Transportation Planner, Associate

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.

We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together!

Position Overview:

SDOT has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Transportation Planner to join our Policy & Planning division. 
   
The Associate Transportation Planner position will perform professional-level transportation planning and policy-related tasks as a member of SDOT’s Transportation Planning Section within the Policy & Planning Division and support a variety of transportation planning projects. These projects may be citywide in scale or focused on a specific transportation corridor, neighborhood, or subarea. Representative projects include station access plans for new light rail stations, subarea and neighborhood plans to support implementation of the recently adopted One Seattle Plan, and policy updates that help achieve our 20-year transportation vision from the Seattle Transportation Plan. The ideal candidate will have urban planning and transportation planning skills, have an understanding of policy development, and can work on a variety of projects simultaneously. The selected candidate will develop and support community engagement strategies and coordinate with other City and agency staff on projects. The position supports department goals of promoting equity, inclusion and social justice through our projects and policies and on the team.

• Develop and support transportation planning studies to address multimodal transportation problems and opportunities, recommend projects, policies and solutions, write and edit reports, and present project findings for citywide, subarea and neighborhood plans and studies.

• Assist colleagues and the Transportation Planning team by providing transportation planning, policy, research and technical guidance to advance SDOT initiatives and goals.
• Develop and implement public and agency outreach plans, including producing graphic presentation materials, technical reports, agendas and briefing materials, deliver presentations to a variety of audiences, and track feedback.
• Maintain effective working relations with transportation peers, agency staff, community groups, consultants, and organizations to effectively obtain and provide information, coordinate work, respond to inquiries and resolve problems.
• Apply and maintain a working knowledge of traffic engineering principles, project management, and policy analysis.
• Support analysis of multimodal transportation needs through a Complete Streets approach, including emerging mobility technologies, and identify necessary system improvements to achieve Vision Zero and our departmental goals. 
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, stay organized, communicate project barriers and needs, and conscientiously resolve problems and perform assignments with minimal supervision.
• Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice; climate actions to accelerate reduction of transportation section emissions; safer streets; and stewardship of public assets and the right-of-way.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree in transportation planning, urban planning, civil engineering, or a related field. 

Experience: Two years of transportation planning experience. 

OR: An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties.

Though not requirements, strong candidates will have some of the following experience or are able to describe comparable experience:

• Graduate degree in transportation planning, urban planning, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Proven knowledge of urban planning and design principles, techniques and methods, and graphic skills to support the development of urban planning and design concepts.
• Demonstrated skills in Adobe Creative Suite (including Adobe InDesign), GIS, and Tableau or comparable applications.
• Excellent analytical, writing, graphic and oral communication skills and the ability to handle sensitive issues with diplomacy and poise.
• Experience working on and supporting neighborhood, corridor, and subarea planning and navigating land use requirements.
• Experience with community outreach and engagement and facilitating meetings with various constituencies.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver effective public presentations including creating high-quality materials for diverse audiences, community groups, elected officials and professional colleagues.
• Demonstrated capability to work under pressure, successfully manage multiple assignments, and monitor and maintain the progress of schedules to meet milestones.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural workplace with a diverse set of stakeholders and agency partners.

Other Requirements:

Work has historically been performed in an office environment. At the time of this posting, SDOT office staff work part-time in the office and may work part-time remotely. Workplace expectations, guidance, and requirements around hybrid work schedules continue to evolve. This position requires periodic travel throughout the City to investigate conditions and streets within a study area and conduct community engagement. This position requires participation in meetings and events, usually as part of community engagement activities, outside of normal working hours, including early morning, evening, and weekends. 
   
 Licenses: Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Hiring Process
 Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.
2. Supplemental questionnaire response.
3. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
4. Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.
5. Writing Sample. Please include a planning-related writing sample where you were the sole author. Examples include policy memos, planning studies, or other related professional excerpts.

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including professional work and education verifications.

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The City’s full salary range for this position is $54.01 - 62.90 hourly.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Summer Al Mashhadani [email protected] 

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.

The City is a Drug Free Workplace.

Employer

City of Seattle

Address

Seattle Municipal Tower
 700 5th Avenue, Suite 5500
 Seattle, Washington, 98104

Website

http://www.seattle.gov/jobs