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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Infrastructure Planner

💰 $65,000 - $120,000

Urban PlanningInfrastructureTransportationCivil EngineeringPublic Works

🎯 Role Definition

As an Urban Infrastructure Planner you will lead and coordinate planning, design review, and program management for transportation, stormwater, utilities, public realm, and civic infrastructure projects. The role requires blending technical knowledge (GIS, stormwater and traffic modeling, capital improvement program development) with strong stakeholder engagement, regulatory navigation, and project delivery skills. This position supports municipal and regional infrastructure objectives—improving mobility, resilience, sustainability, and asset performance—while ensuring compliance with land use policy, environmental review (NEPA/CEQA), and capital budgeting processes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Assistant Planner / Junior Urban Planner
  • Civil Engineering Technician or GIS Analyst
  • Transportation Planning Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Urban Infrastructure Planner / Lead Planner
  • Capital Projects Manager or Transportation Program Manager
  • Principal Planner / Director of Planning or Public Works

Lateral Moves:

  • Transportation Planner or Mobility Manager
  • Environmental Planner or Resilience Specialist
  • Infrastructure Asset Manager / Asset Management Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead comprehensive infrastructure planning studies (transportation corridors, stormwater basins, sewer and water supply networks, public realm improvements), producing technical reports, alternatives analyses, and recommendations that align with local policy and long-term capital improvement programs (CIP).
  • Develop, manage, and update the municipal Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and multi-year capital budgets, preparing cost estimates, cashflow projections, prioritization matrices, and funding strategies (grants, bonds, developer contributions).
  • Perform multimodal transportation planning, including corridor analyses, traffic impact studies, intersection control evaluations, bike/pedestrian network planning, and transit integration to improve safety, equity, and mobility.
  • Prepare and manage environmental review documents (Initial Studies, Environmental Assessments, EIRs/EISs) and compliance actions under NEPA, CEQA, and other state/local environmental regulations, coordinating with environmental specialists and regulatory agencies.
  • Conduct land use and zoning compatibility assessments for proposed developments and public projects; provide technical recommendations for zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and development agreements to align infrastructure capacity with growth.
  • Lead GIS-based spatial analysis, mapping, and visualization to support asset condition assessments, site selection, capacity modeling, and public-facing graphics that communicate project scope and impacts.
  • Coordinate design review and technical plan checks for infrastructure projects, ensuring engineering plans meet municipal design standards, ADA requirements, stormwater best management practices (BMPs), and permit conditions.
  • Manage stakeholder and public engagement programs—organizing public meetings, workshops, and hearings; preparing outreach materials; documenting input; and integrating community feedback into project alternatives and design.
  • Identify and pursue external funding opportunities (federal/state grants, regional programs, climate resilience funds); prepare grant applications, scopes of work, and deliverables; comply with grant reporting and audit requirements.
  • Oversee consultant procurement, scope development, contract management, and performance oversight for multidisciplinary design and planning teams delivering engineering, environmental, and community engagement services.
  • Perform infrastructure asset management tasks: inventorying assets, evaluating condition and performance, forecasting replacement/rehabilitation needs, and integrating findings into long-term financial and maintenance plans.
  • Conduct stormwater and hydrologic/hydraulic modeling (e.g., SWMM, HEC-RAS) to evaluate flood risk, design conveyance systems, green infrastructure, and urban drainage improvements to meet regulatory stormwater quality and floodplain requirements.
  • Collaborate with utility providers, engineering, public works, and transportation agencies to plan coordinated capital investments and minimize conflicts during construction and operations.
  • Develop performance metrics and KPIs for infrastructure programs (e.g., pavement condition index, transit on-time performance, drainage capacity), tracking outcomes and reporting to leadership and elected officials.
  • Prepare technical memos, feasibility studies, cost-benefit and lifecycle cost analyses, and policy briefs that inform council/commission decisions and public communications.
  • Lead corridor and streetscape design initiatives to improve safety and placemaking—integrating complete streets principles, traffic calming, transit priority, bike- and pedestrian-first design, and ADA accessibility.
  • Provide technical review and recommendations for developer-funded infrastructure, ensuring design, phasing, security, and off-site mitigation measures are appropriate and enforced.
  • Serve as the liaison with regulatory agencies (DOT, regional transit authorities, water boards, environmental protection agencies) to secure permits, approvals, and interagency agreements for capital projects.
  • Establish and maintain standard operating procedures, design guidelines, and infrastructure master plans that institutionalize best practices, sustainability goals, and resiliency measures across planning and capital delivery.
  • Manage project schedules, procurement milestones, and construction administration support—coordinating inspections, as-built documentation, change orders, and close-out deliverables.
  • Analyze socioeconomic and demographic data to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure investments and to identify priority areas for service improvements and anti-displacement strategies.
  • Integrate resilience and climate adaptation strategies into infrastructure planning—evaluating sea-level rise, heat islands, storm surge, and extreme precipitation impacts and proposing mitigation and managed retreat options where appropriate.

