Category: 
Job
Organization: 
The University of Maryland Center for Smart Growth
Close date: 
Wednesday, November 20, 2024


Location: Wheaton, MD

Senior Planning Associate

Starting Salary: $70,000.00

Best Consideration Date: 11/20/2024

Description
The University of Maryland Center for Smart Growth is seeking a candidate to work at the Montgomery County Planning Department to develop and maintain bicycle and pedestrian datasets in GIS, support countywide transportation planning efforts and conduct technical evaluations of transportation capital improvement projects and private development projects for conformance to county code, guidelines, master plans and best practices.

Potential assignments and tasks may include:

  • Obtaining and analyzing data from a range of sources (e.g., US Census, USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, MWCOG’s Regional Travel Survey, National Household Travel Survey, etc.) to prepare analyses of transportation conditions, countywide and in sub-areas. These analyses require strong attention to detail and an ability to analyze and distill complex technical information using GIS.
  • Completing discrete research assignments for transportation efforts, such as access management, complete streets, walkability, access to transit, and road safety/Vision Zero.
  • Conducting research, data collection, field work and technical and spatial analysis.
  • Completing technical transportation analyses in support of countywide and area master plan efforts and in review of transportation capital projects and development applications.
  • Assisting in the preparation of technical reports and in presenting transportation-related issues to the Planning Board.
  • Creating accurate, easily comprehensible, thoroughly documented charts, maps, and graphics to enhance written products and presentations as appropriate.

The Senior Planning Associate position will be located within the Transportation Planning team in the Countywide Planning and Policy Division. The division serves as the countywide planning and policy arm of the Department, addressing issues and plans that affect more than one area of the county, including transportation, zoning, housing, historic and natural resources, and water quality. The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for transportation planning, a strong work ethic, and a clear vision for how transportation planning can improve the quality of life in Montgomery County.

Key functions of the transportation planning team include:

  • Developing countywide transportation plans and policies.
  • Monitoring implementation of Thrive Montgomery 2050, the Growth and Infrastructure Policy, the Pedestrian Master Plan, and the Bicycle Master Plan.
  • Reviewing capital projects and development projects.
  • Maintaining the county’s travel demand model and evaluating master plan scenarios.
  • Preparing the transportation element of the county’s quadrennial Growth and Infrastructure Policy.

Minimum Qualifications:

Interested candidates should demonstrate the following:

  • Master’s degree in urban planning or similar field,
    • OR a Bachelor’s degree in urban studies, policy studies, sociology, or a similar field combined with two years of full time employment in a professional research environment.
  • Proficiency with GIS, data analysis and visualization tools (Streetmix, Sketchup, etc.).
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Teams).
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Strong organizational skills, ability to work on multiple assignments independently and meet deadlines.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Enthusiasm for quantitative research and data analysis.

How to Apply:

Apply online at this link: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/123921