Connecticut Careers Trainee / Transportation Planner 1((Statewide Planning))

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT) is now accepting applications for a Connecticut Careers Trainee position, with a target class ofTransportation Planner 1,within the Statewide Planning Unit in the Office of Strategic Planning and Projects, at the Department of Transportation headquarters in Newington. 

We are looking for a self-motivated, collaborative professional to join our team. This entry level position is an opportunity to start a career at the Department of Transportation that positively impacts our communities.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• Join an award winning agency! CTDOT was recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE)!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Full Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• Location: Departmentof TransportationHeadquarters inNewington, CT.
• Reports to a Transportation Supervising Planner or employee of a higher level. 
• P-4 (Engineering and Scientific) bargaining unit
• This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy which can be found here. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.

THE ROLE:

The Statewide Planning Unit is responsible for working with municipal, state, and federal partners to aid in delivery of projects and develop plans and studies related to land use, economic and community development, multimodal planning, federal and state transportation policy, and transportation equity to support informed decision making.  

This unit prepares, reviews, and provides oversight on several required state and federal planning documents, as well as corridor, regional, and Planning and Environmental Linkages studies. Responsibilities further include providing support for and performing studies for all modes of transportation, including bus, rail, highway, freight, bicycle, and pedestrian.  These studies and plans present near and long-term implementation recommendations to guide Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure improvements, including context-sensitive solutions to ensure that projects address the needs of the transportation system and the surrounding communities.

Other unit responsibilities include: 

• project management 
• providing regular support to other Bureaus 
• community engagement, including public speaking and presentation of materials to the public, local elected officials, and external stakeholders 

The selected candidate will be responsible for ensuring effective communication and working relationships both internally and externally.






SALARY INFORMATION
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• Eligibility for promotion to the target classification of Transportation Planner 1 is earned upon successful completion of the training program.

Target class: Transportation Planner 1 

• Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree will serve a two (2) year training program.
• Candidates with a Master’s degree in a closely related field may be eligible for a shorter training period.

First year of training:

Bachelor's degree and/or qualifying experience: FS 15 Step 1 ($55,328/year)

Master's degree: FS 15 Step 2 ($57,320/year)

Second year of training:

General rate:  FS 15 Step 5 ($63,306/year)



ABOUT US:

As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, accessible and efficient multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of Connecticut employee!

Selection Plan

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the individual listed on this job posting. 
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.  

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important Information After You Apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. 
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class in the next twelve (12) months.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

Connect With Us:
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sharon McIntosh, at Sharon.McIntosh@ct.gov.

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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions;
• Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period;
• Performs related duties as required.

Please see addendum below:

• Performs tasks and assignments in developing, coordinating, and supporting transportation planning programs 
• Prepares written materials, graphic design materials, and maps, assembles and summarizes data, and creates charts, in a manner that communicates complex information effectively 
• Provides project management support for projects and studies including scope development and review of deliverables to ensure compliance with Department policies and standards, as well as state and federal laws and regulations 
• Compiles, analyzes, and communicates demographic, environmental, economic, and real estate market data and information 
• Coordinates activities and plans with local, regional, state and federal agencies, consultants, and stakeholders as required 
• Performs related duties as required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification;
  • understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic;
  • read, interpret and understand written material;
  • perform basic arithmetical computations;
  • interpret charts, graphs and tables;
  • learn and reason;
  • establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public;
  • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in one of the following or closely associated concentrations: Urban or Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Anthropology, Geography, Public Administration or Policy, or Economics 
• Experience or training in preparing comprehensive multimodal plans, including bus, rail, highway, freight, bicycle, and pedestrian modes through course work, work experience, or internships 
• Experience with Microsoft Office, ESRI ArcGIS, graphic design and related software through course work, work experience, or internships 
• Experience interpreting other published documents and media such as aerial photography and site plans through course work, work experience, or internships 
• Experience developing presentations and effectively delivering complex materials to a variety of audiences, in both written and verbal formats through course work, work experience, or internships 
• Experience working collaboratively within a team, with other technical disciplines and with external groups through course work, work experience, or internships

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.