Summary:

The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) seeks a Transportation Planner to primarily support the development of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and multimodal planning studies. The successful candidate for this position will play a key role in the development of plans/studies, data collection, processing, analysis, and visualization of data from the travel monitoring program, including data related to travel volume trends, transportation infrastructure data used in regional policy studies, travel forecasting, and performance-based planning and programming.

Position Type:

Full-time

Duties:

Typical tasks and duties of the Transportation Planner may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist in the development and implementation of the Long-Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan, guiding regional investments in multimodal transportation systems.
• Serve as a team member in regional collaboration, engaging with existing and future partners to ensure connectivity and vibrancy.
• Conduct technical, database, and transportation project analysis to support the metropolitan transportation planning process for the MPO and its committees.
• Assist in the development of federally required plans and programs related to transportation planning.
• Compiling transportation data from a variety of inputs, including federal, state, and jurisdictional sources.
• Applying assurance and quality control measures to data.
• Analyzing transportation data for inconsistencies and developing solutions to fill data gaps.
• Processing and analyzing short-term and continuous traffic count data.
• Developing traffic-related data consistent with specifications of the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) program.
• Analyzing transportation data to identify trends and updating annual reports and spreadsheets.
• Developing and updating geodatabases and related data tables using ArcGIS and TransCAD.
• Conducting analyses of transportation data, as requested, to assist in various departmental studies.
• Drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and task orders for traffic monitoring and participating on selection committees.
• Overseeing contractors' performance and reviewing data collected.
• Researching and utilizing big data products to inform regional travel trends or patterns.
• Responding to transportation data inquiries and questions from jurisdictions/committee members, federal, state, and local partners, universities, and consultants.
• Preparing memoranda and technical reports.
• Reviewing professional reports and other documents, and summarizing findings.
• Participating in conferences and webinars as well as committees, subcommittees, and users' group meetings and workshops.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and demonstrated skills in critical thinking, judgment, and data analysis. The candidate will possess a strong understanding of traffic data and data formats; experience or familiarity with the application of GIS concepts, including experience with ArcGIS software; experience using statistical and data management software; and experience with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). The candidate will be an excellent team player and focused on delivering high-quality work products in support of WAMPO's metropolitan transportation planning mission.

Education and Experience:

To be considered for the Transportation Planner I position, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in geography, economics, statistics, urban and regional planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, architecture, or an appropriately related field, and have 0-1 years of directly applicable work experience.

To be considered for the Transportation Planner II position, candidates must possess a master's degree in statistics, geography, economics, urban and regional planning, transportation planning, transportation engineering, or an appropriately related field, and have 2-3 years of directly applicable work experience.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, analytical, and writing skills and abilities will be considered.

Computer Knowledge and Skills:

Experience with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), statistical software (SAS. R), ArcGIS, programming languages such as Python, and other data management software.

Communication Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders, and citizens. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Ability to communicate within and across teams of individuals.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

Compensation:

To be determined based on qualifications. Competitive salaries are offered at WAMPO.

To apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter, and application to Chad Parasa, Executive Director, at chad.parasa@wampo.org

Position Open Until Filled. The first set of applications will be reviewed in late June/early July 2025. For the complete job description, please visit www.wampo.org/wampo-is-hiring.

About WAMPO:

WAMPO is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Wichita metropolitan region. MPOs are federally required regional policy bodies in urbanized areas with populations over 50,000. MPOs recognize the critical links between transportation and other societal goals such as economic health, air quality, resource consumption, and overall quality of life. WAMPO is responsible, in cooperation with the State of Kansas and Wichita Transit, for carrying out the metropolitan transportation planning process in 22 cities and 3 counties in South Central Kansas.

WAMPO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. WAMPO does not discriminate in its employment and or/ personnel practices on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, political affiliation, or marital status/relationship.

Verification of identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States is required by federal law. For a list of acceptable documents that establish these criteria, please refer to the federal Form I-9. E-Verify: The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For additional information regarding E-Verify, please click here. For additional information regarding Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER), please click here.