Senior Transportation Planner (Planner 3)

This position is primarily remote, with the option to work in the office. Attendance at required in-person meetings and occasional travel to various work sites, businesses, and meeting locations is also expected.

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

In this role, you will work on a wide range of transportation projects, including multimodal planning, transportation and land-use coordination, policy and code updates, and strategies to improve safety, access for all, and mobility for people using different types of transportation.

As part of the Long Range Planning team, you will help turn community and executive priorities into clear policies, programs, and investments. You will collaborate with colleagues across County departments, partner agencies, and local communities to support transportation solutions that reflect real needs and advance the County’s long-term vision.

Current priorities include improving multimodal transportation planning, updating transportation regulations and impact fee programs, and advancing safer, more connected transportation options.

Check out some of our work here: Comprehensive Plan.

Why It's a Great Department: 

Planning and Public Works (PPW) stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Works at www.piercecountywa.gov/ppw.

How to be Successful in the Role: 

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of long-range planning principles, practices, and regulatory frameworks, including Washington’s Growth Management Act, comprehensive planning, and how land use and transportation influence each other. You should also understand how long-range policies are carried out through development regulations, capital facilities planning, transportation improvement programs, transportation safety work, and other planning and investment decisions.

Success in this role requires sound judgment, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to independently manage complex planning projects. You should be comfortable receiving broad direction, choosing an appropriate approach, prioritizing tasks, and producing clear and actionable recommendations. It is equally important to recognize when you need to seek guidance, elevate a decision, or adjust direction based on feedback and organizational priorities.

We value people who are proactive, adaptable, and collaborative. You should be able to work well with colleagues, partner agencies, elected officials, and community members; explain planning concepts in ways that different audiences can understand; and balance creative problem-solving with practical steps for implementation. The ideal candidate brings enthusiasm for improving transportation outcomes, along with the experience and discipline needed to move projects forward efficiently and effectively.

Your Future in this Role: 

You will help shape the future of transportation in one of Washington's fastest-growing and most diverse counties. As our communities grow and evolve, we are rethinking how transportation planning can better connect people to the places they live, work, and play. In this position, you will have opportunities to lead and contribute to significant transportation planning initiatives that will influence how Pierce County grows and invests in its transportation system.

Core Daily Responsibilities: 

Participate in and lead the preparation and presentation of reports and information and present to County Officials, departments, external entities, and the general public regarding a wide range of planning functions and other related areas.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

• Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

How to Apply:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: 

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.