You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.
Email

NEWJERSEY DEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATION  

POSTING #: 25-00178 

TITLE: Planner Trainee 

ISSUE DATE: 8/8/2025 

CLOSING DATE: 8/29/2025 

DIVISION: Statewide Planning 

LOCATION: Ewing 

UNIT: Office of Freight Planning 

SALARY: $56,253.35 

WORK WEEK: 40 hours 

DESCRIPTION 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is seeking candidates for the position of Planner Trainee within the Division of Statewide Planning, Office of Freight Planning. Planner Trainees are assigned a 40 - hour work week. Current starting salary is $56,253.35 and after six months is $58,817.70 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) currently offers a telework pilot program, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work at your primary residence outside of your assigned DOT work location. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJDOT employees to establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. New hires will not be eligible for the telework pilot program until they successfully complete their 4 - month working test period. 

The Division of Statewide Planning is responsible for numerous key planning functions, including delivering New Jersey's Long Range Statewide Transportation Plan (LRSTP), the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP), coordinating the Department's Transportation Performance Management (TPM) activities, maintaining and updating Appendix B of the State Highway Access Management Code, and processing access classification change requests. 

The Office of Freight Planning (OFP) operates under the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Division of Statewide Planning and is funded primarily by the Federal State Planning & Research (SPR) Program and secondarily by State Transportation Trust Fund. The office develops, produces and manages the federally mandated Statewide Freight Plan. The office is responsible for the oversight and advancement of freight related programs, projects, planning consultant services, and the advancement of goals developed and recommended in the New Jersey Statewide Freight Plan. 

Through strategic planning, coordination and partnerships, the OFP facilitates the movement of goods and freight statewide. The Office is responsible for freight planning activities encompassing all modes of freight distribution: highway, rail, and water. The OFP maintains a Freight Management System (FMS), the primary asset database for the identification of critical Highway freight needs. Staff manage and oversee numerous freight planning initiatives and projects. Staff works closelywith Department and Federal counterparts to gather data on all modes, particularly trucks, to inform the Department on the best use of resources for the maintenance and improvement of the state's highway infrastructure. 

Job Description 

The Planner Trainee candidate should be prepared to do the following under close supervision: 

• Learn to independently prepare graphics and visual presentation materials suitable for meetings and public stakeholder dissemination.

• Participate constructively with professionals in freight transportation planning studies and forums in the region. 

• Facilitate communication between multiple government agencies and consultants to develop and execute freight related projects/programs. 

• Represent NJDOT on a number of working groups and committees at the regional, state and federal level. 

• Conduct research, participate in site visits, and handle data requests from various divisions, both internally and externally. 

• Monitor the work of consultant contracts and task orders with attention to detail. 

• Assist in implementing recommendations from NJ Statewide Freight Plan, by performing quantitative and qualitative research, analysis, and evaluations. 

• Learn to review and propose changes/upgrades to the existing regulations to facilitate freight movement in the region. 

• Research grant sources, prepare and review grant applications. 

• Participate in public outreach activities, prepare correspondence material, and respond to requests for information on local or regional freight issues. 

REQUIREMENTS NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Four (4) years of professional experience relevant to the position. 

NOTE: Please refer to the Advancement section located at the bottom of this title specification for a comprehensive list of approved journeyman titles connected to this trainee title. Experience must be related to the journeyman title associated with the position. 

OR 

Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by twenty - one (21) semester hour credits in professional planning subjects such as the principles of land use planning, history of city planning, planning project design, and planning law and administration. 

OR 

A valid license as a Professional Planner issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Planners. OR Possession of a current and valid credential as a Certified Planner issued by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). 

NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions. 

License: Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey. 

Preferred Qualities/Experience This title is an entry level position and must have the following preferred skills: 

• Ability to read and proofread, understand, and interpret laws, rules and regulations specific to the area of assignment, and apply them to specific situations. 

• Have strong technical writing skills. 

• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. 

• Ability to assemble, compile, interpret, and analyze data and information utilized to prepare technical reports. 

• Ability to establish and maintain records and files. 

• Ability to be detailed oriented and have knowledge of document publishing(s). 

• Ability to handle public speaking, engagements, and working dynamics. 

• Ability to maintain time management to meet priorities challenging deadlines. 

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with peers, supervisors, and others involved with the work of the agency. 

• Ability to assemble, compile, interpret, and analyze data and information utilized to prepare reports.  

• The candidate must be willing to drive independently to all areas of the state and be willing to drive or take mass - transit to job related meetings in the tri - state area (New Jersey, New York, and/orPennsylvania). 

For more information regarding this position, please refer to: http://info.csc.state.nj.us/jobspec/16469.htm 

BENEFITS PACKAGE 

As a NJ State Department, NJDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package including: 

• Health Care (medical, prescription drug, dental & vision care) 

• Pension 

• Deferred Compensation 

• 13 paid holidays 

• Benefit Leave (12 vacation days, 15 sick days and 3 administrative days) 

• Training & Tuition Aid Opportunities 

TO APPLY You must apply through the NJDOT website at: https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/employ/openings.shtm 

Submit a complete packet by the closing date that includes the following documents: 

• NJ State Application for Employment (Application instructions can be found at link above) • Letter of interest 

• Current resume 

• Copy of unofficial transcript OR foreign degree evaluation 

IMPORTANT NOTES 

Proof of Degree: You must provide transcript or evaluation of your UNDERGRADUATE degree. 

Foreign Degree Evaluation: If you obtained your undergraduate degree outside of the US, you MUST provide a Foreign Degree Evaluation from a USA recognized evaluation service agency that includes a course - by - course evaluation in order to be deemed eligible. Failure to provide evaluation will result in your application being disqualified. 

Incomplete Packets: Applicants MAY NOT be considered if they fail to provide all requested documents upon initial submittal or fail to follow instructions when submitting electronically. 

Applicants will be selected for an interview on the basis of their application/resume. 

Current State employees: Any appointments made that involve movement may result in a forfeiture of rights to any promotional lists in their former unit. 

Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

 NJDOT does not provide sponsorship or accept student OPT/CPT program, F1 or H1B work authorization visas. 

Residency: All persons newly hired on or after September 1, 2011 have one year from the date of employment to establish, and then maintain principal residence in the State of New Jersey subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:14 - 7 (L.2011, Chapter 70), also known as the "New Jersey First Act." 

NJDOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email dot - hr.ada@dot.nj.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case - by - case basis. 

SAME APPLICANTS: If you are under the NJ "SAME" program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by closing date indicated above. For more information on the SAME Program visit their Website at: https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml , email: SAME@csc.nj.gov , or call CSC 609 - 292 - 4144, option 3. 

New Jersey Is An Equal Opportunity Employer