Hybrid Service Development - Planning Specialist I/II/Senior bei San Joaquin Regional Transit District, CA

About the Department

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay. We recognize that great talent comes from a variety of backgrounds. If you bring strong foundational skills and a willingness to learn, we’re ready to support you. Industry-specific knowledge can be taught—we’re looking for curious, capable individuals who are excited to grow with us. If this role sparks your interest, we encourage you to apply!

                                                                                                      

Service Development - Planning Specialist I is the first-level class in the service development analyst class series. Under close supervision, learns to perform analytical duties in service development and transit planning.  As the incumbent gains experience, work assignments become more diversified and difficult; require the application of more detailed knowledge of regulatory, policy and operational parameters; and are performed with increasing independence.

Service Development - Planning Specialist II is the journey-level class in the service development analyst class series. Under general supervision, independently performs the full range of essential duties described for the class in service development and transit planning and analyses requiring application of strong technical knowledge and exercise of sound independent judgment and initiative to develop more efficient operations and enhance customer and stakeholder satisfaction. Work is performed with limited supervision and direction and results are reviewed for quality and effectiveness of research, analysis, and recommendations.

Service Development - Planning Senior Specialist is the advanced journey-level class in the service development analyst class series. Under minimal supervision, independently functions at the advanced journey level performing the highest-level expertise to complex and politically sensitive service development and transit planning studies. Projects and assignments require a high degree of knowledge and ability in identifying and solving problems, interpreting and analyzing applicable law, regulations, and policy and maintaining effective contacts and relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and the public. Assignments are given in terms of broad objectives and evaluated on the basis of overall results.  Incumbent may provide lead work guidance and direction or project management oversight to a small number of other professional or technical staff, but do not have full supervisory responsibility.                                                                                           

Successful candidates may be hired at either the Specialist I, Specialist II, or Senior Specialist level depending on experience/qualifications.

Position Duties

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. 

1. Performs or assists in performing routine to moderately difficult research studies and prepares reports and recommendations on a wide variety of transit issues, including bus routes, schedule times, route transfer points, bus stop locations, bus shelter and bench locations, route modifications, route timetables, and schedule enhancements.
2. Designs and develops bus schedules, route folders, bus stop signs, verbal bus announcements, onboard bus information signs, and destination signs; develop route maps; and times potential routes for review with Transportation department staff.
3. Conducts field studies and investigations to evaluate ridership, traffic movement, and other issues applicable to the evaluation of routes, schedules, and route coverage issues; assists in or performs performance analyses, including on-time performance, ridership, and other operational metrics; prepares a variety of written reports, commentaries, and correspondence applicable to assigned studies and analyses.
4. Performs data collection, review, and analysis by conducting route service demographic ridership and schedule adherence studies, modifying services levels after reviewing ride check data, and maintaining historical scheduling adherence data. Monitor System-wide ridership by analyzing peak periods, determining if buses can handle an overload or discontinue if a route is underused, and investigating complaints of buses being tardy or overloaded.  
5. Supports the Director in preparing a response to Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) comments gathered by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
6. Performs data validation for annual National Transit Database (NTD) reporting and auditing.
7. Reports ridership information on a quarterly and annual basis for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
8. At the direction of the Director, prepares and coordinates all necessary information for service implementations, and communicate it to the Operations, Maintenance, and Facilities departments to support effective planning and execution.
9. Collects, maintains, updates, and analyzes demographic, ridership, traffic movement, route timing, operations, and other data required for planning, scheduling and system performance assessment functions.
10. Develops, collects and tabulates surveys for agency-wide decision making, public hearings, etc.
11. Monitors, validates, and analyzes ridership. For NTD reporting, maintain department databases, such as the Automatic Passenger Counter database and the ride check database.
12. Works with the agency’s CAD/AVL system to support service planning activities, including service changes and implementations; develop expertise in the system to assist with related analysis, coordination, and communication.
13. Prepares maps, graphs, charts, and other visual aids to illustrate the results of analyses and studies; prepares multi-media presentations for use in making civic, educational, and regional planning presentations on transit issues.
14. Conducts difficult to complex studies to identify service and operational deficiencies and evaluate service coverage issues; assesses route and service additions and modifications to address identified needs and presents recommendations to management; assists or participates in the development of transit planning policies and procedures.
15. Answers questions and provides information to a wide variety of stakeholders in person, by telephone, and in writing; provides information to other transit agencies and governmental oversight groups regarding service linkages and connections.
16. Assists in or conducts public outreach and public hearings and assists in or plays a key role in required processes to identify and plan for responses to unmet transit needs; assists in or plays a key role in the drafting of updates to RTD's Long- and Short-Range Transit Plans, the Transportation Improvement Programs, Title VI Program and other related plans and programs.
17. Assists the Director preparing Title VI Program updates, including gathering ridership, demographic data, agency information, etc.
18. Represents RTD in public hearings and meetings in a variety of public forums.
19. Prepares a variety of reports, correspondence and records.
20. Assists with the preparation of the Departmental Budget.
21. Presents information, proposals, and/or recommendations clearly, logically, and persuasively, including at public meetings.
22. Represents RTD at meetings and with local partners.
23. Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

