Transportation Planner (Associate/Assistant Transportation Planner)



Transportation Planner (Associate/Assistant Transportation Planner)

Salary

$59,217.60 - $111,779.20 Annually

Location

Riverside

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

21-74829-01

Department

TLMA Transportation

Division

Trans-Environmental Group

Opening Date

09/16/2021

Closing Date

10/3/2021 11:59 PM Pacific

ABOUT THE POSITION


The Transportation and Land Management Agency has an opportunity for Transportation Planner who will be assigned to the Transportation- Environmental group in Riverside. The position will  be filled at the Assistant Transportation Planner or the Associate Transportation Planner level. The person in this position will prepare environmental clearances and notifications under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for maintenance, emergency, and capital transportation projects, visit project sites to gather information to analyze data and formulate recommendations on various projects.

Additionally, the Transportation Planner will prepare requests for proposals (RFP's), manage consultant progress maintaining tracking of work products, and attend occasional public meetings.

The department seeks candidates with of knowledge the laws and regulations affecting environmental documentation and permit clearance, including NEPA, CEQA and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and those who are proficient in full use of Microsoft Office. Competitive candidates will have experience utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as ArcView.


The Assistant Transportation Planner is the trainee/entry level position in the Transportation Planner series. The Associate Transportation Planner position is the fully-qualified working level in the Transportation Planning series. Positions in the Assistant Transportation Planner class are natural progression under fills for the class of Associate Transportation Planner. Incumbents in these positions may promote to the Associate level after meeting the minimum qualifications and receiving a satisfactory performance evaluation. Positions at the Associate level may also be filled from an open recruitment where the candidate may be placed on any level in the series dependent on meeting the appropriate qualification standards. Promotion to the Senior Transportation Planner level is achieved through a competitive recruitment process.

The level and salary at which the position will be filled is at the Department's discretion and is based on candidate qualifications. 

Meet the Team!
The County of Riverside Transportation & Land Management Agency (TLMA) is the umbrella agency for six county departments. They are the Planning Department, Building & Safety Department, Transportation Department, Code Enforcement Department, Environmental Programs Department, and the Administrative Services Department

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Assistant Transportation Planner
 

PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

• Implements ordinances, policies and procedures to comply with legislative mandates such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; and may review development plans for engineering requirements and Ordinance 461.

• Uses GIS tools to create and analyze GIS maps to evaluate development applications and transportation facility corridor and project impacts.

• Prepares contracts and agreements between the Transportation Department and private consultants, and local and regional agencies.

• Assists in the preparation of comprehensive and technical transportation reports, and makes oral presentations on detailed transportation projects to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Riverside County Transportation Commission, governmental officials, the public and staff.

• Collects, coordinates, and develops methodologies for data applications and research in transportation planning; studies transportation facilities or movement patterns of people and goods to identify existing and future problems or deficiencies in the transportation system.

• Uses quantitative techniques to project future traffic volumes and levels of service for use in street improvement project design, air quality, or energy impact analysis.

• Performs computer simulated modeling to project demands for transportation facilities.

• Assists in the analysis of alternative transportation system improvement plans to determine cost estimates, funding sources, anticipated environmental documents required, feasibility and positive and negative impact of each alternative on the transportation system.

• Analyzes, arranges, interprets and maintains information, data and materials developed by sociologists, economists, environmentalists, engineering personnel, and land use planners to evaluate existing and proposed transportation systems.

• Researches and applies for grants and other funding from various sources, and coordinates the progress and support documentation to ensure monies are allocated to meet continued funding requirements.

• Participates in long range transportation corridor planning and preservation.


ENVIRONMENTAL

• Assists in preparation of Requests for Proposal/Scope of Work for capital transportation projects, reviews consultant proposals/scope of work, budget and schedule; participates in selection of same.

• Assists in management of consultant progress and work product; maintain consultant spreadsheets and environmental clearance database; reviews invoices for Division Manager/Principal Planner approval.

• Provides support and technical assistance to Associate/Senior Transportation Planners.

• Prepares and/or reviews CEQA and/or NEPA technical studies and documents.

• Participates in capital project delivery including attendance at Project Development Team meetings and occasional public meetings.

• Works cooperatively with members of Project Development Team including cities, oversight agencies such as Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, and affected private developers.

• Develops and uses technical knowledge of local, state and federal environmental laws and regulations during to support expeditious capital project delivery.

• Prepares CEQA clearance and notification for routine maintenance and emergency repair projects.

• Makes field trips to property sites and surrounding areas to gather information; analyzes collected case or project data and formulates recommendations.


Associate Transportation Planner

PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

• Participates in preparation of project work programs and development of standards and criteria for transportation programs and policies.

• May serve on technical committees for various transportation related studies conducted by other agencies.

• Assists in the implementation of ordinances, policies and procedures to comply with legislative mandates such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; and may review development plans for engineering requirements and Ordinance 461.

• Uses GIS tools to create and analyze GIS maps to evaluate development applications and transportation facility corridor and project impacts.

• Assists in the preparation and negotiation of contracts and agreements between the Transportation Department and private consultants, and local and regional agencies.

• Participates in preparation of comprehensive and technical transportation reports and oral presentations on detailed transportation projects to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Riverside County Transportation Commission, governmental officials, the public and staff.

• Assists in the collection, coordination, and development of methodologies for data applications and research in transportation planning; studies transportation facilities or movement patterns of people and goods to identify existing and future problems or deficiencies in the transportation system.

