Turn Data into Impact — Join NOACA as a Planner II in Transportation Modeling!

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is where data-driven insight shapes real-world transportation decisions. As the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Areawide Water Quality Management Agency for Greater Cleveland and the surrounding counties of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina, NOACA leads regional planning that supports economic development, preserves infrastructure, and enhances quality of life for 2.1 million residents.

We are seeking a Planner II to join our Transportation Planning and Engineering Division, supporting the region’s travel forecasting and modeling program—one of the most critical tools used to guide transportation investments and policy decisions across Northeast Ohio.

NOACA’s Vision:

We STRENGTHEN regional cohesion
We PRESERVE existing infrastructure
We BUILD a sustainable, multimodal transportation system
We SUPPORT economic development
We ENHANCE quality of life

This role directly contributes to achieving that vision through data, analysis, and collaboration.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Planner II (Transportation Modeling) plays a vital role in developing, maintaining, and analyzing NOACA’s regional travel forecasting model. You will work extensively with GIS and travel demand modeling software to build model inputs, analyze outputs, and translate complex data into insights that inform regional and project-level transportation planning.

This position reports to the Manager of Transportation Modeling and is ideal for a technically curious planner who enjoys working at the intersection of data, modeling, and real-world decision-making.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Primary Responsibilities

• Collect, analyze, and maintain transit, parking, roadway, and socioeconomic data for use in the regional travel forecasting model
• Create and update model input files, including road networks, transit routes, traffic counts, parking costs, and demographic data
• Analyze and visualize model outputs, such as traffic volumes, growth rates, and travel patterns
• Produce maps, diagrams, and data products including intersection turning movements and traffic volume maps
• Maintain and organize model inputs and outputs across multiple forecast years and project scenarios
• Incorporate projects from the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Long-Range Plan (LRP) into future-year modeling scenarios
• Assist with demographic and socioeconomic forecasting to support agency planning initiatives
• Develop innovative approaches to improve the modeling of multi-modal transportation options, such as transit, bicycling and walking.

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in internal and external meetings
• Present work products to NOACA councils, subcommittees, and the Board of Directors
• Respond to internal and external data requests
• Support consultant selection processes and proposal evaluations
• Contribute to special projects and cross-division initiatives

OUR LEADERSHIP & CULTURE — SERVANT LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY:

At NOACA, leadership is not limited to job titles. All employees are expected to embody Servant Leadership Accountability, which means:

• Approaching work with humility, integrity, and a commitment to public service
• Collaborating openly and respectfully across teams and disciplines
• Taking ownership of accuracy, quality, and follow-through
• Communicating clearly and supporting shared understanding
• Contributing to a culture of trust, learning, recognition, and wellbeing

You will be part of a team that values expertise and people—where your work matters and your growth is supported.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, civil engineering, or a related field, plus two years of relevant experience
• Authorization to work in the United States
• Experience with GIS software and geoprocessing tools
• Experience accessing and analyzing public datasets (e.g., U.S. Census, ODOT TIMS)
• Strong research, data analysis, and organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Experience with SQL, Python, R, or similar scripting languages
• Interest or experience in travel demand modeling or transportation data analysis

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and education
• Tuition and Certification Reimbursement
• Career Pathing and Annual Training and Development Planning
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, plus vacation, sick, and personal time
• A Generous Parental Leave Program facilitating family growth
• Employee Assistance Programming
• Employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
• Employer-sponsored life insurance
• Participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
• Voluntary benefit programs and professional development opportunities

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

NOACA offers a hybrid work environment that supports flexibility and work-life balance, including:

• Telecommuting every Monday
• 24 additional discretionary telecommute days per year

WHY NOACA:

NOACA is a collaborative, mission-driven organization where talented professionals:

• Are respected as experts
• Work on high-impact regional initiatives
• Grow their skills with supportive leadership
• Contribute to a culture that values wellbeing, innovation, and public service

If you’re excited by transportation data, modeling, and shaping the future of Northeast Ohio, we invite you to apply.

Analyze with purpose. Model with impact. Serve the region.