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Senior Planner

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Senior Planner

Salary

$86,632.00 - $140,608.00 Annually

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2025-00345

Division

Metro Transit

Department

Arterial BRT

Opening Date

10/27/2025

Closing Date

11/10/2025 11:59 PM Central

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.More information about us on our website. (https://metrocouncil.org/About-Us/The-Council-Who-We-Are.aspx)

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transitis one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and prior to COVID provided more than 80 million rides a year through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities.

TheArterialBus Rapid Transit (BRT) Projectsdepartment is responsible for planning, design, and implementation of high-profile, multi-departmental arterial BRT corridor projects, like the highly successful METRO A Line, B, Lince C, Line, and D Line. These projects bring fast, frequent, and high-quality transit service and customer facilities to the region's busiest bus routes in the core of the region.

The current program of projects in active development includes the 13-mileMETRO E Line (https://www.metrotransit.org/e-line-project) (Hennepin/France), opening in December, the 13-mileMETRO F Line (https://www.metrotransit.org/network-next) (Central), the 11.5-mileMETRO G Line (https://www.metrotransit.org/network-next) (Rice/Robert), and the 16.6-mileMETRO H Line (https://www.metrotransit.org/network-next) (Como/Maryland). Metro Transit is also undertaking a planning process to update the Arterial BRT Plan and identify the J Line, K Line, and L Line, anticipated to open between 2030 and 2035.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

As a Senior Planner in the Arterial BRT Projects department, you will join a passionate and skilled team of transit professionals committed to growing regional prosperity and addressing inequity through building out the Twin Cities region's bus rapid transit network. Bringing enthusiasm for transit, strong technical skills, and advanced organizational abilities, you'll lead or support the planning and development of corridor plans for BRT projects: identifying station locations, corridor treatments, and service.

NOTE: This posting is filling two Senior Plannerpositions. These positions are eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

This position will establish a six-month eligible list for current and future positions.

What you would do in this job

You'd be an individual contributor responsible for leading or supporting the development of plans and public processes for arterial BRT projects. Bringing enthusiasm for transit, strong technical skills in corridor capital planning and transit system planning, and advanced organizational abilities, you'll be responsible for planning stations and bus priority treatments on arterial BRT projects and incorporating those lines with the broader transit network.

This posting is filling two (2) positions at the Senior Planner level. Senior Planners will be responsible for leading all aspects of the planning process for individual arterial BRT projects in development and will lead systemwide plans and studies as assigned.

Corridor Plans: Lead or support activities related to developing corridor plans for BRT projects, including working with other units of government, consultants, internal staff, policy makers, and members of the public, toward technically sound and stakeholder-supported corridor plans for Council approval.

+ Conduct planning technical analysis and studies and integrate transit operations and BRT standards and practices to develop plans for BRT stations, corridor treatments, and service.

+ Engage external and internal staff stakeholders in plan development, decision making, and deliverable review through leadership of the project technical advisory committee (TAC) and internal working group (IWG).

+ Develop scopes of work, manage procurement processes, and oversee consultant contracts for traffic studies, concept plans, and other technical inputs to corridor planning processes.

+ Apply sound judgment to elevate interagency issues needing resolution above the staff level to department leadership.

Systemwide Plans and Studies: Beyond the regular development of corridor plans for new BRT lines, support special program-wide planning projects, and represent arterial BRT in plans led by others to integrate BRT planning effectively with broader organizational and regional plans.

+ Support updates to regional arterial BRT expansion plans on a recurring basis, engaging regional stakeholders in a data-driven process to identify investment priorities.

+ Develop and keep current systemwide documentation of program-wide arterial BRT guidelines, distilling past practice into useable guidance for program expansion.

+ Participate in internal planning processes to represent BRT plans and ensure network integration; examples include service plans; facilities plan; and fleet plans; micro-transit and shared mobility plans.

+ Represent BRT needs and Metro Transit consensus positions in external projects and studies led by others, including street reconstruction projects, corridor studies, and land use development plans.

+ Support leadership in integrating and coordinating arterial BRT plans with regional plans, including the Transportation Policy Plan.

