Transportation Planner III

Date Opened: Monday, January 12, 2026 12:00 AM

Close Date: Monday, January 26, 2026 12:00 AM

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Planning

Salary: $87,368.00 - $109,210.00 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking a Transportation Planner III to be responsible for planning and managing transit capital projects and advancing organizational goals related to Transit Oriented Development (TOD). This involves professional technical planning work and strong project management skills to be utilized in the development of transit projects, transit facilities, and transit programs and services. Work entails planning for future transit services and multi-modal facilities and may specifically include responsibility in one or more of the following areas: transit-oriented development/joint development; transit planning; and advancement of capital projects. Work requires the application of the principles and practices of transportation planning and land use planning to specific assignments.

 Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage, coordinate, and oversee the development of CATS Transit Oriented Development Program (TOD).
• Oversees consultants and staff working on transit planning projects and studies.
• Works with private developers on coordination between City capital projects and property development through construction.
• Assist staff with document controls.
• Manage economic development maps and reports for the FTA and staff.
• Assist the Real Estate and TOD Manager on updates to plans and policies.
• Coordinates CATS planning activities with other City capital projects.
• Prepares materials for presentations to citizen groups, technical groups, and others as required.
• Supervises and assists in the preparation of visual aids and maps.
• Directs and reviews consultant work products.
• Participates in the coordination of planning activities with local government jurisdictions, other public agencies, and consultants.
• Represents the Transit Department in meetings with the public and consultants.
• Directs the efforts of public information specialists responsible for public outreach efforts.
• Responsible for monitoring contracts, completing follow-ups with contractors, and ensuring adherence to state and federal requirements.
• Develops and makes presentations to the public and elected officials as needed to gain consensus and advance the project.
• Documents input from the public in response to public meetings.
• Supervises the UDO Transportation Planner and other staff, as assigned.
• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Performs other duties as directed/assigned.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of planning and development matters.
• Knowledge and understanding of transit/land use relationships
• Excellent written/oral communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with other teams, divisions, and departments.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to work on various projects simultaneously under strict timelines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, agencies, and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Ability to manage a high volume of transactions with short deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree earned from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, urban design, architecture, engineering, or related field. 
• Requires five (5) years of experience in public transit/transportation planning or related field. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Exposure to rapid transit planning, land use planning, community involvement, and project management is highly desired.  AICP, AIA, PMP or closely aligned certification preferred.  

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.