Director Transportation Planning

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States. 

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $88,416 - $106,816 annually  (GS.16)

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position.

Department: City Planning

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY: 

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for assisting the Administrator in directing transportation planning functions of the Agency. This role also functions as the Coordinator for the Chattanooga Hamilton County/North Georgia Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), the bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Chattanooga region. Duties include assisting in directing resources; serving as the Transportation Planning Organization Coordinator and lead for the TPO work program, budget, meeting coordination, and financial reporting for the TPO and budget; developing and updating policies and procedures; overseeing daily activities of the divisions to ensure compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, policies, and practices; managing vendor contracts and serving as an Agency liaison. Work is performed under administrative review, working with the maximum degree of initiative and judgment. 

SERIES LEVEL: 

The Director is a stand-alone classification in the Transportation Planning Division. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed  by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and  responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be  required to perform additional, position-specific duties.) 

Oversee transportation project and planning implementation, including support for design and development, in coordination with other City and County departments. 

General oversight of transit planning, including coordination and support to Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA). 

This role also functions as the Coordinator for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia  Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization  (MPO) for the Chattanooga region. Duties include assisting in directing resources; serving as the lead for the MPO work program, budget, meeting coordination, and financial reporting for the MPO.  

Developing and updating policies and procedures; overseeing daily activities of the divisions to ensure compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, policies, and practices.   

Developing and providing financial and operational guidance and the annual budget for the MPO; managing vendor contracts and serving as an Agency liaison.   

Provides supervision over the financial, administrative, and graphics/communication activities as related to the MPO and Transportation Planning program.  

Serves in a coordinator role with the responsibility of developing, managing, and coordinating the MPO work program and budget, and related contracts.   

Oversees meeting coordination for MPO Executive Board and Technical Coordinating  Committee.  

Manages the preparation and execution of the MPO budgets; monitors expenditures and makes required budget adjustments and approves a variety of payments, including contractual payments.   

Oversees departmental compliance with applicable ordinances, codes, laws, rules, regulations,  standards, policies, and procedures.  

Supervises lower-level staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; ensuring staff is trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.  

Develops, manages, and provides financial and operational guidance as related to the MPO, including the processing of payments for outstanding expenditures. Collaborates and confers with internal staff, external agencies, community organizations, citizens and/or other interested parties in executing the department's goals, objectives and strategies.  

Prepares and evaluates specifications, scopes of work and requests for proposal for new projects;  negotiates related contracts and change orders.  

Communicates and collaborates with internal departments, external consultants, vendors,  external agencies, regulatory officials, Boards, Commissions, the general public and/or other interested parties to coordinate work activities, exchange information and resolve problems.  

Represents the City, County and/or the Department at a variety of internal and/or external meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees and/or other related events in order to receive and/or convey information.  Leads or assists in special high-profile planning projects or programs. 

Must meet regular attendance requirements. 

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens. 

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner. 

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any): 

None.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

Bachelor's Degree in Urban/City Planning, Transportation Planning, or related field, supplemented by six (6) years of experience in urban planning, urban design, zoning, development review, project management, budget administration, and supervision; or any combination of equivalent experience and education. 

OR 

Master’s Degree in Urban/City Planning, Transportation Planning, or related field, supplemented by four (4) years of experience in urban planning, urban design, zoning, development review, project management, budget administration, and supervision; or any combination of equivalent experience and education. 

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:  

Valid Driver's License 
American Institute of Certified Planners Certification (AICP) preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: 

Knowledge of management principles; transportation, urban planning, and design principles, practices, methods, and procedures; development review principles; research, data, and report presentation techniques; applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; strategic planning principles and practices; research and data analysis techniques; public relations principles and budgeting principles. 

Skill in monitoring and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; prioritizing and assigning work;  using a computer and related software applications; developing and administering budgets; reviewing, planning and designing projects; reviewing design and development data and  information; coordinating inter-agency activities and projects; analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions and implementing recommendations in support of goals; responding to changing situations and needs; analyzing data associated with land-use and site plans; managing multiple projects simultaneously; facilitating negotiations and mediations; speaking in public; conducting research; preparing a variety of reports and business correspondence; developing and analyzing community outreach and education programs and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.   

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

Positions in this class typically require reaching, fingering, grasping,  talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or  up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move  objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for  Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Incumbents may be subjected to extreme temperatures. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Safety Sensitive: N 
Department of Transportation - CDL: N 
Child Sensitive: N 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check 

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KJF