Transportation Supervising Planner (40 Hour)((Research))

Introduction

Are you interested in advancing research, innovation, and emerging technologies at the DOT?

Please read on for more details and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT) is recruiting for a Transportation Supervising Planner in the Bureau of Policy and Planning to advance research, innovation, and emerging technologies in the DOT. The Research unit conducts, supports, and promotes research and development activities that employ new ideas and emerging technology to address research needs and serve our mission.  This position is located at our Headquarters in Newington, CT and is within the Office of Strategic Planning in the Bureau of Policy and Planning.  

If you're a team player who is passionate about innovation, research and analyses, this could be the role for you!

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The 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
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• Join an award winning agency! CTDOT was recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE)!

THE ROLE:

• This position is responsible for supervising the Research unit which collaborates with other research affiliates, Universities, and various units within DOT to develop new implementable products or processes that may improve our transportation system. This unit currently oversees the Research portion of the State Planning and Research (SPR) program. This position will lead various unit-led initiatives such as: solicitation for research needs, staying abreast of industry trends, aiding in the development and administration of the Research program, as well as overseeing research projects as a technical expert or administrator of individual research projects. Additionally, this position will represent the agency in research related conferences, webinars, consortiums and partnerships.
• The selected candidate will be responsible for developing effective, efficient communication. The position requires working independently and as part of a team. This position is responsible for coordinating with State and Federal regulatory agencies, external stakeholders, universities and the public; presenting technical materials to diverse audiences; and working collaboratively to build and maintain relationships with other offices and Bureaus within CTDOT.  
• This position will be responsible for overseeing preparation, analysis and review of project materials and documents including proposals, reports and/or studies, prepared by universities and other staff and will assist in administering the Research portion of the State Planning and Research (SPR) program, including review and analysis of supporting materials, performing technical reviews of engineering project plans and reports, and creating and maintain data related to programs and projects.  This position will be the lead for assisting in coordination of activities or projects with Colleges, Universities, state, and federal agencies, consultants and stakeholders as required; and will be responsible for presentations or participating on technical panels or committees; and performing related duties as required.

Examples of Duties:  

Duties of this position involve the supervision of the staff of the Research Unit including scheduling, assigning, overseeing, and reviewing the work of staff; providing staff training and assistance; conducting performance evaluations; determining priorities and planning unit work.  The Transportation Supervising Planner establishes and maintains unit procedures; develops or makes recommendations on the policies and standards; acts as liaison with other operating units and Bureaus, agencies, and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; oversees the preparation of reports, studies, surveys, and other related activities; develops findings and conclusions; makes recommendations based on completed analyses; provides final review for accuracy and conformance with standards and requirements.  Field work and travel may be required to complete some of the duties of the position.

Specific Duties of this position include:

• Administration of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Correlation Service;
• Preparation of research problem statements, proposals, invoices, quarterly reports and work plans for proposed projects or studies; 
• Monitoring of individual studies being completed by State technical coordinators, Technical Advisory Committees and Expert Task Groups; 
• Review and preparation of proposals and work plans;
• Reporting of Research-in-Progress to TRB Transportation Research Information Service and International Database (TRIS/TRID); 
• Updating research Internet Web pages; 
• Holding periodic research peer exchanges.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Full Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• P-4 (Engineering and Scientific) bargaining unit
• This position would report to a Transportation Assistant Planning Director or employee of a higher level. 
• This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy which can be found here. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.
• Supervisors can expect to spend roughly half of their working hours, if not more, in the office in order to execute upon their job functions and supervise their team. Time in the office may fluctuate based on circumstances and the team being supervised. The ability to apply for telework continues to be available and the agency continues to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need them.

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 environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation 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 Connecticut employee!

Selection Plan

• These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

To Apply:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
  
• 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 read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

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.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
  

Connect With 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 Anamaria Giangarra at Anamaria.giangarra@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation this class is accountable for supervising an operating unit engaged in transportation planning studies, programs and related activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; 
• Provides staff training and assistance; 
• Conducts performance evaluations; 
• Determines priorities and plans unit work; 
• Establishes and maintains unit procedures; 
• Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; 
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; 
• Oversees development of integrated and comprehensive unimodal or multi-modal transportation plans, programs and activities for movement of goods or people; 
• Oversees preparation of reports, studies, surveys and other related activities; 
• Develops findings and conclusions; 
• Makes recommendations based on completed analyses; 
• Provides final review for accuracy and conformance with standards and requirements; 
• Provides direction in interpretation and coordination of transportation plans, programs and activities to local, regional, state and federal agencies; 
• Makes preparations and presentations for legislative and public hearings as required; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
  • multi-modal transportation theories, practices and methodologies; 
  • social, economic and environmental considerations involved in transportation planning; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Considerable ability to
  • plan, organize and execute projects and studies; 
  • develop and use computer software including planning models and other programs related to planning process; 
  • comprehend and interpret laws and regulations; 
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) 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 have been in a lead capacity.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Planner 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Transportation / Regional / Urban Planning or Studies, Civil Engineering, Geography, Mathematics, Material Science and Engineering or closely related degree; 
• Experience with program management of research studies or projects, reviewing narratives and statistical reports, and project administration;
• Experience in reading, interpreting and analyzing plans, studies, maps, and data;
• Experience with reading and interpreting technical state and federal guidance documents or, regulations;
• Experience summarizing and presenting data effectively to groups;
• Organizational skills including the ability to efficiently prioritize, manage multiple tasks, create and maintain data and databases;
• Computer skills including experience with software such as Microsoft Office 365 including Excel and SharePoint, Access, Adobe Acrobat, Bluebeam, ArcGIS, and MicroStation or AutoCAD. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.