STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Transportation Planner 2

Environmental Documents Unit

Recruitment #230525-8876FE-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is now accepting applications for an exciting Transportation Planner 2 opportunity within the in the Environmental Documents Unit, part of the Office of Environmental Planning, Bureau of Policy & Planning. 

WE CAN OFFER YOU:
  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage  
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings 
  • Paid time off- including 13 holidays per calendar year 
  • Professional growth and development opportunities  
  • Culture that encourages work-life balance  
  • An opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: Forbes State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
The Role: You will work in the Environmental Documents Unit which is dedicated to ensuring conformance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) for transportation projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This is an opportunity to be part of a unit that is responsible for environmental reviews which involve an interdisciplinary and interagency process. You will be able to utilize your knowledge and experience in NEPA process including determining proper class of action, documenting impacts of proposed actions (individually and cumulatively), documenting assessment of potential adverse effects, alternatives analysis and proposed mitigation strategies. In this role you’ll be able to showcase your experience applying regulations and NEPA principles, including but not limited to logical termini, independent utility, and connected actions. You will also be responsible for compliance with Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, along with the full suite of federal laws under the NEPA umbrella, and ensure meaningful public engagement and involvement as required to fulfill NEPA and CEPA. You will coordinate all of the environmental documents required by State and federal laws which involve day to day interaction with designers, consultants, as well as the State and Federal regulatory and funding agencies.  

Discover the Opportunity to: 
  • Conduct environmental review and analysis for design projects. 
  • Coordinate with on-call consulting firms. 
  • Collaborate with other units and Bureaus. 
  • Review and comment on regulatory changes regarding NEPA and CEPA. 
  • Provide training to DOT employees and consultants. 
  • Comment on proposed legislation regarding its impact on the DOT. 
  • Report to a Transportation Supervising Planner or employee of a higher level. 
  • Showcase your written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Coordinate with FTA, FHWA, FRA and Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (CT OPM).  
  • Lead and participate in meetings with elected officials, stakeholders, and the public. 
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Monday-Friday
  • Full-time (40 hours/week)
  • 1st Shift 
  • Newington, CT 
  • P-4 Bargaining Unit 
  • This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.
  • Join an award winning agency! CT DOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE)!

WHO WE ARE:
As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, accessible, and efficient multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving the State’s resources. DOT is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee! 
 

Selection Plan

TO APPLY:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting. 
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our "Applicant Tips on How to Apply" page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY:
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
CONTACT US:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact faith.macdonald@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Airport Authority this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or for performing the most complex tasks in transportation planning studies, programs and related activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

WORKING LEAD LEVEL: As assigned by a supervisor distributes, prioritizes, oversees and reviews office unit work; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit office policies and standards; prepares correspondence; performs related duties as required.
ADVANCED LEVEL: Performs complex tasks and assignments in developing, coordinating and reviewing transportation planning programs; recommends, coordinates or participates in transportation demonstration projects; participates in preparation and negotiation of agreements and contracts; oversees and participates in corridor studies; prepares and reviews reports, studies and surveys in compliance with department standards and needs and state and federal laws and regulations; coordinates activities or projects with local, regional, state and federal agencies, consultants and stakeholders as required; reviews consultants’ work; investigates and responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding transportation plans, programs and/or projects; may make presentations at legislative or public hearings; performs related duties as required.

Conducts field work and planning studies relative to all transportation modes for the movement of people and goods; conducts and directs surveys related to environmental studies, land use, and transportation needs; develops, coordinates and evaluates transportation programs; collects, analyzes and updates data related to impacts of transportation facilities, projects and programs and makes recommendations based on this analysis; performs trend, economic and environmental analyses of transportation related data; prepares statistical and written reports and environmental impact statements; reviews studies, surveys and technical documents for conformance with department standards, needs and state and federal laws and regulations; provides planning assistance and coordinates activities and projects with local, regional, state, and federal agencies, private consultants and stakeholders; investigates and responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding transportation plans, programs and/or projects; reviews proposed legislation and distributes information; may perform site analysis work; performs related duties as required. Field work in all weather conditions will be required and travel primarily within the State will be necessary. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of multi-modal transportation planning theory, practices and methodologies; knowledge of environmental considerations involved in transportation planning; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to develop and use computer software including planning models and other programs related to planning process; analytical ability; ability to forecast trends based upon empirical data; ability to comprehend and interpret laws and regulations; some lead ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of professional experience in transportation civil engineering or transportation, urban, regional or environmental planning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must include individual responsibility for the coordination of complex planning projects in a relevant planning area.
Note: For State Employees this is interpreted at the level of Transportation Planner 1 or Transportation Engineer 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in civil engineering, transportation, urban, regional or environmental planning may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience guiding projects through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) process.  
  • Experience with and applying Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 to projects.
  • Experience identifying Environmental Justice Communities as well as assessment of impacts and mitigation. 
  • Experience with public outreach and fulfilling outreach and engagement requirements under NEPA and CEPA.
  • Experience interpreting laws, regulations, and guidance documents for their impact on projects and agency operations. 
  • Experience with and application of federal and state laws, regulation and guidance associated with NEPA and CEPA to projects.  
  • Experience providing presentations and training to various audiences as well as to staff.
  • Experience overseeing and managing consultants. 
  • Experience using Microsoft Office 365, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) or related software and interpreting other published documents and media such as aerial photography.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.