PLANNING SPECIALIST III - 55011698

Requisition No: 868175 

Agency: Department of Transportation

Working Title: PLANNING SPECIALIST III - 55011698

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 55011698 

Salary:  $62,937.24 - $81,448.20 

Posting Closing Date: 02/17/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

139/ METROPOLITAN PLANNING OFFICE

OPEN COMPETITIVE

CAREER SERVICE

FULL-TIME

CONTACT PERSON: Wayne Gaither

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 239-225-1971

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: wayne.gaither@dot.state.fl.us

HIRING SALARY BIWEEKLY: $2,582.24

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system.

To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration.

Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers.  Visa sponsorship is not available.

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities.

Our Vision

As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.

The Work You Will Do:

Planning Specialist III / District 1 / Metropolitan Planning Office

This position will maintain a positive working relationship with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and local governments. Acts as the Department’s representative on MPO committees and other committees associated with Economic Development Councils, Regional Planning Councils, local governments, and Chambers of Commerce as needed. Resolves issues related to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects working with local governments and appropriate department staff. Provide briefings and status reports to the District Secretary, Director of Transportation Development, district managers, Public Information Office and others as needed. Respond to correspondence in a timely matter.

The Difference You Will Make:

Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication. 

How You Will Grow:

FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development.  Through our agency’s learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses. 

Where You Will Work:

District One 

801 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow FL. 33830 or

10041 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers FL 33913

Annual Salary Range:

$62,937.24 - $81,448.20

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Maintains a positive working relationship with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and local governments. Acts as the Department's representative on MPO committees and other committees associated with Economic Development Councils, Regional Planning Councils, local governments, and Champers of Commerce as needed. Resolves issues related to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects workin with local governments and appropriate department staff. Provide briefings and status reports to the District Secretary, Director of Transportation Development, district managers, Public Information Office and others as needed. Respond to correspondence in a timely manner.

Oversee development of scope of services, request for consultant services, and review of consultant services. Serve on consultant selection committees and manage consultant progress reports. Ensure MPOs and local government development of transportation project priorities for input of the FDOT Work Program. Works with MPOs to develop and amend Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) as consistent with state and federal requirements. Review and refine Tentative Work Program to include performing technical applications and reviews, develop code sheets/Input into Project Suite Enterprise Edition (PSEE), coordinates with MPOs and local governments for clarification on project scope, and obtain needed information and data from MPOs and local governments to complete program projects.

Resolves planning issues and concerns in coordination with MPOs. Develops and maintains the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) in coordination with MPOs, including review of UPWP and processing amendments. Establish schedule and conduct annual joint certification review of MPO planning process, as well as prepare a summary of findings and certification statements.

Provide support to coordinate staff and consultant efforts with the state and federal agencies, MPOs, local governments and the public. Participate in development of public involvement workshops and public hearings. Respond to internal and external requests for information.

Respond to requests and assignments from the District Secretary, Director of Transportation Development and Work Program.

The Successful Candidate will have the following required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Technical terms and concepts in the field of transportation planning
• Knowledge of administrative coordination of activities and products pertaining to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s)
• Knowledge of program management responsibilities relative to MPO’s
• Knowledge of project development
• Knowledge of local planning process  

Skills in:

• Process analysis
• Analyzing detailed data relating to planning/program development

Ability to:

• Effectively communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to organize, plan and conduct various types of meetings

Other Job-Related Requirements:

• Employees will be required to be responsive to emergency situations within a very short time frame and serve on the Transportation Emergency Management Team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of professional experience in the field of transportation, planning, public administration, administrative, or logistics required, or an Associate's degree and (1) year of professional experience in the field of transportation, planning, public administration, administrative, or logistics. Professional or non-professional experience (including internships or co-ops) as describled above can substitute on a year-for-year basis to meet the (3) year requirement for education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS), unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES THE SERVICE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE GIVEN TO OUR COUNTRY AND SUPPORTS THE HIRING OF RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES.  If you are a preference-eligible applicant who receives notice of a hiring decision and believe that you were not afforded employment preference in accordance with applicable Florida law and regulation, you may file a written complaint within 60 calendar days from the date you receive the notice, requesting an investigation to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Division of Benefits and Assistance, 9500 Bay Pines Boulevard, Room 214, St. Petersburg, Florida 33708.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES AND SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.  QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. In accordance with Section 110.112, Florida Statutes, and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Individuals with Disabilities Affirmative Action Plan, the agency is committed to ensuring affirmative action and equal employment opportunity for qualified individuals with disabilities.  Upon request and as appropriate, reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities may be provided.  Please contact the Florida Department of Transportation’s Human Resources Office at (850) 414-5300 for assistance.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.