Principal Planner (Transportation) presso City of Pasadena, CA

About the Department

The City of Pasadena is searching for an innovative Principal Planner (Transportation) manager with an extensive planning background to manage the Community Mobility  Section of the Multimodal Planning Division. The Community Mobility  Section is one of two sections that comprise the Multimodal Planning Division in the Department of Transportation. The Community Mobility  Section is responsible for ensuring compliance and policy implementation of the City’s adopted Mobility  Element, and transportation modal plans . The Community Planning Section also plays a vital role in administering the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and implementation of active transportation programs outlined in the City’s Capital Improvement Program. The Community Mobility Section currently has professional planners on staff, ranging from the associate engineers to the senior level planners, all reporting to the Principal Planner. This position reports directly to the Transportation Planning Manager.

The ideal candidate is an effective problem-solver who combines technical expertise with superb communication, organizational, and leadership skills. In addition, the ideal candidate has supervisory experience and is comfortable leading a team of professionals in a fast-paced work environment. Finally, the ideal candidate must also be a team player who can work collaboratively with the senior-level staff and division managers that lead the Mobility Engineering and Operations, Parking, Transit, and Administrative sections of the Department of Transportation.

Position Duties

Below is a list of major responsibilities which may be required of this position. For more detailed information, please review the Principal Planner job description.

• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing transportation planning functions of the department.  
• Participates in and oversee regional coordination activities; review of Federal, State, and local policies and programs related to traffic and transportation planning.
• Manages transportation planning studies; prepares and reviews a variety of narrative and data reports related to the implementation, administration, and operation of transportation programs. 
• Coordinates the development of the Capital Improvement Program and track quarterly project monitoring reports.
• Works effectively with other departments, particularly the Planning and Community Development Department and Public Works Department.
• Manages the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, coordinating with staff to provide multimodal safety enhancements for neighborhoods and residential corridors.
• Prepares requests for proposals and evaluate proposals.
• Implements a Safe System Approach to traffic safety with the goal reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries
• Prepares agenda reports and provide presentations to commissions, committees, and City Council. 
• Makes a variety of public presentations and direct the preparation of reports and correspondence.
• Manages short and long-range transportation planning, including oversight and update of the Mobility Element of the General Plan, Pedestrian Plan, Bicycle Transportation Action Plan, and Active Transportation Plan.
• Represents the department at City Council meetings, legislative committee hearings, and with other City, state, and federal bodies.
• May represent the City on local and statewide professional organizations and committees and in meetings with elected officials, the Transportation Advisory Commission, governmental agencies, member agencies, and funding agencies, including, but not limited to, the Federal Transportation Administration, the Southern California Association of Governments, Caltrans, and Metro.

COMPETENCIES:
The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Attention to Detail focuses on the details of the work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Decision Making chooses optimal courses of action promptly.
• Leadership guides and encourages others to accomplish a common goal.
• Oral Communication engages effectively in dialogue.
• Project Management ensures that projects are on time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives.
• Strategic Perspective evaluates immediate actions in the context of achieving long-range objectives. 
• Writing communicates effectively in writing.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, architecture, geography, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in the applicable field(s): municipal planning, urban design, cultural heritage, redevelopment, transportation, transit services, economic development or zoning, which included supervisory or administrative responsibilities.

Desired qualifications

• Master's degree in planning or a closely related field.
• 6 or more years of increasingly responsible experience in transportation planning, development review or community development.
• Experience working in the public sector.
• Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) highly desired.
• Willingness to work overtime during nights and weekends.

SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process will consist of any combination of training and experience evaluation, Subject Matter Expert (SME) review, and an oral panel interview, and a department-level interview.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
There is currently one vacancy in the Multimodal Planning Division of the Transportation Department, which may be filled as a result of this selection process. Other vacancies may be filled from the eligible list as a result of this process.

Other Qualifications

• Possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record may be required for some assignments.