Associate, Transit, Metropolitan Planning Council

Who: Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago, Illinois 

Department: Transit

Employment Type: Full-Time

Minimum Experience: Experienced 

Compensation: $60,000-$65,000

Description 

The position will report to the Director of Transportation, supporting both transportation and water resources projects, and work closely with others on staff in multi-disciplinary project teams. 

Scope of Role 

The Associate will support research, advocacy, and project coordination including for transportation and water resources projects. The Associate performs task management in support of projects, managing internal and external communications to project partners, conducts foundational research, supports advocacy activities, develops meeting summaries and documentation and supports tracking project outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Project coordination and support for transportation, water resources and related projects 
• Stakeholder outreach, meeting management, documenting and tracking project outcomes 

• Analytical research in support of program efforts  
• Data analysis and use of GIS to analyze trends and create maps as well as other data visualizations to communicate research findings 
• Advocacy activities including participating in various coalitions to collaborate on advancing policy change, and supporting development of correspondence and blogs to describe policy issues and solutions

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

• Knowledge of federal, state, and regional transportation agencies and processes   
• Ability to conduct analysis of transportation data sets including Census, household travel survey and specialized data such as regional sidewalk dataset
• Ability to conduct mapping and analysis in GIS 
• Experience analyzing and translating research findings into practical recommendations that can inform policy decisions
• Knowledge or interest in water resources policy is a plus 

• Strong oral and written communication and time management skills 
• Ability to analyze data in support of research, projects, reports and other communications 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and organize efficient work processes, collaborating with managers and peers, supporting timely outcomes 
• A nimble and creative mindset with emotional intelligence, compassion, patience, and a sense of humor
• Interpersonal communication skills strong enough to test and embrace new ways of working

Education & Experience 

• A bachelor's degree in public policy, urban planning, public administration or other relevant fields. Master’s degree is highly desirable. Depth of experience may be substituted for formal or degree certification. 

Please respond to the following prompts in the cover letter:

• Please detail experience with GIS and data analysis
• Please describe experience working on transportation planning and policy issues
• Please detail any experience working on water policy issues
• Please detail experience maintaining productivity in a dynamic working environment

For more information and to Apply visit: Metropolitan Planning Council 

Administrative Assistant @ Metropolitan Planning Council (Chicago)

Who: Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago, IL

What: MPC seeks a detail-minded Administrative Assistant who possesses enthusiasm for the Metropolitan Planning Council’s agenda and an eagerness to assist our staff in furthering our mission. The Administrative Assistant provides programmatic and organizational support to advance MPC’s priorities. The Assistant will also provide specific administrative support to three senior staff—Emily Blum, Director of Marketing and Communications, Alden Loury, Director of Research and Evaluation and Audrey Wennink, Director of Transportation. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for: 

-fielding phone calls and emails, managing e-mailings, assisting with hospitality needs in the reception and Conference room spaces, and other general administrative tasks;

-scheduling, coordinating, and handling meeting preparation and follow-up and occasional travel arrangements for three Director-level staff;

-coordinating meetings, including drafting agendas and correspondence, communicating needs and deadlines to relevant staff members and preparing meeting minutes;

-coordinating logistics for MPC internal and external events, with guidance from MPC’s Events Manager, Angie Leyva;

-researching, drafting and producing memos, correspondence and blog posts for a diverse set of clients and constituents;

-facilitating effective internal communication and collaboration between program, research, communications, development and management team staff; 

-and updating MPC’s Raiser’s Edge constituent database and mailing lists. 

Qualifications: 

-Entrepreneurial: a self-starter, able to proactively identify, prioritize and complete tasks, handle multiple projects and deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment, able to chart a course and map out the path to a problem solution, and extremely detail-oriented.

-Relationship Builder: able to develop sincere connections and establish rapport with diverse groups and individuals, able to maintain and cultivate relationships even during conflict.

-Passionate, Eager and Positive: passionate about the issues that MPC addresses and committed to supporting the organization’s mission, able to contribute positively to group problem solving, always seeking solutions, volunteering and taking initiative.

-Curious: demonstrates desire for lifelong learning and self-improvement, engaged in the news and current events, not afraid to ask why and seek to understand context.

-Team Player: capable and willing to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers, consult the team for guidance, value positive contributions, tap strengths of all staff and ask for help when needed.

-Strong Communicator: an excellent writer and communicator who can competently represent the organization and its work to the public, board members, donors and audiences of all kinds.

-Analytical Thinker: able to identify root causes and causal relationships, challenge assumptions and identify pros and cons of possible paths forward.

-Socially and Emotionally Intelligent: able to read people and situations, anticipate reactions, read between the lines, and be aware of emotional reaction. 

To apply, send the following by email or mail: resume and salary history, a brief writing sample, and three references to: 

Skyler Larrimore, Metropolitan Planning council, 140 S. Dearborn Suite 1400, Chicago IL 60603

manager@metroplanning.org