Senior Transportation Planner - Programming and Grants
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Full-time
On-site
San Jose, California, United States
$143,082.16 - $173,959.68 USD yearly
Transportation Planning
Job Description
- VTA is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented individual to join our small but mighty 2016 Measure B Sales Tax Program team. In this position, you will work with VTA, city and county staff to fund various transportation projects across the county. You will lead professional staff to design and administer grant programs, hone analytical skills, work with government agencies and navigate political interests.
Definition
Under direction, the Senior Transportation Planner supervises professional planners, support staff and consultants, carries out activities that provide direction for future transportation services and improvements, and identifies and secures transportation funds.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is the first supervisory level involving responsibility for a major functional area. Substantial judgment and initiative are essential for resolving problems and making recommendations with regard to various projects.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an interdisciplinary team member with strong presentation and technical skills who leads the implementation of funding strategies for multimodal efforts throughout the County. As the team’s technical lead, the candidate will supervise professional planners and coordinate with other professionals and support staff to apply for, manage, distribute, and report on local sales tax measure funds
About VTA
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County’s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.
VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.
As the county’s congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit oriented development.
VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.
As we continue to implement our VTA Forward Plan, we aim to strengthen and increase our workforce to take on future opportunities and challenges by elevating our people and our services.
For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForward
Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)
The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.
Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance. Essential Job Functions
Typical Tasks
- Supervises, develops, and evaluates professional, support staff, and consultants, assigns work and evaluates work products, may counsel and discipline staff;
- Manages major transportation planning projects, such as a specific transit plan, corridor study, or multi-modal project;
- Prepares and presents items to boards and committees;
- Serves as liaison with cities, other local/regional agencies, and community groups regarding transportation, land use, and related issues;
- Develops work plans, schedules, and budget estimates for studies and projects;
- Coordinates planning activities with various departments within VTA;
- Prepares and presents planning project information to the public and community groups;
- Prepares reports, correspondence, and other documents;
- Performs other duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Employment Standards
Training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in transportation planning, urban planning or related field and four (4) years progressively responsible professional experience, at least 2 years of which must be demonstrated project lead experience (a Masters Degree in transportation or urban planning or related discipline may be substituted for one year of the required experience).Supplemental Information
Knowledge of:
- Concepts, principles, techniques and legal aspects of transportation planning;
- Research and statistical methods;
- Governmental organizations and operations;
- Community interrelationships;
- Basic supervision methods and principles;
- Project management methods and techniques;
- Some positions may require knowledge of travel processes using regional network systems and sensitivity analysis;
- Some positions may require system measures of capacity, congestion, levels of service and traffic engineering techniques.
Ability to:- Analyze issues and numerical measures associated with transportation planning projects, including estimates derived from computer models, estimates of costs and benefits, and public input;
- Estimate and administer budgets for studies and schedule and manage planning projects;
- Perform analysis and make recommendations based on findings in studies, field observation, and public contacts;
- Write correspondence, Board memorandums, planning and technical reports, and fact sheets designed to be understood by all audiences, including the general public;
- Simultaneously manage multiple projects;
- Maintain project objective and integrity when conflicting interests may influence the project outcome;
- Resolve conflicts between contractors and VTA on the interpretation of contractor project responsibilities;
- Communicate effectively, both written and verbally;
- Establish and maintain effective relations with those contacted in the course of work.
Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.
To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as “continuous,” we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.
Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.
Communication & Contact Information
All updates regarding your application—including notices for testing and interviews—will be sent via email. Be sure to select email as your preferred method of communication and maintain a valid, up-to-date email address. Applicants are also responsible for keeping their phone numbers and mailing addresses current in their online profiles.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual updates. Please check your application status through your online account. For technical support, contact NEOGOV at (855) 524-5627, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.
Application Review & Processing
All current and prior relevant work experience—including experience with VTA—must be fully detailed in the Work Experience section of your application. Entries such as “see resume” are not acceptable. Incomplete or improperly completed applications may be rejected, even if you meet the minimum qualifications.
While you are welcome to upload a resume, it does not substitute for completing the online application in full. Be sure that your application accurately reflects the education and experience necessary for the position.
Applications are reviewed throughout the recruitment process to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications. Meeting these minimums or advancing through any stage does not guarantee further consideration. Any misrepresentation or falsification of qualifications, experience, education, or training may result in disqualification and/or exclusion from future employment opportunities with VTA.
This classification is represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment are governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement between VTA and the union.Tentative Examinations:
Oral Panel: Week of December 8-12, 2025
Conditions of Employment
Final candidates must successfully complete a Livescan background check, reference checks, verification of education or certifications, and a criminal history review before appointment.
For sensitive positions, VTA requires all safety-sensitive positions to have a 6-month DOT physical clearance. Obtained at the time of preboarding from a VTA-contracted Concentra Location.
Eligibility List
The established Eligible List from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur. Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment.
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations
VTA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment and examination process. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575 or email Personnel@vta.org at least five business days before the test.
Equal Employment Opportunity
VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national, origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.