Job Number: 2500349

Department of Public Works

Division: Engineering

Closing Date: Continuous until filled

El Paso County Benefits

Work-Life Balance
- 15 vacation days (120 hours, accrued per pay period) annually
- 3 personal holidays (24 hours) annually
  - Hired 1/1-4/30, 3 days (24 hours)
  - Hired 5/1-8/31, 2 days (16 hours)
  - Hired, 9/1-11/30, 1 day (8 hours)
- 12 sick days (96 hours) annually
- 11 holidays annually
Employee Fitness Centers
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance (click here for more information)
2 Onsite Health Centers
Retirement plan (click here for more information)
457 Deferred Compensation Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (click here for more information)

Job Summary

Drive the Future of Mobility in El Paso County

Are you passionate about creating innovative, safer, and more connected communities through thoughtful transportation planning? El Paso County is looking for a motivated and innovative Transportation Planner to help shape the way people move across our region—today and in the years to come. Whether you're just starting your Planning career or bringing years of experience, this progressive role offers room to grow and the chance to make a meaningful impact at the local and regional level.

What You’ll Do:

From improving multimodal transportation options, safety and funding to influencing regional transportation strategies, you'll:

Develop transportation plans – Use data and public processes to develop long range transportation plans, corridor plans, safety plans, and access plans that benefit county residents, tourists, and economic development.
Support Capital Projects – Plan and prioritize infrastructure improvements that enhance mobility, safety, and connectivity for all users.
Analyze and Strategize—Use data, GIS tools, and planning expertise to assess project feasibility, evaluate policies, and recommend transportation solutions.
Engage with the Public – Collaborate with residents, partners, and community agencies to ensure their voices shape our transportation future. Participate in the facilitation of the Road Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
Drive Regional Planning Efforts – Represent the County in regional transportation initiatives, advocate for funding, and support long-range planning programs like the TIP and STIP.
Manage Programs and Grants—Contribute to program administration, assist with the development and implementation of the Road Impact Fee Program, identify funding opportunities, and support applications to bring projects to life.
Contribute to Policy & Process—Draft reports, guide development reviews, review and comment on proposed legislation, and ensure compliance with state and federal transportation planning regulations.

Who You Are:

Whether you're an associate-level planner gaining your footing or a seasoned expert ready to lead large-scale projects, we’re looking for someone who is:

Passionate about multimodal transportation, safety, connected communities
Skilled at data analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking
A strong communicator—confident in presenting ideas and engaging with diverse stakeholders
Team-oriented yet capable of working independently on complex tasks
Detail-driven with a big-picture mindset

Why El Paso County?

Career Progression – Clear paths to advancement as you grow your skillset and impact
Diverse Projects – From rural roads to urban corridors, your work will touch every corner of the County
Collaborative Culture – Join a team that values input, innovation, and professional development
Community Impact – Help shape the future of transportation for residents, businesses, and future generations

If you're ready to help build a smarter, safer, and more resilient transportation future, apply today and bring your vision to the roads, trails, and corridors of El Paso County.

Associate Transportation Planner

Full Salary Range: $58,380 - $87,590

Hiring Range: $63,000 - $70,000

Transportation Planner

Full Salary Range: $67,850 - $101,870

Hiring Range: $74,000 - $81,000

Senior Transportation Planner

Full Salary Range: $77,420 - $116,160

Hiring Range: $84,000 - $91,000

This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday – Thursday, 7:00am – 5:30pm, subject to change.

