Regional Transit Planner (Senior Transportation Planner)

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!

SDOT is looking for a collaborative, equity-minded Regional Transportation Planner (Senior Transportation Planner) to join our Transit Service & Strategy team. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on partnership—working closely with colleagues across SDOT, the City’s Sound Transit Program team, the Office of Planning and Community Design (OPCD), the Puget Sound Regional Council, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other regional transit agencies to shape transit policies, programs, and projects that will define Seattle’s mobility future. You’ll serve as a trusted subject matter expert on transit service integration at Link stations and other transit hubs, with the goal of creating a seamless travel experience for passengers between bus service and other travel modes as the regional transportation network expands. You’ll represent SDOT’s transit interests in major regional planning efforts, including Sound Transit’s West Seattle & Ballard Link Extension projects, King County Metro’s mobility projects and mid- to long-range planning efforts, Sound Transit’s ST3 system planning efforts, and the OPCD-led Comprehensive Plan and Regional Center Subarea Plans. 

You’ll also help ensure Seattle grows thoughtfully and sustainably by reviewing transit-related components of development documents such as Major Institution Master Plans, Transportation Management Plans, and Environmental Impact Statements. You’ll also lead coordination efforts to maintain and update the City’s transit network policy documents and track regional transit policies and legislation. If you’re excited to help build a more connected, accessible, and people-centered Seattle—and want to do it in a supportive, mission-driven workplace—we’d love to have you help shape what comes next.

• Provides subject-matter expertise for SDOT regarding transit service integration across SDOT divisions, City departments, and regional transit agencies. 
• Serves as a cross-divisional and cross-agency coordinator on analyzing and implementing technically complex, difficult, and sensitive interdisciplinary transit projects of strategic importance, such as the West Seattle & Ballard Link Extensions, King County Metro’s mobility projects, Sound Transit’s service plans, and the Office of Planning and Community Design-led Comprehensive Plan and Regional Center Subarea Plans.
• Acts as a transit service integration SME while reviewing legally required development documents submitted to the City, such as Major Institution Master Plan (MIMP) updates, Transportation Management Plans (TMP), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).
• Coordinates across SDOT divisions to staff regional policy committees with significant financial impacts to SDOT transit projects and programs, as well as supporting senior SDOT staff and/or City Councilmembers who serve on such committees. 
• Develops and coordinates reviews of transit policies within SDOT and the City, as well as at external transit agencies
• Reviews policies, plans, and regulations of regional transit agencies to understand how they impact City policies; shares this information upline through written summary memos, reports, and presentations. 
• Monitor and report out on planned changes to the regional bus service network – specifically those made by King County Metro and Sound Transit – and advocate for the interests of Seattle residents in these planning efforts.
• Responds to citizen inquiries about SDOT’s transit policies and programs by explaining policies and/or investigating issues.
• Develops memo briefings and delivers formal presentations to the public, SDOT leadership, regional transit agency peers, and elected officials.
• Represents the department on technical committees involving comprehensive transportation planning.
• Review the future Link station area plans and serve as a subject-matter expert to determine bus station design needs. 
• Analyzes the impacts of federal and state legislative proposals on transit in Seattle.
• Assist in creating and updating Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTPs), Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs), and other short- and long-range transportation documents that comply with federal, state, and local regulations
• Supports department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Geography, Political Science, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, or related field. 

Experience:

• Three (3) years of transportation planning or development 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:

• Experience reviewing and analyzing Environmental Impact Statements, Major Institution Master Plan documents, and Transportation Management Plans.
• Experience reviewing and commenting on transportation project plans in Blue Beam or similar software.
• Familiarity working with spatial information, data dashboards, and transit and demographic data
• Graduate degree in transportation planning, urban planning, public policy, or a related field. 
• Strong understanding of urban, transportation, and regional planning principles and research methods
• Strong communication skills, including messaging, ability to engage in culturally relevant community outreach approaches, and ability to work in diverse environments. 
• Ability to bring a sense of humor, creative thinking, and a collaborative approach to the team and your work. 
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Other Requirements:
Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Work is typically performed in a hybrid work environment, with a minimum of 3 days of work completed in a City office and 2 days completed remotely, in a regular 40-hour workweek.
• May need to attend occasional evening public meetings and/or perform site visits.

License:

• Current Washington State driver's license, or 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 responses
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.

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including a potential background check.
 
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 $60.55 - $70.40 hourly.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Ryan Jones at Ryan.Jones@Seattle.gov. 

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/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

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.