Economic Development Assistant Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

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Position Overview
The Transportation/Transit Planner is a mid-level professional responsible for supporting and managing transportation planning projects, including Comprehensive Transportation Plans (CTPs), freight and goods movement studies, transportation safety plans, transit studies, active transportation plans, corridor studies, and multimodal planning initiatives. The position also supports community planning efforts, including comprehensive plans, small area plans, corridor redevelopment studies, and implementation strategies.
This role combines technical planning, project management, GIS analysis, community engagement, and client interaction to develop practical, data-driven solutions. The ideal candidate has 5-7 years of experience, can independently manage project tasks and smaller studies, communicates effectively with clients and stakeholders, and contributes to larger multidisciplinary projects.
Key Responsibilities
Transportation Planning

• Support and manage CTPs, freight, safety, transit, active transportation, corridor, and multimodal planning studies.
• Analyze transportation systems, travel patterns, crash data, freight movement, transit access, and bicycle and pedestrian networks.
• Develop recommendations, implementation strategies, project prioritization, performance measures, and funding strategies.
• Coordinate transportation recommendations with land use, economic development, and community planning objectives.

Community Planning

• Support comprehensive plans, small area plans, corridor studies, redevelopment plans, and implementation strategies.
• Conduct land use, demographic, housing, economic development, and community character analyses.
• Coordinate community planning recommendations with transportation, infrastructure, parks, housing, and economic development initiatives.
• Assist in preparing vision plans, policy recommendations, implementation programs, and capital investment strategies.

Project Management

• Manage project tasks, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and quality control.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, subconsultants, and agency partners.
• Assist with project scoping, work plans, and client coordination.

Technical Planning & GIS

• Conduct transportation, land use, demographic, and socioeconomic analyses.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and planning documents.
• Use GIS to analyze spatial data and develop high-quality maps, dashboards, and graphics that support planning recommendations.

Community Engagement

• Support public meetings, workshops, stakeholder interviews, and surveys.
• Present technical information clearly to clients, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Prepare engagement materials and document public input.
• Incorporate community feedback into project recommendations.

Client & Business Development

• Participate in client meetings, interviews, and presentations.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients, agency staff, and teaming partners.
• Attend regional planning meetings, professional conferences, industry organizations, and networking events to strengthen client relationships and support business development.
• Collaborate with planners, engineers, urban designers, economists, and other technical specialists.
• Support proposal development through technical writing, graphics, and interview preparation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Geography, Urban Design, or a related field.
• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience supporting or managing transportation planning projects such as CTPs, safety studies, transit plans, freight studies, or active transportation plans.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro and GIS-based analysis.

• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Power BI, Tableau, or ArcGIS Dashboards.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, communication, and organizational skills.

• AICP certification or progress toward certification.
• Experience with local governments, MPOs, DOTs, or transit agencies.
• Familiarity with transportation funding programs, project prioritization, and performance measures.

Core Competencies

• Project Management
• Transportation Planning
• Community Planning
• GIS & Data Analysis
• Technical Writing
• Verbal & Presentation Skills
• Client Relationship Management
• Community Engagement
• Collaboration
• Business Development
• Creative Problem Solving

Work Environment

• Manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Periodic travel for fieldwork, client meetings, and public engagement.
• Occasional evening meetings.
• Hybrid or in-office work environment.

Position Impact
This position helps deliver innovative transportation and community planning solutions that improve mobility, safety, accessibility, economic vitality, and quality of life. Through technical analysis, project management, GIS, stakeholder engagement, and strong client communication, the Project Manager / Planner develops practical, implementable recommendations while strengthening client relationships, contributing to business development, and building toward senior project management and technical leadership roles.
All Pond & Company positions require participation in at least one in-person interview as part of our hiring process, and most roles also require in-person onboarding at a Pond office location; candidates should expect to meet directly with our team and should be cautious of any communication suggesting otherwise.
About Pond
Pond is an award-winning, full-service architecture, engineering, planning, construction management, and environmental services firm providing professional solutions to clients throughout the U.S. and globally for nearly 60 years. Pond's staff of 800+ professionals provide a deep bench strength of experience and capabilities to offer customized solutions that help clients manage projects from concept to completion - and everything in between - with confidence and clarity. Pond is currently ranked as the 80th largest engineering and design firm by ENR, Atlanta's #1 engineering firm by Atlanta Business Chronicle, and has been recognized as an Employer of the Year by Georgia ACEC and a Best Place to Work for Working Parents.
Additional Information
Many factors are considered when determining compensation at Pond, including scope and level of position, geographic location, candidate skill, knowledge and experience. Starting base pay may vary depending on these factors. Please see the hiring range associated with this posting for more information.
Additional cash incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on position offered. Learn more about Pond's comprehensive benefits offerings here.
All offers of employment made by Pond & Company are contingent upon satisfactory background check results. Pre-employment background checks will be conducted on all candidates that are offered a position at Pond in compliance with program policy as well as state and federal regulations. Additionally, offers may be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Employment decisions at Pond are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state and local laws in jurisdictions where we operate. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hrdepartment@pondco.com.
Apply for this position at https://www.pondco.com/careers.We are always looking for driven professionals of all disciplines to join our fast-growing company. For more information on our services, clientele, or employment opportunities, visit our website at www.pondco.com.
Should you run into any issues in completing the application, please reach out to recruiters@pondco.com for assistance.