Manager of Transit Planning

Help shape how Utah moves—today and for decades to come.

Are you ready to lead the future of public transportation and make a lasting difference in the communities it serves?

As the Manager of Transit Planning at the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), you will influence how communities connect, how transit services evolve, and how the region prepares for continued growth. With Utah looking ahead to the 2034 Winter Olympics and beyond, you will have an opportunity to influence the transportation network that connects a vibrant and growing population to jobs, education, services, and the places that make this community their home.

Reporting to the Director of Planning, you will lead supervisors and their teams across transit service planning, long-range transportation planning, service development, and performance analytics. You will balance immediate service needs with long-term regional growth, translate data and community needs into practical transportation solutions, and guide initiatives that strengthen the existing and future transit network. Just as importantly, you will develop future leaders, strengthen trust within your teams, build regional partnerships, and guide your teams through change.

If you are a forward-thinking transit planning leader who sees both the next service change and the next decade, knows how to bring a team along, and understands how transportation can help communities connect and thrive, we want to hear from you.

Bring your leadership to Utah. Help build our connected and thriving community.

As the Manager of Transit Planning, you will:

• Manage and lead the Planning teams, overseeing the creation, implementation, and evaluation of transit services, including bus, light rail, commuter rail, special services, on-demand, and alternative transportation modes, as well as the agency's strategic and long-range planning initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and partners to develop and translate regional growth visions into actionable service plans, maximize the effectiveness of the existing and future transit network, and ensure service development aligns with organizational budgets, constraints, and performance standards. Manage the planning budget and prioritize resources to deliver the team’s goals.
• Oversee strategic and long-range planning, short-range planning, service planning, service development, research and system performance analysis, Title VI analysis, project and program management, and stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Provide leadership, vision, and professional development for team members while exhibiting UTA Way principles.

We welcome candidates from across the country. This is an in-person position based in the greater Salt Lake City area; candidates who live outside the area will need to relocate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• 6 to 7 years of progressively responsible experience in a planning/urban development role, to include at least two years managing a team. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Civil or Transportation Engineering, Business or Public Administration, or a closely related field required. Master’s degree preferred.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Transportation & Planning Knowledge:
  • Knowledge of transportation planning, transit service planning, and industry best practices.
  • Understanding of transit operations and service delivery.
  • Understanding of the relationship between land use, urban design, and transit.
  • Understanding of public financing and funding structures for transportation agencies.
  • Working knowledge of local planning, project development, and regulatory processes.
• Project Development & Analysis:
  • Understanding of project management principles, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) project development process.
  • Working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application in transportation planning.
  • Basic knowledge of travel demand modeling concepts.
  • Ability to perform statistical analysis to support planning and decision-making.
• Communication, Tools & Problem Solving:
  • Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical information.
  • Ability to use creativity and critical thinking to develop plans, evaluate alternatives, and propose solutions.

ABILITIES

• Collaboration and Representation:

• • Ability to collaborate effectively and represent UTA in a professional, cooperative manner with stakeholders, customers, partner agencies, and the public across a variety of settings.
  • Project Coordination & Delivery.
  • Ability to prepare, monitor, and track task scopes, schedules, and budgets for complex, multi-departmental and multi-jurisdictional planning studies.
  • Ability to support and contribute to coordinated work efforts involving multiple internal teams and external partners.
• Data, Mapping & Analysis:
  • Ability to develop, apply, and interpret geo-referenced socio-economic data, including GIS mapping and basic statistical analysis of customer and travel behavior information (e.g., origin-destination and production/attraction patterns).

• Performance-Based Planning:
  • Ability to support the development of performance-based plans, strategies, and policies using data, established metrics, and agency goals.

UTA COMPETENCIES

• Business Acumen: Maintaining an up-to-date understanding of the broader issues affecting field of expertise and organization.
• Managerial Courage: Standing strong in the face of adversity and taking necessary risk to achieve results.
• Change Management: Dealing comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Dealing constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Communicates Effectively: Creating an open environment in which thoughts are expressed freely and information flows easily.
• Decision Making: Making sound decisions that consider multiple options, seeking input from others; reaching good decisions in a timely manner.
• Drives Results: Fostering a strong bottom-line orientation; accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; exceeding goals successfully; pushing self and others to achieve results.

- OR -

An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

[UTA reserves the right to determine the equivalencies of education and experience.]

Pay Range: $102,300.00 or more, depending on experience

If interested, apply before: Open until filled, candidates who apply before November 13th, 2026 @ 11:59 PM MST will be given priority

As a full-time Administrative Employee, your Total Rewards Benefits Package will include:

• Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts. Choice between Traditional Co-Pay or High Deductible Health Plans for medical coverage. HSA with company match available to employees enrolled in the HDHP. Benefit plans include coverage for domestic partners (eligibility affidavit required for coverage).
• Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children.
• 22 days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
• 10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
• Retirement options - Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching.
• Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
• Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
• Free transit passes for employees, their spouses, and their dependent children.
• Employee assistance program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
• UTA Well – a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
• Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness and EoS Fitness.
• Discounted cell phone plans with T-Mobile.
• Pet insurance plan options (tailored plan coverage based on pet’s health and needs)

PM21

Utah Transit Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, covered veterans, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants needing an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process should contact UTA Human Resources at 801-287-2324. A minimum of two work days' notice prior to the need for the accommodation is required.

Utah Transit Authority is a drug-free workplace, subject to federal drug and alcohol testing regulations under 49 CFR Part 40, 655, and 219. All offers for employment are contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug test. If a pre-employment test returns a non-negative result, an application for employment may be rejected. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing for drug and alcohol use. All safety sensitive employees are subject to random testing for drug and alcohol use.