URBAN PLANNER II/ GS 19 at City of Alexandria in Alexandria, VA

Urban Planner II (Transportation Planner)

An Overview

The City of Alexandria is seeking a motivated and collaborative transportation planner to help shape a safer, more connected, and more sustainable transportation system. This position plays a key role in advancing transit and multimodal planning initiatives that improve how people move throughout the city.

Working within the Transportation Planning Division, this position will primarily support transit planning efforts, while also contributing to pedestrian, bicycle, and Complete Streets projects. The planner will work closely with the Transit Planning Program Manager and other division staff on a wide range of initiatives, including transit service and capital planning, Vision Zero, corridor studies, regional coordination, and implementation of the Alexandria Mobility Plan.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to work on projects that have a visible impact in the community and who is energized by the intersection of planning, policy, data, public engagement, and implementation.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Support the City’s transit planning and multimodal transportation initiatives, with a primary focus on transit and additional involvement in pedestrian and bicycle projects.
• Help represent Alexandria’s interests in regional transportation coordination and assist in preparing materials for senior leadership and City Council briefings.
• Manage and support projects, consultants, contracts, and budgets across multiple transportation initiatives.
• Coordinate with City staff, regional agencies, and transit partners including WMATA, NVTC, and DASH to advance shared goals and deliver projects effectively.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of audiences, including residents, community groups, senior management, and elected officials, through written materials, presentations, and public outreach.
• Support collaboration on regional transit, legislative, policy, and other transportation issues that affect Alexandria and the broader region.

Examples of Work

• Support transit planning efforts such as service planning, transit capital investments, and transit center development.
• Assist with Complete Streets, Vision Zero, and multimodal improvement projects.
• Manages capital improvements to transit stops to improve ADA access and improve the rider experience.
• Analyze ridership, crash, demographic, and GIS data to inform planning recommendations and project development.
• Help design and implement public engagement and community outreach strategies.
• Prepare presentations, reports, briefing materials, maps, and other technical and public-facing documents.
• Supports grant applications and management
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to keep projects moving and aligned with City priorities.
• Contribute flexibly across division priorities as needs and opportunities evolve.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is excited by the opportunity to improve everyday transportation for people in Alexandria and is motivated by public service. They bring strong communication and organizational skills, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to their work. They are comfortable working across disciplines, managing competing priorities, and engaging thoughtfully with colleagues, partners, and community members.

This person has a solid foundation in transportation planning, with particular interest or experience in transit planning and familiarity with pedestrian and bicycle planning, Complete Streets, and multimodal safety. They are interested in using data to inform decisions and may have experience with ridership analysis, crash analysis, GIS, or related planning tools.

The strongest candidates will be proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn. They will enjoy working on a variety of projects, contributing both technical analysis and creative problem-solving, and helping turn plans into real improvements on the ground.

They will also reflect the City’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, and Continuous Improvement through a professional, accountable, and inclusive approach to their work.

About the Department

T&ES is a community partner in shaping a livable, green, and prospering Alexandria. We plan, build, operate, and maintain transportation systems and infrastructure that improve mobility and provide people and businesses with core public services. The work we do keeps Alexandrians moving, growing sustainability, and thriving. If you are curious about a broader view of our City, click City of Alexandria to learn more.

Four-Year College Degree from an accredited college or university in regional, or urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Physical Sciences, Historic Preservation, or Environmental Studies; three years of experience or Master's degree with 1 year experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Experience with transit planning; familiarity with Complete Streets and safety programs; GIS or data analysis experience; experience with public engagement; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.