Salary : $96,512.00 - $156,624.00 Annually
Location : Heywood Office and Operations Facility, Minneapolis, MN
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Division: Metro Transit
Department: Planning & Proj Delivery Admin
Opening Date: 07/22/2026
Closing Date: 8/5/2026 11:59 PM Central

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

Reporting to the Assistant General Manager, Planning and Project Delivery, the Planning Strategy Consultant is a force multiplier and strategic doer on a broad range of planning and organizational topics needed to drive success of Metro Transit's new unified planning group.

As we deliver a broad and high-impact portfolio to improve transit in the Twin Cities region, Planning & Project Delivery is also working to unify Metro Transit's planning vision through strategic focus areas:

• Strengthen shared foundations around principles, processes, and repeatable planning cycles
• Develop new workstreams for integrated capital planning, long-range network visioning, and financial modeling
• Evolve our group structure, communications, and culture

The selected candidate in this newly created position will drive a portfolio of planning projects and initiatives in support of our strategic focus areas, including business process improvements within planning domains, organizational change management, and planning-aligned budget processes to link Metro Transit's 25-year financial model to ongoing capital and service planning cycles.

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $46.40 Hourly - $56.70 Hourly ($96,512 Annually - $117,939.12 Annually)

**The starting salary will be based on the selected candidate's experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity, and includes a generous benefits package.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and in-office) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

What you would do in this job

• Develop, maintain, and improve planning-aligned financial modeling tools to tie service and capital investment scenarios to resources.
• Provide project management, including facilitating meetings, tracking action items and the identification of clear deliverables, for a range of planning initiatives and topics.
• Develop a range of communication materials, including written reports, presentations, and compelling data visualizations, to clearly articulate goals, processes, and outcomes for both internal and external audiences on a range of key planning initiatives or topics.
• Complete a range of research projects to analyze data and business processes, clearly articulate the problem and possible solutions, and recommend improvements for implementation.
• Develop and maintain standard business processes and tools for staff to track, update and report progress on deliverables associated with a range of topics.
• Collaborate with key agency stakeholders on a range of planning issues, encouraging cooperative action and problem resolution while coordinating work and managing dependencies with other Metro Transit projects and efforts.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)
Any of the following combinations of progressive planning related experience which must include two (2) years of project management or team lead experience and completed education in planning, political science, public administration or a related field:

• High school diploma/GED with at least nine (9) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Associate degree with seven (7) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Bachelor's degree with five (5) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Master's degree or higher with three (3) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience leading or supporting complex, cross-departmental or interagency initiatives.
• Experience in program budgeting and financial analysis, with the ability to develop, manage, and interpret financial modeling tools.
• Proficiency in principles of transit service planning and route / network design.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to create clear and compelling written and presentation materials for executive leadership, elected officials, and public stakeholders.
• Ability to take initiative and drive results in dynamic environments, managing ambiguity, competing priorities, and tight deadlines effectively.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization, with advanced skills in Excel, PowerBI, and/or other analytics platforms and tools.
• Ability to promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values cultural diversity among all employees.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of Metro Transit's planning and project delivery functions and the organizational context in which they work.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; demonstrated ability to manage all phases of complex projects with diverse project teams.
• Skilled with Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, with ability to perform planning and data analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.
• Ability to interpret Metro Transit's financial models and apply your skills to improve and integrate these tools with planning processes.
• Ability to assemble, interpret and visualize data in support of sound decision making.
• Ability to understand data visualization tools to help display and communicate data trends and analysis.
• Ability to coach staff on how to translate ideas into actionable steps, breaking down strategic visions into strategies and deliverables.
• Ability to lead and facilitate large, cross-functional meetings by identifying unique strengths and negotiating common visions.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Grade: Non-represented / Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some positions may require travel between primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

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Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step.I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

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How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

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If you selected 'Other', please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected 'Employee Referral' please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title.Type N/A if not applicable.
04

Please select the option that best matches your education and experience related to the Strategic Consultant minimum requirements:

• High school diploma or GED and at least nine (9) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Associate's degree in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least seven (7) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Bachelor's degree in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least five (5) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Master's degree or higher in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least three (3) years of progressive planning related experience