Lead Consultant, Transportation Planning

This Opportunity

WSP is currently hiring for a Lead Consultant, Transportation Planner in our El Paso, TX office

Provides high level technical planning assistance and for capturing, modeling, and analyzing work site information, geographical resources, and spatial and tabular data to inform and create plans for the safe movement of people and products by all modes of transport, to optimize logistics / scheduling / systems, and to account for the economic, social, and environmental impact of projects and initiatives.  Provides support and guidance for multi-site/phase planning projects, site and impact assessment, the preparation of general plans, specific/master plans, public involvement, and regulatory compliance for a variety of client projects relating to equitable transportation development and construction, transportation demand management, mobility planning, multimodal access, surface transportation, and funding.  Ensures that documentation and recommendations accurately describe the results of analyses and addresses impact, long-term risks, and future ready solutions by applying and integrating transportation, environmental, and regional planning.  Provides task and project leadership, ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards.

Your Impact

• Provide guidance with data collection efforts for identifying and compiling observational, spatial, operations, and environmental data from multiple matrices for projects, research, and surveys.  
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS data, and other visualization tools to determine exact locations of project areas, associated physical/urban/population/economic/political sensitivities, and to uncover primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts.
• Prepare and complete general plans, specific/master plans, community plans, zoning codes, comprehensive plans, permitting policies and/or development standards for assigned projects, with a particular emphasis on transportation and multimodal accommodation. 
• Ensure regulatory requirement compliance pertaining to the data integrity, documentation, procedures, training, monitoring systems, reporting, and record compliance and retention.
• Perform professional transportation planning work and conduct investigations, inspections, studies, and surveys to gain further information on a particular problem or issue, verify site characteristics, and/or to plan for future needs affecting equitable development, construction, transportation demand management, mobility planning, and multimodal access. 
• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, infographics, cross-sections, and 3D illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses.
• Prepare applications and represent clients in the approval process with local and regional jurisdictions.
• Prepare, coordinate, and facilitate public involvement and consensus-building meetings in support of client project work, answering public questions on behalf of the client, and assisting with long-range planning efforts on medium- to large-sized projects.
• Prepare drafts of technical memos, meeting minutes, transmittals, presentations, and other written materials summarizing research with findings and conclusions.
• Read, interpret, compose, and review Planning Reports, Categorical Exclusions, EA’s, EIRs, and other technical documents.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, approval or permitting strategy, impact assessments, and regulatory compliance, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
• Provide high level oversite for desk-based research and site work, including measurements, data interpretation, demographics, patterns and trends, and computer modeling.
• Provide analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of facts and data obtained during field and site investigations, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level challenges and development activities to minimize impacts to the community, population, local economy, and environment.
• Coordinate with clients, resource/regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and technical staff in a confident and professional manner.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
• Actively engage in business development and proposal writing.
• Remain current in latest transportation planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, or a related field (or equivalent experience.)
• 7 to 10 years of experience working in the transportation planning field, actively engaging in general plans, specific/master plans, zoning code updates, public involvement, and regulatory compliance for a variety of client projects relating to equitable transportation development and construction, transportation demand management, mobility planning, multimodal access, surface transportation, and funding.  
• Proficiency with the transportation project development cycle, including from planning to implementation.
• Proficient with reviewing surface transportation projects and program cost estimates and assessing project readiness for inclusion in the strategic local/regional Transportation Plan.
• Highly proficient analytical skills and prior experience with research techniques, local/regional geography, transportation networks, systems, and modalities.
• Expertise and experience with relevant approval processes, zoning laws, permitting requirements, notification and compliance practices, and applicable Regional/State/Federal regulatory framework.
• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing transportation planning technical reports, impact assessments, evaluations, siting reports, logistics, and permit applications.
• Well-developed expertise with consulting practices, and established experience coordinating with clients, regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and technical staff required.
• Highly proficient self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Experience with discipline-specific software (i.e., CAD, ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-Up).
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation and communication software, technology, and tools.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Essential professional licensure/certification.

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