At Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), we are more than a transit agency; we are the pulse of connected communities, driven by our guiding principles. We prioritize safety for riders, employees, and communities while delivering transformative transportation services that exceed expectations. We strive for eco-friendly practices, foster inclusivity, and fairness with a focus on innovation, uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, and remain customer-focused, placing riders at the center of all our endeavors.

As the second-largest transit agency in Minnesota, MVTA serves seven cities in Dakota and Scott counties. Our extensive network includes 25 routes, offering local, express, micro-transit, and event services. Join us in shaping the future of transit, fostering community ties, and delivering innovative solutions. Together, we propel MVTA as the most connected transit agency, transforming how our communities live, work, and play.

POSITION SNAPSHOT

The Senior Transit Planner is a key figure in the planning, developing, and implementing service delivery, ensuring transit system performance goals are met or exceeded. This position involves collaborative efforts in transit service planning, statistical data analysis, schedule development, and coordination of transit needs for city residents and businesses.  The Senior Transit Planner plays a vital role in data-driven decision-making, outreach, and engagement support and is responsible for strategic planning projects, route service performance analysis, grant support, and fostering collaboration between internal departments and external stakeholders.

This position requires local travel between MVTA locations and schedule flexibility for after-hour events and on-call duties.

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

• Manage technical oversight and implementation of transit schedule development, service recommendations, and data management.
• Balance strategic vision, safety, rider and operational feedback, political considerations, cost efficiencies, and resource constraints.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to Planning team staff and interns.
• Collaborate with other MVTA departments, routinely engaging with operators to assess requests for service changes to enhance community service, adjust to meet evolving demands, and boost ridership.
• Support internal and external outreach efforts as needed, including safety meetings, travel training, and other public outreach efforts.
• Monitor, report, and evaluate service data sources, key performance metrics, and ridership forecasting. Deliver report presentations to internal and external stakeholders. Compile and analyze information for planning policies and legislative priorities.
• Respond to internal and public inquiries for data, maps, and technical assistance.
• Serve as lead in providing agency comments to official local and regional planning documents.
• Maintain an agency-wide sustainability plan, overseeing and coordinating the implementation of sustainability program initiatives.
• Serve as the agency subject matter expert in Title VI compliance, leading the development of analyses and reporting findings to the Board and regional/federal agencies.
• Support the pursuit of grant funding and grant application processes.
• Review and provide feedback on prepared environmental documents, mitigation plans, and environmental monitoring for planned capital projects.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.?

CORE COMPETENCIES & CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, transportation, geography, public administration, or related field
• 4+ years of experience in transit planning/scheduling with advanced transit software knowledge
• Experience with transit operations data (AVL, APCs, ridership, etc.)
• Foundational knowledge of regional transit governance and public policy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

DESIRABLE COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• 5+ years of progressive supervisory experience in transit planning/scheduling.
• Graduate degree in urban planning, transportation, geography, public administration, or related field
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
• Experience with planning and scheduling modules
• Experience with CAD/AVL systems
• Experience with PowerBI

About Minnesota Valley Transit Authority

The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is the second largest public transit agency in Minnesota based on ridership, providing transportation throughout seven suburbs south of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in some of the largest and fastest-growing communities in the state. MVTA operates within Dakota and Scott counties and extends substantial service beyond these borders into adjacent regions. As the major transit provider for Minnesota’s southern metro area, MVTA is committed to serving our communities well with a safe, accessible, and reliable public transportation experience.

Connections working at Minnesota Valley Transit Authority