The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region’s success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region’s collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information, and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.

ARC has a proven record of advancing regional initiatives despite complex challenges. The agency is highly influential with local governments that collectively impact the region across various issues including land use, housing, transportation, natural resources, and economic development. ARC is uniquely positioned to offer a powerful combination of knowledge and resources to make a difference in the Atlanta region.

•Staff Leadership: Leads the Transportation Planning department’s staff, including conducting performance evaluations, providing training and professional development, and managing hiring, disciplinary, and termination processes as needed.
•Strategic Planning: Develops and executes a comprehensive regional transportation planning strategy aligned with the ARC’s Strategic Framework and federal transportation planning requirements.
•Regional Transportation Plan: Leads the development, adoption, and updates of the long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), defining the Atlanta region’s strategic multimodal transportation vision and investment priorities.
•Transportation Improvement Program: Oversees the development and maintenance of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – the short-range program of funded transportation projects – ensuring that project selection and funding allocations align with the RTP’s priorities and fiscal constraints.
•Unified Planning Work Program: Manages the preparation of the annual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), which outlines the MPO’s planning activities, studies, and budgets, and ensures effective use of federal transportation planning funds in coordination with state and federal partners.
•Multimodal Coordination: Coordinates regional planning across all transportation modes – including transit, freight, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian – to ensure an integrated, multimodal approach that improves mobility and safety throughout the region.
•Innovation and Data-Driven Planning: Promotes innovative approaches to transportation planning by integrating technology, data-driven analysis, scenario planning, and cross-sector collaboration to address current and future mobility challenges.
•Local Support and Technical Assistance: Provides technical assistance and policy guidance to local governments and agencies to support transportation project development and implementation, ensuring local initiatives are consistent with regional plans and policies.
•Public Engagement: Ensures robust public engagement and participation in the regional transportation planning process, seeking input from a wide range of community stakeholders and incorporating feedback to inform plans and programs.
•Partnerships and Interagency Coordination: Cultivates and maintains strong partnerships with regional, state, and federal partners – including local governments, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), transit agencies (e.g. MARTA and other operators), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – to ensure a collaborative approach to planning and funding transportation initiatives.
•Procurement and Project Management: Manages procurement and consultant selection processes for transportation planning studies and projects, including developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), evaluating and selecting proposals, preparing contracts, and monitoring contractor performance and deliverables.
•Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local transportation planning laws and regulations (e.g. FAST Act and IIJA/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements, air quality conformity rules, etc.), including the timely and accurate preparation of required plans, reports, and documentation for funding agencies.
•Policy Monitoring: Monitors, reviews, and interprets changes in federal and state transportation legislation, policies, and technical guidance; advises ARC leadership and regional stakeholders on emerging issues, new requirements, and implications for the region’s transportation plans and projects.
•Team Culture and Development: Leads and inspires a team of professional transportation planners and modelers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the department.
•Budgeting and Fiscal Oversight: Prepares and administers the Transportation Planning department’s budget, including management of federal and state grant funds; monitors expenditures to ensure efficient use of resources and adherence to budgetary constraints and grant requirements.
•Regional Leadership and Committees: Serves on various regional and statewide committees and working groups to advance transportation policy development, advocate for the Atlanta region’s needs, and enhance interagency coordination on mobility initiatives.
•Presentations and Communications: Makes presentations and reports to the ARC Board, the MPO’s Transportation & Air Quality Committee (TAQC), technical coordinating committees, elected officials, civic and business groups, and other stakeholders to communicate regional transportation plans, project updates, and policy recommendations.
•ARC Leadership Team: As a member of ARC’s leadership team, provides expert advice and technical guidance on transportation issues to ARC executive management, staff, and Board members, contributing to agency-wide strategic discussions and decision-making.
•Advocacy and Representation: Represents ARC’s transportation planning interests in regional, state, and national forums; explains, justifies, and defends the region’s transportation programs and policy decisions; negotiates and resolves sensitive or controversial issues among diverse stakeholders as necessary.
•Information Requests: Responds to requests for information from ARC Board members, local elected officials, partner agencies, and the general public regarding regional transportation plans, programs, and project funding.
•Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned to support ARC’s overall mission and regional goals.

