Transportation Planner

Salary : $79,580.80 - $129,064.00 Annually

Location : 390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 2025-00243

Division : Metropolitan Transportation Services

Department : UPWP Projects

Opening Date : 09 / 05 / 2025

Closing Date : 9 / 28 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

WHO WE ARE

The Metropolitan Council's Transportation Services (MTS) Division is accepting applications for a Planner - Transportation.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 20 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional parks and trails, transportation, wastewater, and housing services.

We are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) conducts planning for the regional transportation system that includes highways, transit, aviation, freight, and bicycle and pedestrian connections. The Metropolitan Council is the region's federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region :

The Planner - Transportation plays a critical role in implementing our region's long range transportation plan by working toward reducing the transportation sector's contribution to climate change from our region and improving the resilience and sustainability of our transportation system. This position will lead the evaluation of proposed transportation project's lifecycle greenhouse gas and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) impacts utilizing existing methodologies and tools. The planner will work to improve these methodologies and tools over time in a cooperative fashion with internal and external stakeholders. This position will work cooperatively to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles within our region and lead planning for a more resilient and sustainable transportation system in our region. This position will lead conversations with our partners, learn from them and provide technical support related to these activities to our partners to aid them in their related efforts.

Notes : This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

What you would do in this job

• Work with planners, researchers, and program administrators to help improve the Council's contribution to climate mitigation and resiliency within the transportation sector of the Twin Cities region.
• Evaluate the climate impact of proposed regional transportation projects for program evaluation and to support the state's required Greenhouse Gas Impact Assessment for highway expansion projects, which assesses both greenhouse gases and vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
• Continually learn best practices to be able to work with internal and external partners to make improvements to current climate impact evaluation methods and tools.
• Cooperatively plan for accelerated adoption of electric vehicles in our region including planning for public charging stations, public education and technical support needed by our partners.
• Help implement the new EV Charging application category of the Regional Solicitation (federal funding selection process), including project scoring, selection and contract administration.
• Lead the region's efforts to improve our transportation's resiliency and adapt to a changing climate.
• Convene conversations with partner agency staff toward coordinated efforts to address climate mitigation and resiliency within the transportation sector of our region.
• Make presentations to internal and external stakeholders to support a coordinated approach to climate mitigation and resiliency within the transportation sector.
• Provide expertise on climate mitigation strategies within the transportation sector for internal projects and with external stakeholders.
• Communicate, and document work and proposals, in several written forms including clear and complete emails, informal reports, and formal reports.
• Use spreadsheet tools for data analysis and work with data scientists when data analysis needs are more complex.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations in completed education (degree with major coursework in city, urban, land use, or environmental planning; public administration; climate planning or analysis; geography; or related field) and experience (in a planning-related field that includes working with stakeholders, developing reports and presentations; reviewing technical information; conducting data analysis; using GIS and preparing maps, and climate related planning or analysis) :

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications) :

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job :

What you can expect from us :

Additional information

Union / Grade : AFSCME / Grade G

FLSA Status : Exempt

Safety Sensitive : No

Full Salary Range : $38.26 - $62.05 hourly / $79,580.80 - $129,064.00 annually

What your work environment would be :

You would perform your work in a standard office setting, including an option for hybrid work (on site and virtual). Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves :

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

2. We rate your education and experience.

3. We conduct a structured panel interview.

4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then :

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files / databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT : If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below :

Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan

Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%

Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free :

bus / rail pass valued at over $1200 per year

parking at many job locations

fitness centers at many job locations

Employee Assistance Program

extensive health and wellness programs and resources

The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and / or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding supplemental questions.

How did you first hear about this job opening?

If you selected "other," please describe where you first heard about this job. If you selected "employee referral," please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title.Type "N / A," if not applicable.

Please select the option below that reflects your education and experience level.

Please select the areas below with which you have work experience (select all that apply).

Please describe your planning or analysis related work experience evaluating transportation projects for greenhouse gas impacts, working toward accelerated transportation electrification, planning for reduced greenhouse gas impacts from transportation more generally and / or planning for a more resilient and sustainable transportation system. If you do not have this experience, please type "N / A."

Please describe your experience creating and reviewing reports, maps, spreadsheet analysis, and other communication that uses qualitative and quantitative information to inform decisions. Please include a project example that demonstrates your experience, including the programs you used to do the work, where the experience took place, and your role in that work. If you do not have this experience, please type "N / A."

Please describe your experience communicating and / or presenting information to community members, groups or decision-makers. Include a project example that demonstrates your ability to present complex information to a range of audiences. If you do not have this experience, please type "N / A."

Describe one or two specific experiences working and collaborating in a diverse multicultural, and inclusive environment. If you do not have this experience, please type "N / A."

Required Question