Application Deadline: 10/12/2025 11:59 PM Central

To apply, click through to the full job posting.

Are you looking for a meaningful career opportunity in a great environment?  Look no further than the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Local Systems Bureau. The Local Systems Bureau is seeking qualified applicants for the Transportation Planner 2 position, which is the Federal-aid Project Manager.  This position is responsible for managing the concurrent development of seventy-plus Federal-aid projects with local project sponsors. The Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA Set-aside) Program awards federal funds to a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, and community improvements such as historic preservation, vegetation management, and some environmental mitigation related to storm water and habitat connectivity.

Residency: The selected candidate will be required to live in the state of Iowa, but the work location can be discussed and assigned upon hire, as we offer a remote working environment. 

Shift Requirements: This position is full-time (80 hours/bi-weekly) Monday through Friday. Some travel will be required to meet with the public and local, state, and federal agency staff.

As the Federal-aid Project Manager, you will work with local project sponsors and designers, and monitor project development and contract administration to ensure that projects comply with the terms of the project funding agreement and follow appropriate procedures.  Some of this would include:

• Develop projects awarded funding through the $17 million Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA Set-aside) Program, as well as other projects awarded state or federal funding by the Department, as assigned.
• Prepare project agreements using the applicable approved template, and review any deviations from the agreement with the team leader and bureau director.
• Review projects for continued program eligibility, concerns, and satisfactory performance throughout development of the project, during construction, and at the time of project close-out.  
• Identify any areas of non-compliance and coordinate the resolution of any issues with local project sponsors, designers, other Iowa DOT Bureaus, contractors, and, as applicable, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  
• Project development and contract administration activities also include preparing project agreements, securing environmental clearances, authorizing funding obligations with the FHWA (as applicable), reviewing project plans and specifications with assistance, assisting with a local letting or Iowa DOT letting, providing assistance regarding the interpretation of specifications, monitoring construction progress, comparing construction material and service invoices against lists of reimbursable items, reviewing the final project, and completing a final audit. 
• Resolve any contract disputes.
• managing existing grant program databases, completing various reports, and providing assistance to the program managers of Iowa's Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP), Federal Recreational Trails, Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE), State Recreational Trails, TA Set-aside, and Iowa Byways programs. 
• Plan and implement future improvements to data management to result in the efficient administration of the grant programs. 
• Interact with project sponsors, designers, contractors, planning agencies, user groups, the FHWA, and other Iowa DOT Bureaus through verbal and written communication and will use databases and web applications, including, but not limited to, Transportation Program Management System (TPMS), Masterworks, Financial Management Information System (FMIS), Doc Express, and Appia.  
• Provide information and monitor project sponsor compliance with state and federal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI. 

Thus, a strong proficiency with database management and familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS) is preferred. 

Additional Requirements:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in the State of Iowa.

Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

What we offer YOU as a State of Iowa employee:

 - Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance.

 - Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2025 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here.

 - Opportunities for professional growth and development.

 - Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.

 - Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match

 - Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.

 - Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling, legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply today!

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us

Reasonable accommodation includes an interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in professional transportation planning*/engineering.
2. Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board.
3. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of full-time work as a Transportation Planner 1.

* "Transportation planning" includes preparing planning contracts and grants; managing planning grant application submittals and project development; preparing functional classification appeals; developing travel demand models and traffic forecasts; creating cartographic representations and data collection applications; analyzing transportation data, project plans, and reports to identify problems; developing portions of statewide transportation plans; or conducting/coordinating transportation research projects.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.