Planning Strategy Consultant (Planning Analyst)

Planning Strategy Consultant (Planning Analyst)

Salary

$96,512.00 - $156,624.00 Annually

Location

Heywood Office and Operations Facility, Minneapolis, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-00278

Division

Metro Transit

Department

Planning & Proj Delivery Admin

Opening Date

07/22/2026

Closing Date

8/5/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transit is one of the country's largest transit systems, employing more than 3,200 people, and provides rides through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains.

Formed in 2026 as result of an agency-wide structural assessment and reorganization, Planning & Project Delivery is Metro Transit's new unified planning group, bringing together four business units: Arterial BRT, Facilities Planning & Administration, Service Development, and Transit-Oriented Development. We plan for Metro Transit's network of bus routes, our growing network of BRT and LRT transitways, more than 8,000 bus stops, stations, and mobility hubs, and dozens of facilities that support Metro Transit's employees in delivering daily operations. We integrate transit, land use, and infrastructure, guiding transit-oriented development in the Twin Cities region and developing short- and long-range plans in coordination with community, cities, counties, and state partners.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

Reporting to the Assistant General Manager, Planning and Project Delivery, the Planning Strategy Consultant is a force multiplier and strategic doer on a broad range of planning and organizational topics needed to drive success of Metro Transit's new unified planning group.

As we deliver a broad and high-impact portfolio to improve transit in the Twin Cities region, Planning & Project Delivery is also working to unify Metro Transit's planning vision through strategic focus areas:

• Strengthen shared foundations around principles, processes, and repeatable planning cycles
• Develop new workstreams for integrated capital planning, long-range network visioning, and financial modeling
• Evolve our group structure, communications, and culture

The selected candidate in this newly created position will drive a portfolio of planning projects and initiatives in support of our strategic focus areas, including business process improvements within planning domains, organizational change management, and planning-aligned budget processes to link Metro Transit's 25-year financial model to ongoing capital and service planning cycles.

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $46.40 Hourly - $56.70 Hourly ($96,512 Annually - $117,939.12 Annually)

The starting salary will be based on the selected candidates experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity, and includes a generous benefits package.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and in-office) telework arrangement. Candidates permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

What you would do in this job

• Develop, maintain, and improve planning-aligned financial modeling tools to tie service and capital investment scenarios to resources.
• Provide project management, including facilitating meetings, tracking action items and the identification of clear deliverables, for a range of planning initiatives and topics.
• Develop a range of communication materials, including written reports, presentations, and compelling data visualizations, to clearly articulate goals, processes, and outcomes for both internal and external audiences on a range of key planning initiatives or topics.
• Complete a range of research projects to analyze data and business processes, clearly articulate the problem and possible solutions, and recommend improvements for implementation.
• Develop and maintain standard business processes and tools for staff to track, update and report progress on deliverables associated with a range of topics.
• Collaborate with key agency stakeholders on a range of planning issues, encouraging cooperative action and problem resolution while coordinating work and managing dependencies with other Metro Transit projects and efforts.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of progressive planning related experience which must include two (2) years of project management or team lead experience and completed education in planning, political science, public administration or a related field:

• High school diploma/GED with at least nine (9) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Associate degree with seven (7) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Bachelors degree with five (5) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.
• Masters degree or higher with three (3) or more years of progressive experience including two years of project management or team lead experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience leading or supporting complex, cross-departmental or interagency initiatives.
• Experience in program budgeting and financial analysis, with the ability to develop, manage, and interpret financial modeling tools.
• Proficiency in principles of transit service planning and route / network design.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to create clear and compelling written and presentation materials for executive leadership, elected officials, and public stakeholders.
• Ability to take initiative and drive results in dynamic environments, managing ambiguity, competing priorities, and tight deadlines effectively.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization, with advanced skills in Excel, PowerBI, and/or other analytics platforms and tools.
• Ability to promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values cultural diversity among all employees.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of Metro Transit's planning and project delivery functions and the organizational context in which they work.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; demonstrated ability to manage all phases of complex projects with diverse project teams.
• Skilled with Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, with ability to perform planning and data analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.
• Ability to interpret Metro Transit's financial models and apply your skills to improve and integrate these tools with planning processes.
• Ability to assemble, interpret and visualize data in support of sound decision making.
• Ability to understand data visualization tools to help display and communicate data trends and analysis.
• Ability to coach staff on how to translate ideas into actionable steps, breaking down strategic visions into strategies and deliverables.
• Ability to lead and facilitate large, cross-functional meetings by identifying unique strengths and negotiating common visions.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Grade: Non-represented / Grade I

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some positions may require travel between primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education and employment if not verified previously. If the job youre applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards, you must pass a criminal background check. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

We believe our employees are a key to our agencys success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

03

If you selected Other, please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected Employee Referral please enter the employees first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option that best matches your education and experience related to the Strategic Consultant minimum requirements:

• High school diploma or GED and at least nine (9) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Associates degree in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least seven (7) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Bachelors degree in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least five (5) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• Masters degree or higher in planning, political science, public administration, or a similar degree field and at least three (3) years of progressive planning related experience including two (2) years of project management or team lead experience.
• None of the above.

05

Please describe your experience leading or supporting complex, cross-departmental or interagency initiatives. If this doesnt apply to you, type N/A.

06

Please describe your approach to applying project management strategies to planning processes. What strategies and tools do you use to communicate status, risks, and progress? If this doesnt apply to you, type N/A.

07

Do you have strong interpersonal and communication skills?

• Yes
• No

08

If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide an example of a time you had to communicate to influence executive leaders, elected officials, or the public. What was the purpose, and how did you tailor your communication for the audience? If this doesnt apply to you, type N/A.

09

Do you have the ability to take initiative and drive results in fast-paced environments, managing ambiguity, competing priorities, and tight deadlines effectively?

• Yes
• No

10

If you answered yes to the previous question, please describe a situation where you had to navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, or tight deadlines. How did you stay action-oriented and ensure progress? If this doesnt apply to you, type N/A.

11

Please share how you have promoted an equitable, positive, respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees. If this doesnt apply to you, type N/A.

12

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify the following statement:

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI. I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars, external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

Required Question

Employer Metropolitan Council

Address 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website https://metrocouncil.org