Senior Associate Planner

Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates is seeking a highly organized, experienced, independent, and motivated senior-level staff member for our nationally recognized planning practice in the firm’s Denver Office. This is an outstanding opportunity for the right person to help expand our presence throughout the Front Range and to be part of growing our team in Denver. You’ll do that by leading and supporting projects that develop transportation systems for vibrant, equitable, and livable communities locally and around the country.

We are seeking an individual with at least six years of experience and a strong interest in transit service planning, transit corridor planning, and/or multimodal or active transportation planning. You should have some background in developing sustainable strategies to improve community accessibility and mobility, but people with a diverse set of experiences are encouraged to apply.

Nelson\Nygaard offers a dynamic and self-directed work environment that is fast-paced, congenial, and supportive. This is your opportunity to work with one of the most innovative groups of planners and engineers in the United States, including highly talented junior and support staff and industry-leading principals. Our office culture is built upon diversity, creativity, and passion for the work we do.

About Us

For over 35 years, Nelson\Nygaard has led the transportation planning field with our values and innovation. We’ve always been guided by the principle of putting people first—designing transportation systems for people, not just cars. This principle also extends to how we operate as a firm.

We were founded by two women who believed in the benefits of a more egalitarian workplace, where leadership and creativity can blossom at all levels and where diversity is a core strength. Today, we are 160 talented and dedicated people in 13 offices across the country who continue to live by those values. What unites us at Nelson\Nygaard is the belief that transportation can change the world and our steadfast commitment to make the world more just, more sustainable, more connected, and more beautiful.

About You

• You’re resourceful, curious, communicative, and enthusiastic.
• You’re passionate about how transportation can make the world a better, more equitable place.
• You bring energy and a commitment to your teams and clients to do great work, together.
  
  
  

Responsibilities

Our senior transportation planners focus on planning for municipalities, agencies, universities, and private clients, and lead project teams to develop and deliver solutions that address our clients’ challenges. The ideal candidate should have a broad range of transportation and urban planning experience and have successfully managed dynamic transportation planning projects and budgets. Depending on your skills and our project needs, responsibilities may include managing, supervising, and supporting several project teams, keeping project work on schedule and within budget, mentoring junior transportation planners, research, data collection and analysis, writing and editing technical and public-facing reports, developing presentations and outreach materials, and/or leading business development efforts and client communication. You will work both independently and as part of a team.

Senior associate candidates should be able to share previous work examples and demonstrate significant expertise in a range of transit, multimodal, or active transportation planning and design topics such as transit service planning, long-range planning, multimodal planning and design, citywide or regionwide planning, parking and transportation demand management, transit station area planning and service planning, equity frameworks and analysis, or community outreach and stakeholder coordination.

You will work closely with Nelson\Nygaard’s senior and junior staff in our offices throughout the country.

Qualifications And Requirements

Above all, we are looking for someone who:

• Has a passion for sustainable transportation planning
• Is an inquisitive self-starter and a natural problem solver
• Understands the connection between transportation and equity and is committed to incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion into their work
• Is interested in working with our diverse clients and communities across the U.S. and Canada to create more equitable, livable, and sustainable mobility systems through community-based efforts, including engagement with BIPOC communities
• Possess proven experience in managing projects within budget
• Work successfully with clients, members of the public, and project teams
  
  
  

At a minimum, the candidate should meet the following qualifications:

• At least 6 years of responsible experience in transportation planning, engineering, or design.
• A bachelor’s degree in transportation planning, economics, public policy, engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree in one of these fields is looked upon favorably. Demonstrated experience or expertise in lieu of precise educational attainment may also meet this requirement.
• Experience in business development (i.e., winning work); if you have public agency experience, grant writing and successful RFP development are applicable skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and other communication skills, including facilitation of public workshops.
• The ability to manage projects on time and on budget.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
  
  
  

The ideal candidate will be excited to take on the following opportunities:

• Creatively solve transportation problems
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Serve as a project or task manager and manage projects within budget
• Work successfully with clients, members of the public, and project teams
• Outline and prepare successful proposals and reports
• Analyze a wide range of transportation data and manage the completion of technical analyses, feasibility studies, and other transportation reports
• Prepare and give effective presentations
• Participate in firmwide activities to ensure that we continue to build on our mission and core values
• Mentor and train junior staff
  
  
  

Strong candidates will have a passion for advancing equity through community-based efforts, including engagement with BIPOC communities, and will demonstrate an ability to work effectively with diverse communities.

Salary And Benefits

Title placement and the annual salary range equivalent for this position depends on qualifications and years of experience.

• Senior Associate I: $88,920 - $113,620
• Senior Associate II: $102,960 - $131,560
  
  
  

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; pre-tax transit and bicycling benefits; a 401k program; life insurance; and paid time off. Additionally, we offer opportunities for in-person collaboration as well as remote work.

Applying for the Position

To apply, please click on the 'Apply Online' link. Qualified and interested candidates must submit the following items:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Work samples that highlight your skills. Please do not exceed 6 MB.
  
  
  

At Nelson\Nygaard we believe that inclusion spurs creativity, and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people and ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status, we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, and members of ethnic minorities. We’re committed to maximizing the diversity of our team and want to hear from anyone who is passionate about our work.