Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To plan and manage transportation planning studies which have significant impact on and support ministry strategic directions and formulation of ministry policy positions. To provide research, advice and information on transportation planning issues to senior ministry/government officials.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Identifies transportation planning issues and research requirements for proposed studies; drafts detailed terms of reference and study directions to support planning proposals; determines human and financial resource requirements and implications of specific planning recommendations.

2. Manages planning studies conducted by consultants and other staff; determines and ensures soundness of study methodology, ; maintains study management records and consultants agreements and prepares addenda, reviews invoices and recommends payments; co-ordinates input and advice of others including ministry staff and assesses consistency of proposals with ministry/government strategic guidelines.

3. Reviews and provides comments and advice to ministry program staff, public sector, interest groups and senior management on internal/external reports, policy development and major land use development proposals, transportation projects and other planning processes; assesses viability of findings and implications/relevance to ministry transportation issues.

4. Liaises with other ministry officials, external stakeholders/agencies, municipalities and interest groups to discuss specific transportation planning issues that have broad government/industry implications and concerns. Chairs technical/municipal advisory committees and represents the ministry on internal and inter-ministerial committees, task groups and study teams dealing with specific planning issues.

5. Prepares planning reports, discussion papers, briefing materials, presentations and research and analysis for cabinet submissions to respond to major transportation planning issues and recommend ministry directions and courses of action. Delivers presentations to senior management study team committees, advisory groups and elected officials by gathering data and organizing in the most effective presentation format for acceptance, ensuring quality and relevance of recommendations.

6. Manages or participates in concurrent projects; providing technical direction, guidance and training to assistant planners and consultants assigned to various components of the project.

7. Carries out jurisdictional and environmental scans, prepares research reports, analyzes research papers on emerging urban transportation issues, policies and innovations. Provides advice on urban transportation and integration with land development, transit-oriented land use, active transportation strategies, sustainable community and transportation planning, and travel demand management measures.

Staffing and Licensing :

N/A

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of ministry planning processes, policy development and strategic planning, including empirical and analytical research and project design in order to plan, design and manage planning studies, assess study requirements and project implementation methodology and strategy and conduct data analysis.

Job requires knowledge of the role and strategic direction of government, municipal structure and priorities and the interests of consumers and the private sector to assess external reports and issues in the transportation field relative to market, socio-economic and environmental trends and ministry priorities.

Job requires knowledge of multi-modal transportation theory, principles and current practice, and the public participation process in order to assess transportation initiatives and external impacts on provincial transportation policy and determine the level of consultation with and participation of other governments, agencies and the private sector.

Job requires knowledge of ministry strategic directions and business agenda relative to strategic transportation priorities and market trends to identify planning issues and determine the direction and scope of planning studies.

Job requires knowledge of project management methodology to manage/participate in several concurrent projects and direct assigned project staff and consultants.

Job requires knowledge of computer software applications for word processing, spreadsheets and graphical presentations to prepare and present reports and statistical analyses.

Skills :

Job identifies transportation issues, study requirements for projects and conducts data collection and analysis using accepted sources of information and data gathering techniques.

Job analyzes and evaluates findings in relation to identified issues, assessing implications and developing solutions.

Job conducts consultations with stakeholders, agencies and the public to determine level of interest and merits of opposing positions on issues related to all modes of transportation and corridor planning activities, assessing strategic and economic implications for the province.

Job analyzes data, recommends planning options, provides policy advice to senior management and prepares cabinet submissions and other documents to support ministry initiatives.

Job ensures recommended options are within ministry legislative/policy framework and support business objectives.


Job manages/participates in several concurrent projects, chairing technical/municipal advisory groups, representing the ministry on inter-agency committees and study teams.

Job determines project resources including the need for external consultants based on scope of study, determines work requirements and ensures timely completion. Job requires written communication skills to prepare summaries on study finding, produce planning reports with policy/program options and implementation strategies and prepare presentation to senior management and external groups.

Job requires written and oral communication skills to present study conclusions/issues related to transportation planning initiatives and consult with/provide advice to stakeholders and staff of other ministries, agencies and jurisdictions on ministry planning issues.

Job requires interpersonal skills to present/illustrate planning options, work in a multi-disciplinary team setting, chair technical/municipal advisory team meetings and gain consensus of opposing positions among internal and external parties.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within ministry policy and strategic business agenda, legislative requirements, approved program work plan and accepted planning/policy development guidelines and practices.

Job exercises latitude in decision-making by: identifying policy and planning issues, determining project terms of reference, design, methodology and resource requirements, including consultant services; determining sources, applicability and economic and environmental impacts of external studies and land use development proposals on provincial transportation issues; determining extent of consultation with government, other public sector and private sector officials for specific studies and interpreting results of data analysis and report findings.

Work is reviewed by manager/project leader for soundness of project design, adherence to ministry policy, project time lines and acceptability of proposals. Job refers to manager/project leader matters of inadequate resources, competing priorities and need to clarify overall project/program goals.