Master’s degree in urban or regional planning, transportation planning, civil engineering, public or business administration or field directly related to assignment, and six years of progressively responsible related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience.

Additional Information

About ARC:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region’s success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region’s collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships. 

ARC Strategic Framework

Vision — ONE great REGION

Mission Statement

The Atlanta Regional Commission fosters thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Our Goals

1. Healthy, safe, livable communities in the Atlanta metro area.
2. Strategic investments in people, infrastructure, mobility, and preserving natural resources.
3. Regional services delivered with operational excellence and efficiency.
4. Diverse stakeholders engage and take a regional approach to solve local issues.
5. A competitive economy that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient.

Our Core Values

Excellence | A commitment to doing our best and going above and beyond in every facet of our work allowing for innovative practices and actions to be created while ensuring our agency’s and our colleague’s success.

Equity | We represent a belief that there are some things which people should have, that there are basic needs that should be fulfilled, that burdens and rewards should not be spread too divergently across the community, and that policy should be directed with impartiality, fairness and justice towards these ends.

Integrity | In our conduct, communication, and collaboration with each other and the region’s residents, we will act with consistency, honesty, transparency, fairness and accountability within and across each of our responsibilities and functions.

Application Process:

The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for individuals who enjoy working in a public service environment where the mission is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Atlanta region. ARC serves as a forum where leaders come together to discuss and act on issues of regionwide consequence, so it is important that our staff share the public entrepreneurial spirit that defines ARC.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, ARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion or disability.

For questions about recruitment, or to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or testing process, please contact ARC at 404-463-3100 or Human Resources via email at hr@atlantaregional.org.

• Knowledge of Federal Transportation Policy: Extensive understanding of federal transportation planning laws, regulations, and funding programs (e.g. FAST Act, IIJA/BIL) and best practices for multimodal metropolitan transportation planning.
• Regional Planning Principles: Knowledge of the principles and practices of metropolitan regional planning and strategic transportation planning, including the integration of land use and transportation decision-making.
• Executive Leadership: Strong grasp of the principles and practices of executive and strategic leadership, with the ability to set a clear vision and direction for a complex program.
• Program and Project Management: Knowledge of principles and practices of program administration and project management, including work plan development, scheduling, and performance monitoring.
• Data Analysis and Performance Management: Skill in applying data-driven decision-making and performance-based planning techniques; able to analyze transportation data and performance metrics to inform policies and investments.
• Budgeting and Fiscal Management: Understanding of budgeting, grant management, and fiscal stewardship in a public sector environment, especially as it relates to federally funded transportation programs and projects.
• Intergovernmental Relations: Knowledge of intergovernmental relations and stakeholder engagement practices; ability to effectively collaborate with government agencies, elected officials, and community organizations.
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: Skill in conflict resolution and negotiation strategies to facilitate consensus and resolve disputes among various stakeholders and interest groups.
• Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex transportation concepts in clear, non-technical language.
• Public Presentation: Proficiency in delivering effective presentations to boards, policy committees, elected officials, and public groups, with an ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences.
• Facilitation and Consensus-Building: Ability to plan and facilitate group discussions, public meetings, and committee sessions, and to build consensus around regional transportation initiatives and priorities.
• Contract Administration: Knowledge of contract administration and public procurement practices; able to manage consultant contracts and ensure accountability for scope, schedule, and budget.
• Initiative Leadership: Ability to lead large-scale regional initiatives and complex planning projects from conception through implementation, achieving results in line with strategic goals.
• Team Building: Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams; fosters open communication, collaboration, and a culture of trust, innovation, and excellence among staff.
• Partnership Development: Ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships with diverse stakeholders across government, industry, and the community to advance regional transportation goals.
• Regulatory and Policy Acumen: Familiarity with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes related to transportation planning, funding, and implementation (e.g. metropolitan planning regulations, air quality standards, Title VI civil rights requirements, etc.).