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Job Description
Description
Advance Active Transportation. Shape the Future of Mobility.
Join Our Team as a Safe Routes to School Planner
The Opportunity
The City of Palo Alto’s Office of Transportation invites experienced transportation planners to bring their expertise, creativity, and commitment to community impact as our next Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Planner.
In this role, you’ll lead strategies that make it safer, easier, and more appealing for students and families to walk, bike, and roll. You will blend technical planning, program design, and public engagement to improve mobility, support sustainability goals, and enhance quality of life across Palo Alto.
If you are passionate about transforming transportation systems and delivering measurable results, this is your opportunity to drive meaningful change in a city that leads by example.
About Us: Office of Transportation
The Office of Transportation is a recognized leader in sustainable mobility and innovation. Our team develops programs and projects that make Palo Alto’s streets safer, more accessible, and future-ready.
We focus on:
Implementing Safe Routes to School education and infrastructure improvements
Advancing mode shift strategies that reduce congestion and emissions
Delivering multi-modal transportation solutions through regional collaboration
Using data-driven approaches and community input to guide decision-making
Here, planners are empowered to pilot creative solutions, apply best practices, and make a visible impact.
Why Work for the City of Palo Alto?
Palo Alto is the birthplace of Silicon Valley, where innovation meets public service. As a full-service city with its own utilities, airport, and public safety, we combine resources and vision to deliver excellence.
When you join our team, you’ll find:
A High-Trust Environment - Your expertise is respected and your ideas matter.
Tangible Impact - Your work directly improves safety, health, and sustainability for the community.
Growth and Learning - We invest in your development through training, conferences, and professional networks.
What You’ll Do
As the Safe Routes to School Planner, you will:
Plan and Deliver Innovative Programs- Develop and deliver K-12 pedestrian and bicycle safety curricula that reflect industry best practices.
- Create engaging campaigns and materials to encourage active transportation.
Lead Cross-Sector Collaboration- Serve as the liaison between the City, Palo Alto Unified School District, PTA Council, and community stakeholders.
- Recruit, train, and support school champions and volunteers.
Evaluate and Strengthen Programs- Update and implement the SRTS 5-Year Plan and Equity Plan.
- Measure program outcomes, analyze data, and prepare detailed reports for leadership and the public.
Advance Infrastructure and System Improvements- Gather and share community feedback to inform safety improvements.
- Update Walk and Roll Maps and collaborate with engineering teams on infrastructure projects.
Secure Funding and Promote Innovation- Pursue grants to expand program reach.
- Bring forward-thinking strategies to pilot new approaches and enhance impact.
This role requires flexible scheduling, including occasional evenings and weekends for community events.
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a planner who combines strategic thinking with a passion for community-focused transportation solutions.
You will excel in this role if you:- Have experience designing and managing transportation programs and projects.
- Are skilled at analyzing data and turning insights into action.
- Communicate clearly with diverse audiences, from city leaders to parents and students in writing and presenting.
- Thrive in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment.
- Share our commitment to sustainability, safety, and equity in mobility.
What You’ll Need
Education & Experience:- Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Health, or a related field.
- Three (3) years of professional experience in transportation planning, Safe Routes to School, or active transportation programs.
License:- Valid California Driver’s License.
Preferred Skills:- League Certified Instructor (LCI) certification from the League of American Bicyclists.
- Familiarity with GIS tools, Adobe suite, transportation data analysis, or grant writing.
- Experienced transportation planners or plangineers is a plus
Work Environment
This position balances program planning and evaluation in an office setting with site visits, community engagement, and collaboration with school and city partners.
Benefits Highlights- CalPERS Pension - Lifetime retirement income with up to 100% of your highest salary
- Fully Paid Medical, Dental & Vision - Coverage for you and eligible dependents
- Six Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Up to $10,000/year in Childcare Assistance
- Generous Time Off - Up to 200 vacation hours plus 13 paid holidays
- Commuter Perks - Clipper BayPass and other incentives
Visit our Careers Page to learn more and explore MOAs between the City and its employee groups.
.Tentative Interview Timeline
First Round Interviews: Week of September 8, 2025 (subject to change)
Final Interviews: Week of September 15, 2025 (subject to change)
Candidates moving forward will be notified directly of any schedule updates.
Ready to Shape the Future of Active Transportation?
Apply today and help create a safer, healthier, and more connected Palo Alto for generations to come.
This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Prepares environmental assessments and environmental impact reports on projects submitted for City approval.
- Evaluates the design of projects submitted for Architectural Review Board (ARB) review.
- Oversees the preparation of packet material for the ARB.
- Evaluates and prepares reports on projects submitted for Planning or Transportation Division approval including projects requiring variances, conditional use permits, site and design approval, nonconforming use extensions, subdivisions and other types of projects requiring some form of discretionary Planning or Transportation Division approval.
- Prepares reports on special planning transportation studies for the ARB, Planning Commission, City Council, appointed committees and other City staff.
- Assists in plan preparation, coordination, monitoring and other activities related to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other federal, state and local housing programs.
- Prepares revised elements to the Comprehensive Plan.
- Makes public presentations before appointed boards, commissions, committees, and the City Council.
- Oversees maintenance of Planning and Transportation Division data files.
Related Functions:
- As needed, assigns and monitors work of technical and temporary personnel who may assist in the above tasks.
- Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:
- Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field from an accredited college or university. and - Three years of suitable professional experience in urban or transportation planning.
Special Requirements:
Possession of a valid California Driver's License. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to analyze planning or transportation issues and problems in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to develop responses and solutions to planning or transportation issues.- Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively.- Ability to work with a minimum of supervision.- Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include sitting for extended periods of time and operating assigned equipment and vehicles.- Ability to communicate with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.- Ability to operate assigned equipment.- Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions. Working Conditions / Physical Requirements
Work in an office environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time. Regular field work is necessary in order to perform environmental review on all projects assigned.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 8/18/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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