Secondary Functions

  • Support grant reporting, performance monitoring, and compliance documentation for active projects and awarded funds.
  • Assist in drafting policy updates, development standards, and urban design guidelines to streamline future approvals and ensure resilient infrastructure outcomes.
  • Provide technical assistance to elected officials, commission members, and community groups by preparing briefing packets, visual aids, and clear recommendations.
  • Participate in emergency preparedness and response coordination related to infrastructure disruptions (e.g., flood events, utility outages), supporting rapid damage assessment and recovery planning.
  • Maintain cross-departmental coordination for asset maintenance schedules and integration of new infrastructure into operations and maintenance (O&M) workflows.
  • Support pilot programs for emerging mobility solutions (micromobility, curb management, electric vehicle charging) by developing testing plans, monitoring results, and scaling recommendations.
  • Monitor regulatory and funding trends at federal, state, and regional levels and recommend strategic updates to capture new program opportunities and maintain compliance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Strong proficiency in GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) for mapping, suitability analysis, and asset inventories.
  • Experience with transportation modeling and analysis tools (Synchro/SimTraffic, Vissim, HCS) and traffic impact study methodology.
  • Competence in civil and site design software (AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation) and plan set review processes.
  • Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling experience (EPA SWMM, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD) for stormwater and floodplain analysis.
  • Familiarity with asset management systems and practices (Cityworks, Cartegraph) and lifecycle cost forecasting.
  • Knowledge of environmental review processes and regulatory frameworks (NEPA, CEQA, Clean Water Act, permitting).
  • Capital program and budget development skills: CIP planning, cost estimating, funding strategies, and grant administration.
  • Data analysis and visualization skills (Excel advanced modeling, Tableau, Power BI; Python/R a plus) to synthesize technical data into decision materials.
  • Understanding of land use planning, zoning code interpretation, site plan review, and development impact mitigation.
  • Experience preparing RFPs, managing consultants, and administering professional service contracts.
  • Working knowledge of complete streets design principles, ADA standards, and multimodal facility design.
  • Familiarity with sustainability, green infrastructure, and climate resilience design practices.
  • Ability to produce clear technical writing—feasibility studies, environmental documents, technical memos, and policy briefs.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication tailored to technical, elected, and public audiences.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills; able to manage contentious public meetings and build consensus.
  • Project management discipline: scheduling, risk management, budget control, and milestone delivery.
  • Strategic thinking and policy analysis—ability to translate technical data into actionable policy recommendations.
  • Collaborative team player who works effectively across departments, agencies, and with external partners.
  • Political acumen and professional diplomacy when interacting with elected officials, developers, and community advocates.
  • Problem-solving mindset with a focus on practical, implementable solutions and continuous improvement.
  • Time management and prioritization skills for balancing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
  • Adaptability and resilience in dynamic regulatory and funding environments.
  • Leadership and mentorship experience—coaching junior staff and guiding multidisciplinary teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Urban or Regional Planning (MUP, MURP), Urban Studies, Civil Engineering, or related graduate degree.
  • Professional certification such as AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) or PE (Professional Engineer) is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Urban & Regional Planning
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Geography / GIS
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Transportation Planning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3 – 7 years for mid-level Urban Infrastructure Planner roles; 7+ years for senior/lead positions.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of direct experience in municipal or regional infrastructure planning, CIP development, or transportation planning.
  • Demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and delivering public-sector capital projects.
  • Proven track record with grant writing and administering state/federal funding, environmental permitting, and public engagement for infrastructure programs.
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