Position summary

This position will be filled as a limited duration position and is expected to be a two-year appointment to conclude in June 2025.

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today and tomorrow. We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits program. Learn more about the benefits Metro offers.

Do you enjoy working on multi-modal projects with a focus on developing a preferred alternative? Do you have experience developing NEPA documents? Do you want to help us create a more equitable, inclusive and climate friendly region?

Metro serves more than 1.5 million people in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The agency's boundary encompasses Portland, Oregon and 23 other cities. As a transportation planner on the Investment Areas team, you will help communities plan for transportation improvements that support their visions for downtowns, main streets and corridors. Current projects include evaluating high-capacity transit and other transportation improvements that cross city and county lines, such as 82nd Avenue and Tualatin Valley Highway corridors.

Working closely with other team members and staff from partner agencies you will help support project decision-making by performing analysis, developing planning documents and preparing presentation materials. You will play an important role in explaining choices and trade-offs for future transportation investments to community members, elected officials and others. With the rest of the Investment Areas team, you will move our region toward more equitable outcomes, more inclusive decision-making and progress toward curbing climate change. This position is supervised by the Investment Areas Manager in the Planning, Development and Research Department.

As a Limited Duration Investment Areas Associate Transportation Planner you will:

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  Support environmental analysis and assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):
  • Aid the team in anticipating and avoiding future NEPA issues during early project definition and design.
  • Define methodologies, complete research and produce report sections for portions of the analysis
  • Establish nomenclature and structure of project elements for the analysis in collaboration with consultants and internal staff
  • Establish and maintain style guide for the reports
  • Review methodologies, preliminary analyses and report drafts, ensure consistent, defensible analysis across disciplines and clear, effective writing and graphics in the reports
  • Produce and oversee production of maps and diagrams
  • Coordinate with Metro and TriMet staff, consultants and Federal Transit Administration staff to address and respond to public and agency comments
• Perform technical analysis and produce materials to guide creation and evaluation of project alternatives and development of staff recommendations.
• Support public engagement and decision-making
• Maintain effective and productive working relationships with partners including city, county and state officials, community leaders and community-based organizations as well as other Metro departments, divisions and staff.
• Represent Metro at technical committee meetings and other topic-specific meetings

Attributes for success:

• Ability to work independently as part of a small team of planners and engineers
• Knowledge of NEPA
• Knowledge of planning processes
• Strong communication skills: making technical information accessible and easy to understand in a variety of mediums including graphics, maps, narrative and presentations.
• Systems thinker with critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Remain current on public policy, planning strategies, and federal and state regulations and requirements related to transit planning.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with key stakeholder groups and develop equitable consensus around shared outcomes.
• Ability to work effectively with other agencies and jurisdiction staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Diversity and inclusion: At Metro, we’re committed to hiring a workforce representative of the communities we serve, recognizing that a diverse workforce strengthens our organization. We invest in employees by supporting equitable and inclusive hiring practices, employee policies and training programs.

TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in planning; AND
• Two years of transportation planning/modeling and computer experience; OR
• Any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Working Environment:
Our team works in a hybrid environment and encourages at least two days per week in the office. Due to the nature of our work, some in person meetings will be mandatory.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply:

If I was terminated for cause during any of my employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, I understand I may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Master’s degree
• Experience with producing information graphics to display complex analysis.
• NEPA experience
• Transit planning experience
• Experience presenting to Councils, boards, commissions, and other advocacy groups and communities.
• Experience engaging with communities of color and others from diverse backgrounds either through personal experiences and/or project work.
• Possessing racial and social equity competencies exhibiting a working knowledge of and demonstrated experience in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in planning.

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION

Based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements, Metro’s internal equity review process, and the candidates’ qualifications, the appointment will typically be made between $73132.80 to $80683.20. The full-salary range for this position is $73132.80 to $98092.80 annually.

This position is not eligible for overtime, and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as an Associate Transportation Planner. (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application
• A cover letter that includes responses to the following:
  • Describe an example of your ability to achieve agreement among diverse stakeholders on a planning effort.
  • Share a time when you communicated a complicated piece of information, how did you make the information easy to understand? What tools did you use? If possible, include an example presentation of technical information you made easier to understand. (Maximum of 2 pages of sample materials)

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Reference check

Additional Information

Questions?
Recruiter: Carrie Gundermann
Email: carrie.gundermann@oregonmetro.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Equal employment opportunity: All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made or any other status protected by law. Assistance will be gladly provided upon request for any applicant with sensory or non-sensory disabilities.

Online applications: Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, call 503-797-1570.

Accommodation: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this process. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-797-1570.

Pay equity at Metro: Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Public Employees Retirement System (PERS): Unless otherwise stated in a collective bargaining agreement, Metro pays both the employee and employer portion of PERS contributions for eligible employees.

Veterans' preference: Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Metro provides generous health care benefits that vary depending on the plan the employee chooses, bargaining unit affiliation and employment status. Metro participates in the State of Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).