Principal Planner II: Data

Salary : $79,926.00 - $127,674.00 Annually
Location : Indianapolis, IN, IN
Job Type: Planner
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026PPIID
Section: Data and GIS
Opening Date: 10/05/2026
Closing Date: 10/23/2026 11:59 PM Indiana (East)

The Principal Planner II supervises and participates in advanced, highly complex professional planning activities and statistical analysis related to the Data Road Modeling and Analytics Program (Data Road MAP).

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions:

• Assist with carrying out the strategic direction of the organization
• Oversee quality control and quality assurance on data and analytical tools used by the organization
• Monitor and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
• Oversee and mentor Data Section staff, including staff training, professional development, and performance evaluations
• Participate in staff recruitment and hiring
• Plan, assign and coordinate workloads of section staff; approve staff time sheets
• Supervise, oversee, and coordinate with departmental staff engaged in data collection projects, travel demand modeling, research, and analysis
• Coordinate with other IMPO sections to ensure effective collaboration in meeting organization goals and objectives
• Coordinate with state and federal officials on the implementation of existing/new planning requirements
• Participate in the development of policies and tools to implement and meet requirements
• Provide recommendations and counsel pertaining to plans and budgets and assist the Executive Director in implementing policies and goals
• Advise various councils, boards, commissions, and elected officials on planning-related matters
• Support the development, update, and maintenance of technical tools and processes to achieve the above tasks in accordance with federal and state requirements
• Perform other duties, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications represent the minimum requirements to competently perform the key responsibilities of this job in terms of educational background, work experience, licenses/certifications, or other knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor?s degree in Planning, Geography, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Spatial Analysis, or related field
• 7+ years? experience applying analytical tools to transportations planning tasks and developing and managing spatial data systems
• Staff management experience
• Highly motivated, self-driven individual with the ability to work without daily guidance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate in a team-based environment.
• Ability to learn quickly and asks lots of questions.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• An understanding of data quality control methods.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Economics, Data Science, Mathematics or Planning with concentrations in travel demand, urban land use modeling, and quantitative analysis
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP)
• Advanced project and/or program management
• Experience managing consulting agreements related to data creation
• Consulting experience supporting large MPOs
• Experience using travel demand models, particularly TransCAD

Competencies:

• Communication & Storytelling Proficiency
• Technical Expertise & Attention to Detail
• Adaptability & Problem Solving
• Documentation & Organization
• Mentoring, Delegation & Staff Development
• Group Facilitation Skills
• Conflict Resolution

The Indianapolis MPO offers a competitive benefits package with 37.5 hour work weeks, Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, a paid Leave of Absence policy, short and long-term disability, retirement (PERF), medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and life insurance.
New employees accrue PTO at a rate of 14.66 hours per month and may be carried over from year to year (maximum of 188 hours).
The Indiana Public Employees' Retirement System (INPRS) Public Employee Retirement Funds (PERF) are offered to employees. Those employees hired after January 1, 2017 are only eligible for the MyChoice program unless they have prior experience in a PERF Hybrid (pension) program.