Assists with developing transportation strategies to improve mobility, including roads, trails, bike, and pedestrian planning. Assists with ensuring regulatory compliance while supporting transportation projects and planning efforts. Provides information and advice to engineering staff. Advocates for County capital project funding through State and Federal programs. This position is part of the Transportation Planner career progression series, which includes Associate Transportation Planner, Transportation Planner, and Senior Transportation Planner. An employee is eligible to advance to the next position within the series when the employee has met the criteria for advancement as notated within the classification specification and has received a recommendation from the Hiring Authority. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Reviews, analyzes, plans, prioritizes, and executes transportation improvement projects, including multimodal transportation plans, corridor plans, access plane, master plans, strategic initiatives, safety efforts, and program updates such as the Major Transportation Corridors Plan, Road Impact Fee Program, and freight planning.
Assists with planning assignments to develop solutions and interpret policies. Assists with representing the County at public meetings, with developers, contractors, County departments, and governmental agencies.
Assists with communicating County planning information and citizen concerns to appropriate personnel to ensure coordinated responses. Under the direction of leadership, serves on citizen and stakeholder committees addressing Local and regional transportation planning issues.
Assists with analyzing data to determine project feasibility and draft recommendations. Supports the leadership, project managers, and engineering staff by reviewing project work statements, attending planning meetings with consultants, and providing input for capital projects.
Advocates for County capital project funding within the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), projects for the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, serves as the second El Paso County (EPC) representative. Identifies government grant opportunities and drafts applications to secure funding.
Assists leadership in supporting and coordinating public meetings on Local and regional transportation issues, helping to ensure effective stakeholder engagement.
Assists in budget preparation and drafts staff reports and agendas for various boards and commissions.
Supports the Road Impact Fee Program with program administration and related tasks.
Performs other duties as required.

Additional Transportation Planner Functions:

Reviews, analyzes, plans, prioritizes, and executes transportation improvement projects, including multimodal transportation plans, master plans, strategic initiatives, and program updates such as the Major Transportation Corridors Plan, Road Impact Fee Program, and freight planning.
Conducts planning assignments of medium complexity, applying initiative to develop innovative solutions and interpret policies of medium complexity and assists with projects of high complexity. Works with leadership to represent the County at public meetings and collaborates with developers, contractors, County departments, and governmental agencies.
Serves as a liaison in communicating County transportation policies and addressing citizen concerns, ensuring coordinated responses across departments. Participates in citizen and stakeholder committees focused on Local and regional transportation planning.
Conducts data analysis to assess project feasibility and formulates strategic recommendations on medium complexity projects and assists leadership on highly complex projects. Provides guidance to the leadership, project managers, and engineering teams by reviewing project scopes, attends planning meetings, and works on capital project initiatives.
Serves as the second staff person to the County’s capital project funding strategy within the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Identifies grant opportunities, drafts application development, and ensures successful funding acquisition.
Conducts the facilitation and coordination of public meetings on transportation issues, enhancing stakeholder engagement and consensus-building.
Develops budget recommendations, prepares staff reports, and drafts agendas and presentations to boards and commissions.
Provides strategic oversight and guidance for the Road Impact Fee Program, ensuring effective program administration and policy alignment.
Reviews legislation at the State and Federal levels and provides analysis of impacts.

Additional Senior Transportation Planner Functions:

Provides senior-level leadership in the review, analysis, planning, prioritization, and execution of transportation improvement projects, including multimodal transportation plans, master plans, strategic initiatives, and key program updates such as the Major Transportation Corridors Plan, Road Impact Fee Program, and freight planning. Develops scopes of work and Requests for Proposals. Manages contracts and/or contractors for planning efforts. Leads efforts to adopt plans or projects through the Planning Commission or the Board of County Commissioners.
Leads complex transportation planning assignments, applying expert judgment and strategic vision to develop innovative solutions and shape County policies. Represents the County in meetings and negotiations with developers, contractors, County departments, elected officials, and governmental agencies.
Acts as a principal liaison in communicating and advocating County transportation policies, addressing citizen concerns, and ensuring cross-departmental coordination. Leads and chairs citizen and stakeholder committees focused on local and regional transportation planning.
Oversees advanced data analysis to assess project feasibility, identify long-term transportation needs, and formulate policy recommendations on complex projects. Advises leadership, project managers, and engineering teams on project direction, funding strategies, and capital improvement priorities.
Develops and leads the County’s capital project funding strategy within the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Leads grant identification, application development, and funding acquisition efforts to advance County transportation initiatives.
Guides public engagement strategies by leading the facilitation and coordination of public meetings on transportation issues, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and building consensus and conflict resolution on key projects.
Provides strategic budget oversight, preparing high-level staff reports, policy recommendations, and presentations for executive leadership, boards, and commissions.
Ensures policy and regulatory compliance in the administration of the Road Impact Fee Program, providing expert oversight and strategic direction. Assists the Road Impact Fee Advisory Committee under the direction of leadership.
Independently reviews legislation at the State and Federal levels and provides analysis of impacts to management and/or legislative staff.

