to travel to and from community meetings and other meetings across the region.

In addition to the above, candidates are also required to have one of the following:

  • An Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in transportation urban and regional or land use planning, sustainable communities, community development, environmental, landscape architecture, public or business administration, planning economics, engineering or a related field AND four (4) years of planning and urban development experience (A Master’s degree in the above fields will substitute for one year of the required experience.); 

OR

  • One (1) year as a Transportation Planner 4, Transportation Engineer 4, or equivalent classification in other agencies.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have: 

  • Specific experience guiding, coordinating, and facilitating extensive, inclusive, collaborative, and transparent public engagement and placemaking on a project comparable to the North Spokane Corridor project.
  • Background in environmental justice, community engagement, multi-modal planning and placemaking.

Important Notes:

  • By issuance of proclamation, the Governor of Washington State mandates that all employees who work for executive cabinet agencies (which includes the Department of Transportation) must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Compliance with this mandate is a condition of employment with WSDOT. Exemption may be granted for religious or medical purposes; however, accommodations will be subject to approval based on the essential functions required of the position.  
  • WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT:

  • Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
  • Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees earn a minimum 14 paid vacation days per year!
  • Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.  
  • Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information. 

 Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. 
In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:  

  • An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
  • An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
  • Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment. 

Please click the “APPLY” button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov 

Contact Us:

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Rachel Giese at gieser@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 22DOT-ER-61198 in the subject line.