Principal Planner, Freight & Economic Development

Salary : $69,460.00 - $118,083.00 Annually

Location : Atlanta, GA 30303

Job Type: Regular Full-Time

Office: Office of the Chief Operating Officer / Transportation Planning

Department: Trans Access & Mobility

Opening Date: 09/12/2025

Closing Date: 10/12/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Description:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region's success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region's collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for a planner to serve as the lead in the transportation department on planning for freight and goods movement, along with economic development related to these topics. The position will manage regional and local planning efforts (i.e., Freight Cluster Plans) on these topics, manage the ARC Freight Advisory Task Force, work with public and private sector stakeholders, research changes in technology and policy, and assist in pursuing and managing relevant grants.

The Principal Planner will be a part of the Regional Planning team within the Transportation Department. This position may also provide assistance on planning for electric vehicles/alternative fuels, ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems)/TSMO (Transportation Systems Management and Operations), transportation technology, climate change and resiliency, CTPs (Comprehensive Transportation Plans), the MTP (Metropolitan Transportation Plan), regional and national economic competitiveness, and other related efforts.

The ideal candidate will be a planning professional with experience working with the public as well as the private sector, a strong strategic and innovative thinker, and who is organized and self-motivated. The position requires a team-oriented individual who has knowledge of traditional transportation planning practices but is also driven to work in an innovative and challenging subject area.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Work with multiple projects and multiple team members in a hybrid work environment

Manage regional plans focused on freight and goods movement, along with economic development related to these topics

Work to integrate planning for freight into other planning efforts, such as CTPs

Provide technical support and expertise to local jurisdictions throughout the region

Research and analyze public and private sector freight policies, funding opportunities, and deployment programs

Develop resources based on new federal, state, and local guidelines

Identify ways to help mitigate the negative impacts of freight movement throughout the region

Work effectively with ARC planners across a variety of disciplines, staff and elected officials from local jurisdictions, GDOT and other public agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders

Develop project scopes and RFPs, manage project budgets, and process invoices

Review work done by consultants and others for completeness, accuracy, and quality

Assist in planning related to EVs/alternative fueling, ITS-TSMO, transportation technology, climate change and resiliency, and other topic areas of long-range planning

Communicate effectively via written reports, maps/figures, presentations, and other means as appropriate

Present information at ARC committee/board meetings, stakeholder meetings, conferences, and other meetings/events

Perform other duties as assigned to support agency goals and objectives

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy or Administration, Economics, or related field

Three (3) years professional planning experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy or Administration, or related field

Five (5) years professional planning experience with an MPO, state DOT, local government, or other public agency

AICP certification

Experience with GIS, In-Design, and/or other analysis/visualization software

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

Knowledge of urban and regional planning principles, and of federal transportation planning at the regional level, including federal regulations, policies and procedures

Knowledge of principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research

Ability to gather data, analyze findings, and effectively communicate the analysis results

Knowledge of best practices, trends and emerging technologies in planning and transportation

Ability to coordinate deadlines, prioritize work demands, and monitor project schedules, status, and compliance

Ability to oversee the implementation of and adherence to quality assurance and standards.

Ability to author and prepare original reports, mapping products, technical documents and presentations

Ability to work well with all ranges of a diverse group of stakeholders, including elected officials, senior staff, members of the private sector, and the public

Ability to work independently and work effectively in a team environment

Ability to think critically while managing multiple tasks at the same time

Proficient with Microsoft Office applications

Additional Information

About ARC:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region's success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region's collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.

ARC Strategic Framework

Vision - ONE great REGION

Mission Statement

The Atlanta Regional Commission fosters thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Our Goals

Healthy, safe, livable communities in the Atlanta metro area.

Strategic investments in people, infrastructure, mobility, and preserving natural resources.

Regional services delivered with operational excellence and efficiency.

Diverse stakeholders engage and take a regional approach to solve local issues.

A competitive economy that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient.

Our Core Values

Excellence A commitment to doing our best and going above and beyond in every facet of our work allowing for innovative practices and actions to be created while ensuring our agency's and our colleague's success.

Equity We represent a belief that there are some things which people should have, that there are basic needs that should be fulfilled, that burdens and rewards should not be spread too divergently across the community, and that policy should be directed with impartiality, fairness and justice towards these ends.

Integrity In our conduct, communication, and collaboration with each other and the region's residents, we will act with consistency, honesty, transparency, fairness and accountability within and across each of our responsibilities and functions.

Application Process:

The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for individuals who enjoy working in a public service environment where the mission is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Atlanta region. ARC serves as a forum where leaders come together to discuss and act on issues of regionwide consequence, so it is important that our staff share the public entrepreneurial spirit that defines ARC.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, ARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion or disability.

For questions about recruitment, or to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or testing process, please contact ARC at or Human Resources via email at .

ARC offers our full-time regular employees a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off and more! For additional information, please visit:

01

Do you have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy or Administration, Economics, or related field?

Yes

No

02

How many years of professional planning experience do you have?

03

Have you worked for an MPO, State DOT, local government or any other public agency?

Yes

No

Required Question