POSITION SUMMARY

The Planner III will be an integral part of the County’s Long Range Planning Team which has an emphasis on countywide transportation. The primary duty of this employee is to lead and/or support short and analysis, planning and research activities as related to the Spartanburg County transportation network and land use, including database preparation, coordination, analysis; GIS layer organization and presentation; use of land use and transportation modeling software, etc. The Planner III will work with the team to identify and implement transportation, infrastructure, and land use analyses, studies, and plans, which may include conceptualization of development scenarios, travel demand analyses and reviews, corridor analysis, area plans, working with State and County transportation professionals, preparing RFP/RFQs, as necessary.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Develop and coordinate countywide land use and transportation data for the long-range planning division of the Spartanburg County Planning and Development Department to support the County Council’s transportation and land use development strategy which includes the Spartanburg County Public Works Department, and the Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as appropriate.

• Prepare and provide quality review of reports and deliverables for planning studies, technical reports, and proposals. Review and provide responses to local government plans, as needed.

• Manage and prepare land use and transportation planning studies. Provide review of local land use/transportation plans, such as the Comprehensive Plan, for consistency with the County Transportation Plan.

• Provide administrative support for the transportation planning program, including but not limited to, preparation and reporting of required federal, state, and MPO documents, support for SPATS transportation committees, updating website content, and related duties.

• Work with and link large data sets.

• Prepare Requests for Proposals, coordinate selection of consultant contracts for various studies and documents, and draft consultant contracts according to local, state, and/or federal requirements.

• Assist in management of consultants/contractors with respect to the development of special projects related to functional design contracts, land use/transportation analysis, and transportation planning.

• Provide support for and prepare transportation, land use, and infrastructure grant applications.

• Review land use applications to ensure that all developmental proposals adequately address the County's mobility goals and for compliance with applicable transportation-related plans and ordinances.

• Identify opportunities for capacity and operational improvements to the County’s transportation system.

• Research, collect, compile, organize, analyze, and maintain Spartanburg County socio-economic data, traffic counts, land use and transportation/road-related data and other information utilizing ARCGIS Pro, databases and spreadsheets. Prepare and present reports, maps, and tables for planning purposes for the long-range planning team.

• May use and adapt transportation and land use modeling software to evaluate corridor and area specific transportation problems and to propose practical and effective improvement scenarios.

• Use ARCGIS Pro for mapping and analysis.

• Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Must be physically able to operate various office machines including computer, multi-line telephone, scanner, copier, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work, involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time. Work involves climbing, bending and stooping for short periods of time. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of 5 to 15 pounds.

Requires the ability to:

• Speak and/or signal people to exchange information.

• Read and prepare various legal documents, using proper format.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Successfully work with staff and external stakeholders.

• Balance different perspectives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree in planning, transportation, engineering, urban design, or closely related field.

• A minimum of two years of professional planning, design, or engineering experience.

• Or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred:

• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (ARCGIS Pro or ARCGIS Online).

• Knowledge and experience in transportation planning.

LICENSE / CERTIFICATION and OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• All regular full-time and part-time employees of Spartanburg County are required by state law to participate in the South Carolina Retirement System.

• Required valid driver’s license issued in South Carolina.