1. Ability to learn and apply theory, principles, practices, procedures, and information sources of transportation planning.
2. Ability to learn and apply methods and procedures used in the development and analysis of planning information.
3. Ability to learn and apply Economic, environmental and/or social concepts applicable to the transportation planning process.
4. Local, state, and federal law and regulations governing the provision of public transit services.
5. Community trends and market analysis techniques.
6. Statistical analyses techniques and formula relevant to the planning process.
7. Microsoft Excel advanced level
8. Methods and techniques of developing, coordinating, and implementing public involvement and outreach processes on complex and/or politically sensitive transit issues.
9. Basic principles and procedures of record keeping.
10. Customer service principles and practices.
11. Research methods and analysis techniques.
12. Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
13. Principles and practices of sound business communication.
14. Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
15. English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
16. Policies and procedures of the assigned department.
17. Ability to learn and apply Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and circulars relevant to transit planning and operations.

1. Perform difficult and complex technical research and analysis of planning issues or problems, evaluate alternatives, and recommend or adopt effective courses of action.
2. Understand, interpret, explain, and apply local, regional, state and federal law, regulations, policies, procedures and standards, and planning principles and practices to specialized and diverse planning processes.
3. Ability to learn and understand planning principles and practices to design routes and schedules.
4. Present ideas and requirements clearly and persuasively, orally and in writing, to diverse, internal and external technical and non-technical audiences.
5. Read and understand budgets, contracts, grant applications, board resolutions, etc. and assist in the preparation of board reports, board resolutions, including fiscal impacts, Title VI analyses, environmental analyses, maps, charts, visual aids, etc.
6. Instruct others in work procedures and practices. 
7. Define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound, independent conclusions, and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules, and policies to remedy or improve service quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
8. Interpret RTD personnel policies and procedures and applicable local, state, and federal legislation.
9. Operate a computer using word processing and other business software.
10. Organize and maintain office and specialized confidential files and records.
11. Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
12. Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
13. Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, technical documents, reports, studies, and other written materials.
14. Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
15. Establish and maintain effective customer-focused working relationships with all levels of RTD management, employees, employee organizations and their representatives, other governmental officials, community groups, and the public.
16. Strong problem-solving skills.
    
    Education, Training and Experience:
    A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is:
    
    Service Development - Planning Specialist I:
    Graduation from an accredited two-year or four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, transportation planning, or a closely related field; and planning experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One (1) additional year of the required experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education. 
    
    Service Development - Planning Specialist II:
    Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, transportation planning, or a closely related field; and three to five years of progressively responsible urban or transportation planning experience, at least two of which were at the level of Planning Specialist I; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One (1) additional year of the required experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education. 
    
    Service Development - Planning Senior Specialist:
    Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, transportation planning, or a closely related field; and five to seven years of progressively responsible urban or transportation planning experience, at least two of which were at the level of Planning Specialist II; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One (1) additional year of the required experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education. 
    
    Proof of required education beyond high school, such as college transcripts, diplomas, and/or certificates may be required at time of employment. 

Other Qualifications

The District offers a competitive employee benefit program that includes:

INSURANCE:  RTD provides comprehensive health and dental insurance package for all full-time employees and their 

dependents.  RTD also provides $20,000 life insurance for all full-time employees.         

SICK LEAVE: Twelve (12) days per year for all full-time employees.

VACATION: Two (2) weeks to six (6) weeks depending on length of service for full-time employees.

RETIREMENT: RTD participates in a 401(a) retirement plan in which RTD provides a generous match.

The provisions of this bulletin are subject to change without notice and do not constitute an express or implied contract.