Planner I (TDM & Community Engagement)

Alta Planning + Design is seeking a Planner I for their Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Practice in Atlanta, GA. This entry-level role involves engaging diverse audiences in sustainable transportation projects, conducting quantitative analysis, and supporting community outreach, data analysis, and TDM program development. Candidates will work closely with senior planners on various transportation projects, contributing to social justice and environmental resilience.
DescriptionAlta Planning + Design seeks a Planner I to join our Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Practice in our Atlanta, GA office. This production-level position is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about engaging a wide array of audiences in sustainable transportation planning projects and contributing quantitative analysis and planning skills to transportation demand management programs and plans. If you are looking to join an innovative organization and work on projects that connect people to places while advancing social justice, safety, and environmental resilience, apply with Alta today!

About Alta

Alta Planning + Design is a sustainable transportation company dedicated to creating active, healthy communities through planning, landscape architecture, engineering, and education/encouragement programs. Founded in 1996, Alta pioneered the field of active transportation, and today, our work empowers people to live active, healthy lives and gets them where they need to go. We are a global leader in mobility innovation, committed to social justice, safety, and environmental resilience.

TDM at Alta

TDM describes the use of strategies to inform and encourage employees and residents to make transportation choices that maximize the efficiency of our transportation system leading to improved mobility, reduced congestion, and lower vehicle emissions. Alta’s TDM practice is one of the largest in North America and as a full service TDM practice encompasses three groups: TDM Planning, TDM Programs, and TDM Marketing. Our TDM planners lead TDM plans ranging in scale from site-specific to regional plans, develop TDM policies, and provide planning, data analysis, and evaluation services to the TDM programs and marketing projects Alta leads, working closely with the TDM Programs and Marketing groups.

Day to DayThe TDM Planner I in our Atlanta office will work on the following types of projects:
• Approximately 50% of the time: Supporting planning and implementation of community and stakeholder engagement activities, including preparation of public outreach materials, coordinating and facilitating public outreach activities, including in-person and virtual meetings and events and digital engagement, and evaluating and summarizing engagement activities and outcomes.
• Approximately 40% of the time: Supporting three Atlanta transportation management associations (TMAs) and TDM programs in other parts of the country with data analysis and planning tasks.
• This typically includes working closely with a senior planner and TDM program managers on survey development and analysis for program development and evaluation purposes, GIS mapping, and development of TDM recommendations. May also include site visits and fieldwork.
• TMA support usually includes a variety of related transportation planning work. In the past, planners have worked on first/last mile projects, shuttle assistance, shared-use mobility pilot programs, and research on various TDM and mobility topics.
• Approximately 10% of the time: Supporting TDM plans or related transportation and mobility plans, projects, and research tasks.
The planner will perform the following activities under the guidance of senior planners, the TDM Planning Group Director, and project managers:
• Assist with developing tools and surveys to analyze the effectiveness of TDM programs
• Analyze data using Excel, Qualtrics, and other analysis tools
• Develop maps and geospatial analyses using ArcGIS Pro
• Conduct best practices research in the field of transportation planning and transportation demand management
• Assist with collecting input from stakeholder groups for the purpose of aiding the development of transportation plans and recommendations
• Collect and analyze data to develop recommendations that result in the decreased use of single occupancy vehicles
• Review and understand policy, legislation, and relevant land use requirements as they pertain to TDM and assist clients with associated compliance
• Assist with writing planning reports and studies that summarize research and recommendations
• Develop and deliver presentations
• Manage project tasks and sub-tasks
• Interact with clients and develop and maintain client relationships
• Assist with development of proposals

QualificationsDesired Talents:
This role will be best suited for somebody who:
• Genuinely loves working with people
• Knows how to reach a diverse group of people
• Enjoys crunching numbers
• Likes working collaboratively with colleagues, clients, and partner firms
• Is flexible and able to accommodate potential last-minute requests
• Is self-motivated and likes to solve problems strategically
• Likes the variety of working on several different projects at a time and is able to prioritize
• Wants to positively affect the community, region, and environment
Required Skills:
• Strong communication skills, including verbal, written, and interpersonal
• Facilitation skills
• Data analysis and statistics skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to translate complex data and concepts into easy-to-understand language and visual representation
• Ability to deliver oral presentations in an engaging manner
• Ability to participate in public outreach activities and site visits
Required Knowledge and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or a related field and one or more years of experience in transportation planning or a related field
Desired Knowledge and Experience
• Knowledgeable (or highly curious) about behavior change, sustainability, transportation, TDM, city planning, community development, and economic development
• Experience developing and analyzing surveys and performing other quantitative data analysis.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro
• Experience working for an agency, consulting firm, or similar multi-client environment

What We OfferFlexible Schedule
Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In-office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values.

Compensation
The pay range for this job in Atlanta is $60,000-$72,000 annually. Placement within the range is based upon experience, skill-sets, and qualifications.

Benefits
Alta offers comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees:
• Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans
• Dental/Vision: PPO
• Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation
• 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%
• PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start
• Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability
• Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities
• The following statements pertain to US Candidates Only*