• Uses quantitative techniques to project future traffic volumes and levels of service for use in street improvement project design, air quality, or energy impact analysis.

• Performs computer simulated modeling to project demands for transportation facilities.

• Analyzes alternative transportation system improvement plans to determine cost estimates, funding sources, anticipated environmental documents required, feasibility and positive and negative impact of each alternative on the transportation system.

• Analyzes, arranges, interprets and maintains information, data and materials developed by sociologists, economists, environmentalists, engineering personnel, and land use planners to evaluate existing and proposed transportation systems.

• Researches and applies for grants and other funding from various sources, and coordinates the progress and support documentation to ensure monies are allocated to meet continued funding requirements.

• Participates in long range transportation corridor planning and preservation.

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Prepares Requests for Proposal/Scope of Work for capital transportation projects, reviews consultant proposals/scope of work, budget and schedule; participates in selection of same.

• Manages consultant progress and work product; provides technical guidance to personnel engaged in complex environmental review process; reviews invoices for Division Manager/Principal Planner approval.

• Provides support and technical assistance to Project Managers of capital projects.

• Prepares and/or reviews CEQA and/or NEPA technical studies and documents.

• Participates in capital project delivery including attendance at Project Development Team meetings and occasional public meetings.

• Works cooperatively with members of Project Development Team including cities, oversight agencies such as Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, and affected private developers.

• Uses technical knowledge of local, state and federal environmental laws and regulations to support expeditious capital project delivery.

• Prepares CEQA clearance and notification for routine maintenance and emergency repair projects.

• Makes field trips to property sites and surrounding areas to gather information; analyzes collected case or project data and formulates recommendations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Transportation Planner
$28.47 - $42.16 Hourly
$4,935.06- $7,308.17 Monthly
$59,220.72 - $87,698.00 Annually

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in geography, planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.

Associate Transportation Planner
$36.29 - $53.74 Hourly
$6,289.64 - $9,315.07 Monthly
$75,475.71 - $111,780.86 Annually

OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.

Experience:

Two years of responsible professional planning or engineering experience which includes one year in transportation planning work. (A Master's degree in planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field may substitute for the one year of non-specialized required experience.)

OR

OPTION II

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.

Experience:

Environmental: Two years of responsible professional environmental planning experience. (A Master's degree in planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.)

Both Levels

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required. 

Knowledge of: 
Planning/Development Review: Social, economic, and environmental conditions which affect transportation planning; research, analytical, and statistical methods applicable to transportation planning; advanced methods, equipment, including computers, and techniques used in the preparation of planning reports; modern theories, current trends, general principles and practices of urban and transportation planning.

Environmental: Local, state and federal environmental laws, regulations and standard practices; CEQA, NEPA, Caltrans and Federal Highway Administration regulations and guidance; "waters", streambed and water quality permitting; basics of project management, budgeting and scheduling; Microsoft Office programs; basic knowledge of ArcView helpful.

Ability to: Apply statistical methods and computer modeling techniques to transportation planning projects; research, compile, analyze and interpret data; communicate effectively orally and in writing in a variety of situations; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work; analyze complex planning problems, technical studies and documents, develop and evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend effective courses of action.


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION


Veterans’ Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse’s) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse’s letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans’ preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader).

What’s Next?

This recruitment is open to all candidates. 

Applicants who are currently County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Transportation & Land Management Agency may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of the applications received. 

Degree Verification: 

Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies throughout Riverside County.


Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted. 

Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

For specific questions regarding this position, contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org.

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE. 

GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com. A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT:  County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

  • Tier I (Classic Member – Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
  • Tier II (Classic Member – Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
  • Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

  1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
  2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
  3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

 

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law.  The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change.  If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01
If offered the position, would you be able to obtain a valid California Driver License?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I already have a valid California Driver License
02
I acknowledge that: 1) I have read and understand the information contained on the job posting for the positions to which I am applying. 2) My answers to the job application questions must reflect the education and/or work experience in the application.
  • Yes
  • No
03
Are you a current regular, part time, temporary, per diem, or seasonal employee with Riverside County?
  • Yes
  • No
04
Do you possess a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in planning, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, or a closely related field such as, environmental studies, biology, urban/city/regional planning, geology, geography, landscape architecture, archeology, or other discipline that is associated with land use development?
  • Yes
  • No
05
Select the response that describes your qualifying experience and education.
  • I possess a Bachelors degree in one of the fields listed in the previous question, AND at least two (2) years of professional planning experience which includes (1) year of transportation planning work.
  • I possess a Master's degree in planning, public administration, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related field AND one (1) year of professional transportation planning experience.
  • Neither
06
How would you rate your competency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Outlook?
  • No experience
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
07
How many years of responsible professional planning experience do you possess?
  • None
  • Less than twelve months.
  • One year or more, but less than two years.
  • Two years or more, but less than three years
  • Three years or more, but less than four years.
  • Four years or more, but less than five years.
  • Five years or more.
08
How many years of experience do you possess working in environmental compliance with laws and regulations, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
  • None
  • Less than twelve months
  • One year or more, but less than two years.
  • Two years or more, but less than three years.
  • Three years or more, but less than four years.
  • Four years or more, but less than five years.
  • Five years or more.
09
Do you have experience preparing or reviewing NEPA or CEQA environmental documents ?
  • No
  • Yes

Required Question

Agency
County of Riverside
Address
County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569
4080 Lemon St., 7th floor
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Phone
(951) 955-3500