PLANNING SPECIALIST III - 55009549

Requisition No: 878138 

Agency: Department of Transportation

Working Title: PLANNING SPECIALIST III - 55009549

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 55009549 

Salary:  $62,776.02 - $81,239.55 

Posting Closing Date: 06/25/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

Cost Center 501 / Environmental Management

OPEN COMPETITIVE

CAREER SERVICE

FULL-TIME

CONTACT PERSON: Mary Bierwagen

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: Mary.Bierwagen@dot.state.fl.us

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $2,414.46 - $3,124.60/ biweekly  ($62,776.02 - $81,239.55/ annual range)

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 Five / Intermodal Systems Development / Environmental Management

This position will serve as the Department’s primary liaison to all MPO activities, ensuring the agency’s priorities and statutory requirements are accurately represented in regional transportation planning. It provides critical guidance to senior leadership by coordinating major planning documents, monitoring MPO performance, and communicating key project priorities. The role strengthens internal and external collaboration by tracking high‑priority projects, facilitating meetings, and responding to stakeholders in a timely manner. Through active participation in planning processes and work program development, it supports informed decision‑making and advances the Department’s long‑range transportation goals.

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 Five

719 S. Woodland Boulevard

DeLand, FL 32720

Annual Salary Range:

$62,776.02  - $ 81,239.55

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Serves as the Department's representative at all Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meetings; including Technical Committees, Citizen's Advisory Committees, Governing Board meetings, Central Florida MPO Alliance, Florida's Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council, and other meetings assigned by the supervisor.  Prepares and coordinates reports and presentations for board meetings and committees, follows-up on meeting action items pertaining to Department business, and submits meeting notes to the Department's management team. Coordinates, tracks, and develops responses to action items and request received from elected officials, staff, and MPO board members in a timely manner. Serves as an advisor to senior management and leads briefings with Department Manager’s on MPO related matters.

Coordinates the Department's Metropolitan Planning Program in accordance with Florida Statute and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) MPO Handbook. This includes oversight and monitoring of MPO operations and annual certification reviews of MPO performance. Reviews and coordinates the District's participation in the development of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Responsible for final review of prepared contracts and agreements, the encumbrance of related projects, and related invoices in a timely manner. Reviews and Processes all LRTP and TIP amendments to ensure project authorization. Coordinates with MPO staff on all related documents.

Serves as the principal advisor to the District Senior Management team, Department Manager’s, and Project Manager’s on all projects related to the MPO's List of Priority Projects (LOPP). Responsible for reviewing, knowing, and communicating the MPO's top priorities in all internal meetings related to project identified in the LOPP and participates in decision making. Coordinates, tracks, and develops responses related to projects listed in the LOPP to both the Department's internal and external partners. Coordinates and attends all project related meetings for projects listed on the LOPP. Actively coordinates with the Department's project managers and keeps up-to-date on with all communications related to LOPP project with both the sponsors and MPO staff. Coordinates and assists with scheduling project specific meetings with both FDOT's internal and external partners. Reviews and coordinates regularly with District Operations offices regarding active construction projects in the assigned planning area, and communicates updates with MPO staff and board members. 

Assists in the development of the District's Five Year Tentative Work program and the public hearing. Coordinates, develops, and presents the work program to the MPO's boards following the Work Program Development cycle.

Actively participating in the respective MPO/TPO planning area and County to which the employee is assigned. Participating in transportation related meetings and issues, City Commission meetings, and other programs and activities.  Prepares meeting summaries as appropriate for the district management team.

Responds to requests and assignments from the District Secretary, Director of Transportation Development, District 5 management, and Work Program.

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

Knowledge of:

• Principals of transportation planning, corridor planning, and community planning.
• Local planning processes and work program process and operations.
• Technical and political relationships between the Department and local governments.
• List of priority projects.
• MPO planning process.
• FL Dept of Transportation MPO Handbook.

Skills in:

• Managing time and multiple tasks.
• Analyzing and evaluating data, reports, presentations, procedures, policies and other documentation.

Ability to:

• Work in a team environment.
• Maintain productive and professional relationships.
• Personal computer applications.
• Conduct research.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external partners.
• Effectively use Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Other Job-Related Requirements:

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

Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 years of professional or nonprofessional experience (including internships or co-ops) experience in the field of transportation, planning, public administration, engineering or logistics to which the position is assigned; or Registration as a Professional Engineer in accordance with Florida Statute 471. 
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the fields above can substitute for 4 years of the require 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.  

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.