+ Contribute to the maintenance and coordination of regional GIS dataset inputs reflecting arterial BRT plans.

Public outreach and communications:In support of planning projects, coordinate or support the work of Community Outreach Coordinators assigned to support BRT projects to effectively build project awareness, consistently seek input and feedback on corridor plans across the program, and advance community-supported BRT project plans.

+ Work with Outreach Coordinator to identify needs and set expectations for project outreach and/or communication to inform Outreach Coordinator work plan for each project.

+ Review public engagement plans and oversee execution of engagement for planning phases of BRT projects.

+ Review external-facing communications related to project planning phase for consistent key messages and accurate project information.

+ Integrate results of engagement processes into BRT plans and report on engagement processes and outcomes to Council members and other audiences.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Bachelor's degree AND four (4) years of professional work experience in planning or a related field.

OR

Master's degree AND two (2) years of related experience in planning.

OR

High school diploma or GED AND eight (8) years of professional work experience in planning.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

+ Degree in City, Urban, or Environmental Planning.

+ Experience as a regular transit user.

+ Experience in planning transit/transportation projects.

+ Experience and skill in presentations and public speaking with ability to tailor material for different audiences.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

+ Demonstrated skills in critical thinking and problem solving.

+ Experience and skill in presentations and public speaking with ability to tailor material for different audiences.

+ Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet programs.

+ Proficiency in GIS mapping and data management using ESRI products.

+ Knowledge of principles and practices of transit operations and transitway capital project planning.

+ Knowledge of or aptitude to learn the geography and transit system of the Twin Cities.

+ Knowledge of federal, state, and local transit capital funding sources.

+ Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

+ Ability to communicate and interact with other members of a multi-disciplinary team.

+ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders.

+ Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the policy guidelines of the Council.

+ Experience working with diverse communities and skill in cultural competency.

What you can expect from us:

+ We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

+ We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.

+ We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

Additional information

Union/Grade : Non-Represented/Grade H

FLSA Status : Exempt

Safety Sensitive : No

What your work environment would be:

You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites. This position may require work in outdoor weather conditions. May also work around moderate noise (i.e., computer printers, light traffic, work discussions).

What steps the recruitment process involves:

+ We review your minimum qualifications.

+ We rate your education and experience.

+ We conduct a structured panel interview.

+ We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email [email protected] .

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

+ Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund

+ Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan

+ Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%

+ Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

+ Well@Work clinic

+ bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year

+ parking at many job locations

+ fitness centers at many job locations

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important thatyour application shows all relevant education and experienceyou possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume" otherwise your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.]

+ Yes

+ No

02

How did youfirsthear about this job opening?

+ CareerForce Center

+ Community Event/Organization

+ Employee Referral

+ Facebook

+ Glassdoor

+ Indeed

+ Job Fair

+ LinkedIn

+ Metro Transit Bus Advertisement

+ Twitter

+ Website: governmentjobs.com

+ Website: metrocouncil.org

+ Website: metrotransit.org

+ Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com

+ Other

03

If you selected 'Other', please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected 'Employee Referral' please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option that indicates your completed education.

+ High School or GED

+ Bachelor's degree

+ Master's degree

+ None of the above

05

Select years of work experience

+ 7 years or more

+ 6 years

+ 5 years

+ 4 years

+ 3 years

+ 2 years

+ 1 year

+ None of the above

06

Describe your experience leading planning processes for transit and/or multimodal transportation capital investment projects, using specific examples. If you do not have experience in this area, type "N/A."

07

Describe your experience leading transit and/or multimodal planning studies, evaluations, alternatives analyses, or other prioritization efforts. If you do not have experience in this area, type "N/A."

08

Describe your experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders representing distinct priorities and perspectives. If you do not have experience in this area, type "N/A."

09

Describe your experience presenting and explaining complex planning issues to diverse audiences. If you do not have experience in this area, type "N/A."

10

Describe your experience using ESRI GIS or other geospatial analysis tools to conduct analyses and present information.

11

Describe your knowledge of and experience using the Twin Cities regional transit system.

12

Please describe your experience working and communicating with a diverse customer base or public.

Required Question

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

https://metrocouncil.org

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