Supervision Exercised: This classification does not have supervisory authority; however, may be required to provide expertise or limited guidance or direction to employees, such as overseeing work quality, training, and guidance. Typically serves as a subject matter expert on the scope of functional area.

Supervision Received: Receives general supervision. This classification typically performs job duties by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. Regular direction, guidance, and coaching from supervisor may be expected. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Basic knowledge of modeling concepts, traffic impact assessments, and Level of Service (LOS) concepts.
Basic knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses.
Basic knowledge of research methods and techniques, including planning studies.
Basic knowledge of contemporary issues related to transportation, environment, land use, social dynamics, economics, fiscal policy, legal frameworks, and politics.
Basic knowledge of public participation strategies to engage stakeholders effectively.
Ability to apply principles of logical and scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and the ability to exercise sound judgment.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with the ability to make formal presentations to groups or individuals.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees, community members, other jurisdictions, trade and community organizations, regional organizations, and State/Federal agencies. Ability to provide excellent customer service.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Transportation Planner:

Knowledge of modeling concepts, traffic impact assessments, and Level of Service (LOS) concepts.
Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses.
Knowledge of research methods and techniques, including planning studies.
Knowledge of transportation laws, regulations and guidelines at the state and federal levels.
Knowledge of contemporary issues related to transportation, environment, land use, social dynamics, economics, fiscal policy, legal frameworks, and politics.
Knowledge of sources of funding transportation programs.
Knowledge of meeting facilitation and consensus building, and in public participation strategies to engage stakeholders effectively.
Ability to apply principles of logical and scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and the ability to exercise sound independent judgment.
Ability to communicate effectively in verbally and in writing with the ability to make formal presentations to groups or individuals.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees, community members, other jurisdictions, trade and community organizations, regional organizations, and State/Federal agencies. Ability to provide excellent customer service.

Senior Transportation Planner:

Advanced knowledge of modeling techniques, traffic impact assessments, and Level of Service (LOS) concepts.
Advanced knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses.
Advanced knowledge of transportation laws, regulations and guidelines.
Advanced knowledge of research methods and techniques, including planning studies.
Advanced knowledge of contemporary issues related to transportation, environment, land use, social dynamics, economics, fiscal policy, legal frameworks, and politics.
Advanced knowledge of sources of funding transportation programs.
Proficiency in public participation strategies to engage stakeholders effectively.
Skills and abilities in setting, evaluating, and maintaining goals and performance standards, organization of complex projects, running effective meetings, and project management.
Ability to apply principles of logical and scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and the ability to exercise sound independent judgment.
Ability to communicate effectively in verbally and in writing with the ability to make formal presentations to groups or individuals.
Ability to work independently, make sound judgments, and direct projects to avoid conflicts, or last-minute problems
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees, community members, other jurisdictions, trade and community organizations, regional organizations, and State/Federal agencies. Ability to provide excellent customer service.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree with major study in transportation, planning, engineering, or related field.

Transportation Planner:

Bachelor's degree with major study in transportation, planning, engineering, or related field.
Three years of transportation planning or related experience.

Senior Transportation Planner:

Bachelor's degree with major study in transportation, planning, engineering, or related field.
Five years of transportation planning or related experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

One year of transportation planning or related experience.
Experience with grant writing, consensus building, and in public works or local government with transportation responsibilities.

Licenses/Certificates

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.

Work Conditions

Duties are primarily performed in an office and remote environment dependent upon Department discretion and business needs; some travel required, including travel to County, regional, or State facilities.

El Paso County, CO jobs

Transportation Planner (All Levels)

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