STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Transit Transportation Trainee

Target Class: Transportation Planner 1

Recruitment #231030-1993FS-001

Introduction



Are you ready to gain skills, knowledge, and experience that will help you develop an exciting and successful career? Do you daydream about how to move people and goods in a safer, faster, and more equitable manner? Do you have a passion for public transportation? If so, we are looking for you to join our team!

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) invites qualified individuals to apply for the position of Transit Transportation Trainee (Connecticut Careers Trainee or CCTs) with a target class of Transportation Planner 1 in the Bureau of Public Transportation in Newington.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • A competitive starting salary
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Generous paid time off
  • Retirement plan options
  • Alternate work schedules
  • A culture that encourages work-life balance
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
  • Join an award winning agency! CT DOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE)!



Students who will possess a Bachelor's degree by December 2023 are strongly encouraged to apply!

Applicants must be available to travel for training, conferences meetings, etc. both within and outside of normal working hours when necessary.

A valid motor vehicle license may be required.


POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Monday-Friday
  • Full-time (40 hours per week)
  • First shift
  • Location:  Newington, CT
  • Work in one or more of the following areas: Transit Planning, Transit Contract Management and Bus Technology units.
Transit Transportation Trainee Role:
  • Entry level positions offering training in public transit planning, management and operations
  • Work in a dynamic environment
  • Showcase your strong written and oral communication skills
  • Develop the tools necessary to become a professional in the field
  • Assigned a variety of tasks related to planning and operation of public transportation programs in bus and rail
  • Work activities will include:
    • Transit operations service planning and oversight, review of compliance with federal and state requirements, data collection, management and reporting, field inspection, technology innovation projects and coordination with the various agencies and private service providers that operate public transportation services under contract with CTDOT
    • Overall program oversight including contract development and oversight of operations and maintenance activities, program invoicing, safety oversight, preparation of reports and assessing operations and planning for the future
The Bureau of Public Transportation maintains ownership, oversight, and responsibility for all public transportation services including but not limited to rail, bus, paratransit, and Connecticut River ferry services as well as associated vehicles, facilities, and other infrastructure. The Bureau of Public Transportation is also responsible for the following:
  • Developing the strategic vision for public transportation in consultation with key stakeholders
  • Managing and monitoring performance of various service providers that operate commuter rail services, fixed route bus services, express bus services, paratransit services, ridesharing programs, and other public transportation services
  • Directing capital investment to maintain public transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair, providing regulation of taxi, livery, household good companies, intrastate private bus systems and rail freight operations pursuant to state statute
APPOINTMENT

The length of the development program is determined by the experience and training requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent. At the completion of the development program incumbents must meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class. The program cannot be less than one (1) year and cannot exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.

Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service.

All appointments to this class shall be under terms of a development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. All development programs must be approved by the Department of Administrative Services prior to appointment to this class.

  • Eligibility for promotion to the target classification of Transportation Planner 1 is earned upon successful completion of the training program.
Transit Transportation Trainee (Target class: Transportation Planner 1)
  • Candidates with a bachelor’s degree will serve a two (2) year training program.
  • Candidates with a master’s degree in civil engineering, transportation, urban, regional, or environmental planning may be eligible for a shorter training period.

First year of training: Bachelor's degree and/or qualifying experience: FS 15 Step 1 ($53,978/year) Master's degree: FS 15 Step 2 ($55,921/year)
Second year of training: General rate:  FS 15 Step 5 ($61,761/year)  
The salary for an employee who completes any of the above minimum requirements after initial appointment to the Connecticut Careers Trainee job class will be adjusted commensurate with the schedule above and effective the pay period following the date the master’s degree has been conferred or the pay period following the date the appropriate number of credits as indicated above have been earned.

For current state employees, compensation will be in accordance with guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class manual.

About DOT:

The mission of the Connecticut Department of Transportation is to provide a safe and efficient intermodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region.

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values here!

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee!


Selection Plan

To Apply:

  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Important Information After You Apply:

  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions; performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period; performs related duties as required.

Office of Transit

The Office of Transit and Ridesharing directs and coordinates bus service planning, oversees programs which support the transportation of the elderly and persons with disabilities, marketing, contract development, technology innovation and operational performance of bus activities statewide.  This office develops and implements service improvements and directs and prioritizes capital planning for bus and paratransit vehicles and facilities. This office operates a statewide transit network including 8 divisions of the CTtransit state-owned bus system and CTfastrak – an ITDP Silver Standard BRT system. In addition, this office manages contracts for service provision with large transit service providers and with several Connecticut Transit Districts. The successful candidate will assist with oversight and coordination of complex projects or programs with statewide or regional impact.

The Office of Transit and Ridesharing is working on several exciting projects and programs, such as:
  • Developing new pass programs to offer access to our public transportation system to more people
  • Coordinating the merger of multiple existing transit systems
  • Designing and implementing a uniform statewide fare program
  • Overseeing new transit facility design for 100% electrification of our bus fleet
  • Initiating a full-size automated bus pilot
  • Developing new bus rapid transit projects
  • Launching a pilot for on-demand micro transit services

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to
    • acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification;
    • understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic;
    • read, interpret and understand written material;
    • perform basic arithmetical computations;
    • interpret charts, graphs and tables;
    • learn and reason;
    • establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public;
    • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Possession of a bachelor's degree
  • Experience communicating in writing and verbally in a customer service setting
  • Experience working independently as well as in team settings
  • Experience completing tasks with attention to detail
  • Experience prioritizing and managing multiple tasks
  • Experience analyzing data, deriving insights, formulating conclusions, and presenting results to stakeholders
  • Experience with technical reports or document writing and development

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.