planner

POSITION OPENING
Transportation Planning Services Coordinator (8/7/05)

The North Georgia Regional Development Center with headquarters located in Dalton (from I-75 30 miles south of Chattanooga and 80 miles north of Atlanta) is seeking a qualified Transportation Planning Services Coordinator to assist in carrying out local/regional transportation planning and implementation programs (MPO/RPO) including PL grant administration; UPWP, TIP, and LRTP update activities; GDOT STIP coordination; and transit program, freight, bike/pedestrian planning, etc. (see Job Opening at www.ngrdc.org). Knowledge required for the Transportation Planning Services Coordinator position is equivalent to a degree (Masters preferred) in planning, engineering, or a closely related field. Experience related to transportation planning is required. A working knowledge of spreadsheet, data base, word processing, GIS (ArcView), and travel demand modeling (Viper TP+ preferred) software is highly desirable. Starting salary is dependent on applicant qualifications and is based on a position class/merit pay system (Step 1 - Step 11). Benefits include insurance/retirement/compensated absences package valued at over 30% if all options are exercised. To apply, contact Administrative Officer at 706-272-2300 (voice); 706-272-2253 (fax); or adm@ngrdc.org (e-mail) for employment application. Applications will be accepted until position is filled (resume not accepted in lieu of application/postmarks not accepted). An Equal Opportunity Employer.

JOB TITLE:    TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SERVICES COORDINATOR (25-2-0307)

JOB SUMMARY:

This position involves highly responsible and technical work in local/regional transportation planning and implementation programs administration [Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Regional Planning Organization (RPO)] and in providing specialized assistance to the MPO committees and to local governments and their departments and agencies. The position is under the administrative supervision of the Director of Community and Economic Development Services and the Executive Director. The work is of such a nature that a high degree of ingenuity, initiative, judgement, and attention to details are required; consultation with superiors is appropriate in policies and practices guidance; periodic briefings of the Director of Community and Economic Development and Executive Director are necessary regarding needs, initiatives, schedules, and progress; discretion is warranted in discussing or handling sensitive or confidential information; and consistent attention to policies, procedures, and schedules affecting the professional integrity and credibility of NGRDC is essential.

MAJOR DUTIES:

    The employee in this position:

    -    assists the Director of Community and Economic Development Services in developing, administering and carrying out the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and in carrying out other transportation and/or comprehensive planning projects as assigned;

    -    carries out program responsibilities and works with a team of professional and technical personnel as assigned to by the Director of Community and Economic Development Services;

    -    monitors contract requirements and activities and the UPWP to assure timely administration and the timely delivery of projects, plans, reports, and documents;

    -    prepares periodic (as specified in contracts) work activity or progress reports in support of requests for payment and assists in preparing requests for payment;

    -    applies specialized knowledge and administrative skills in carrying out the assigned major NGRDC work program components and coordinates program activities of a priority, highly sensitive, and/or highly technical and complex nature;

    -    serves as a technical advisor and provides functional instruction, or coordination assistance to personnel carrying out associated work program assignments;

    -    conducts and/or participates in surveys, planning projects, technical assistance programs and/or special services programs involving compilation of materials and data, interpreting data and information; writing of reports, preparing grant applications, administering plans, and providing technical advisory assistance or other special functions;

    -    prepares special studies, reports, and information necessary to the planning/ implementation assistance program;

    -    provides direct planning assistance, technical assistance, or special services to the MPO policy, technical coordination, and citizen advisory committees and to local jurisdictions or their departmental agencies to include identification of goals, objectives, standards, criteria, and policies related to program initiatives which provide direction for growth, development, protection, control, and/or improvement;

    -    confers with and advises public officials and others on technical aspects of the planning, technical assistance, or special service program and supplies information to and cooperates with interested public and private agencies in the conduct of programs;

    -    participates in the development of the staff work programs;

    -    serves as technical advisor to administrative superiors, interagency project teams, steering committees on program initiatives or program problems and/or similar groups;

    -    prepares presentations and reports on work assignments;

    -    attends approved training and conference functions related to assigned job duties;

    -    assists the Executive Director in developing, preparing, editing, publishing, and distributing public information initiatives including, but not limited to, brochures, annual reports, newsletters, news releases, and public presentations; and

    -    performs other work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY REQUIRED:

    -    Extensive knowledge of principles and practices of planning, engineering, or other specialization related to the program area.

    -    Extensive knowledge of planning and governmental administration, research methods, and sources of information.

    -    Exceptional social skills in contacts with local officials, other agencies, and the public.

    -    Thorough knowledge of current literature and contemporary developments related to the program area.

    -    Expert capabilities in comprehending and applying state and federal laws, program guidelines, and/or contract specifications in carrying out assigned tasks.

    -    Capability to apply effective skills in organizing and systematically executing a work program plan and to direct an initiative or project and associated professional and technical support personnel.

    -    Capability to apply principles/standards and practices to preparing plans, special studies, reports, and statistical information or to providing planning assistance, technical assistance, or special services in areas of responsibility to include identification of goals, objectives, standards, criteria, and policies related to program initiatives which provide direction for growth, development, protection, control and/or improvement.

    -    Ability to systematically and accurately compile statistical and technical information and prepare reports or plans for effective oral or written presentations.

    -    Capability to apply professional discipline and prioritization skills to maintaining detailed schedules and to carrying out a variety of complex assignments.

    -    Ability to maintain a working understanding of Center work, policies, standards, and procedures necessary to enable efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out job duties.

    -    Capability to participate in meetings and training related to work responsibilities as scheduled and assigned.

    -    Emotional capability necessary to maintain positive and productive interpersonal relationships with supervisor, employees, other agencies and organizations, service providers, officials, and the general public.

    -    Ability to concentrate on a sustained basis over a period of time to enable completion of a process or product component.

    -    Ability to effectively perform duties while working with individuals from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and maintain confidentiality of information.

    -    Capability to operate a compatible personal computer for word processing (Word Perfect/Word), spreadsheet activities (Lotus 123/Excel), GIS (ArcView), and Power Point.

    -    Capability in or adaptability (trainable) to operating transportation modeling software;

    -    Ability to satisfy work related travel requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The level of knowledge required to perform the duties of this position is equivalent to what is normally associated with a degree in planning, public administration, or a field related to the specialist program area of the position. The level of initiative, independent judgement, and decision-making to perform the tasks of this position would require five to seven years of related, progressively responsible work experience in public sector planning, administration, program coordination, and/or other highly specialized technical function. The amount of experience required is dependent on the level of knowledge attained, (the lesser required with knowledge which is normally associated with a Masters degree and the greater with a Bachelors degree) and previous experience with an MPO is preferred. Professional certification is preferred and may be a requirement of continued growth in the position.