Transportation Planner 4

Salary : $81,203.20 - $124,883.20 Annually
Location : Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-01309
Agency: 645 Iowa Department of Transportation
Opening Date: 11/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/15/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:

Job Description
The Systems Planning Bureau is seeking a Transportation Planner to lead their Planning Team and help solve some of our greatest mobility challenges. This small but impactful team has the exciting task of planning for the future of Iowa's transportation system, and this position has a critical role in guiding planning activities, supporting the Iowa DOT's emphasis on transportation mobility.
What you'll do:

Responsibilities of this position will include the ongoing development of the federally-mandated State Transportation Plan, the guiding document for Iowa's Transportation Improvement Program. This position coordinates modal planning efforts and integrates the various plans into the State Transportation Plan. These planning efforts provide statewide investment strategies based on systems analysis, performance objectives, and anticipated funding. This position also provides a critical role in working with Iowa's 18 Regional Planning Affiliations and 9 Metropolitan Planning Organizations on their transportation planning processes.
The team leader is responsible for facilitating group interaction in developing innovative techniques and approaches to solving problems associated with implementing assigned tasks. This position determines specific project assignments and timelines and ensures they are balanced appropriately among team members. This position is responsible for coordinating work projects with other teams in the Systems Planning Bureau and for obtaining specialized assistance from others internal and external to the Iowa DOT. The team leader reviews team-work products to ensure accuracy; provides technical advice, assistance, and training to team members; and conveys management directions and philosophy to team members. The team leader has a key role in the office's responsibility to provide services of value and excellence to customers inside and outside the department. The team leader is expected to strive for personal and team excellence by continuous improvement, understanding and communicating customer needs and priorities, building a work environment of trust and respect and improving work processes.
What makes you stand out:

• Outstanding leadership and organizational skills
• Commitment to detail and professionalism
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Goal-oriented, organized team player
• Energy and passion for serving others

Schedule: Days, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm with flextime and telework available.
As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed .
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee Benefits and costs at the !

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa - Apply now!
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to eight years of full-time work in professional transportation planning*/engineering.

2) All of the following (a and b):

a. Eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning; and

b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a),where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in transportation planning*.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Transportation Planner 3 or Transportation Engineer Specialist.

5) Twelve years of current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eight years of full-time work in transportation planning*.

* "Transportation planning" includes preparing planning contracts and grants; managing planning grant application submittals and project development; preparing functional classification appeals; developing travel demand models and traffic forecasts; creating cartographic representations and data collection applications; analyzing transportation data, project plans, and reports to identify problems; developing portions of statewide transportation plans; or conducting/coordinating transportation research projects.

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01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

Have you graduated from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field? IF YES - How many years do you have of full-time work in professional transportation planning*/engineering?* "Transportation planning" includes preparing planning contracts and grants; managing planning grant application submittals and project development; preparing functional classification appeals; developing travel demand models and traffic forecasts; creating cartographic representations and data collection applications; analyzing transportation data, project plans, and reports to identify problems; developing portions of statewide transportation plans; or conducting/coordinating transportation research projects.

• I have not graduated from an accredited four year college or university
• I have graduated from an accredited four year college or university and have less than three years of the required experience
• I have graduated from an accredited four year college or university and have three to less than six years of the required experience
• I have graduated from an accredited four year college or university and have six to less than eight years of the required experience
• I have graduated from an accredited four year college or university and have eight or more years of the required experience

04

Do you have eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning? IF YES - Do you have an ADDITIONAL 4 years of experience in transportation planning OR post high school education in any field? 30 semester hours equals one year of experience.

• I do not have have eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning
• I do have eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning BUT DO NOT Have the additional 4 years of experience or post high school education
• I do have eight years of full-time work experience in transportation planning AND have the additional 4 years of experience or post high school education

05

Do you possess a licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board? IF YES - How many years do you have of full-time work in transportation planning*?* "Transportation planning" includes preparing planning contracts and grants; managing planning grant application submittals and project development; preparing functional classification appeals; developing travel demand models and traffic forecasts; creating cartographic representations and data collection applications; analyzing transportation data, project plans, and reports to identify problems; developing portions of statewide transportation plans; or conducting/coordinating transportation research projects.

• I do not possess the required license
• I do possess the license and have less than two years of the required experience
• I do possess the license and have two to less than four years of the required experience
• I do possess the license and have four or more years of the required experience

06

Do you have twelve years of current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eightyears of full-time work in transportation planning*?

• I do not have twelve years of current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that i