Transportation Planner or Engineer

Nanaimo based with a potential hybrid opportunity for candidate based in central/north Vancouver Island.

Who We Are
At WATT Consulting Group (WATT), our mission is to exceed expectations in the delivery of quality, innovative, and customized solutions for each unique project, community, and client. WATT is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm. Since 1983 we have played a key role in the advancement of best practices by offering innovative, tailored solutions in Transportation Engineering + Planning, Geotechnical Engineering, Geomatics + Surveying, and Civil Engineering. With regional offices across Western Canada, our team of consulting professionals brings advanced local knowledge, industry expertise, and passion for their community to both private and public sector projects. WATT is a privately-owned firm. We are locally invested, and we are passionate about the work that we do in our own backyards.

You will be joining a team that is passionate about what we do and who hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence. We take our work to “HEART” – these are the values we hold high and strive to live by every day: Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork.

About the Role
We are seeking an intermediate Transportation Engineer or Transportation Planner who will be involved in a wide range of multi-modal transportation projects. The primary responsibility will be to work with other Transportation Engineers, Planners and Technologists on our team to lead and support transportation projects. The role will also involve providing transportation engineering or planning expertise to other members of our integrated team in both advisory and support roles. The role will also be focused on supporting the growth of WATT’s transportation services in Nanaimo and the larger central and northern Vancouver Island region, as well as working with our broader team on projects throughout the Island and Western Canada.
We are looking for a dynamic individual committed to high-quality professional work, meeting the needs of our clients, and working with our multi-disciplinary team to create vibrant and livable communities.

Why Work For Us:

Positive workplace culture – We offer a competitive suite of benefits and programs, including an employer paid benefit plan, generous sick days and vacation time, Group Deferred Profit Sharing, Health Savings/ Tax Savings Account, performance bonuses and competitive salaries.
Workplace balance & flexibility – Whether you are an emerging professional that still wants time to see the world, a new parent craving a schedule that works better for your family, or an experienced senior professional looking to downshift, our workplace offers many flexible arrangements that can better blend work and your personal life.
Collaborative leadership – Our organization believes strongly in diverse and collaborative leadership. Wherever possible we provide opportunities for all staff to be involved in shaping and improving the work we do, contributing to the development of our organization, and setting a course for the future.
We walk (and bike) the talk – We are focused on creating safer, more sustainable, and livable communities and we take action in our own offices and regions. Our offices are centrally located and equipped to support travel to them on foot, bike, scooter, and transit.
Agility, innovation, and responsiveness – As a smaller consulting company, we are proud of our ability to respond quickly to new ideas and opportunities, as well as challenges as they arise. We are a company of fun, warm, innovative and solution-focused individuals and we welcome (and invite!) other like-minded folks to contribute to a more positive future together with us.

About You:

You have a solid track record working on a range of transportation planning and/or engineering projects and are able to work on several projects simultaneously.
You are a self-starter and a motivated planning professional looking to generate new ideas with a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
You have a propensity for creative problem-solving. You are curious and comfortable working in contexts when there are more questions than answers and demonstrate an ability to take initiative and find answers to move a project forward.
You are ready to jump in by showing independent thinking and creativity on complex urban and rural mobility challenges.

What You Bring to WATT:

A registered professional in your field, meaning EITHER a Professional Engineer who is a member (or the ability to become a member) of the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) OR a full member or eligibility for membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners (RPP, MCIP).
Three (3) or more years of transportation engineering or planning experience, preferably focused in the following areas: safety audits, active transportation planning and design, traffic impact assessments, traffic management plans, signal timing, traffic modeling, parking management / transportation demand management, transit analysis and operations, and public engagement. Candidates with previous consulting experience would be considered an asset.
Experience in the following supporting areas is an asset: transportation infrastructure conceptual design, civil design, and graphic design.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. VSB programming is considered an asset.
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, as well as strong analytical and organizational skills.
Experience with key technical manuals applicable in BC and to your profession would be considered an asset, including some or all of the following: TAC Geometric Design Guide, BC Supplement to TAC Guide, MUTCDC, the BC Active Transportation Design Guide, NACTO Design Guides, BC MoTT Signage and Pavement Marking manual, and MMCD.
Working knowledge of some or all of the following: transportation engineering related software such as Synchro/SimTraffic, Vistro, SIDRA; GIS software (ESRI ArGIS, QGIS, etc.); and/or Adobe Creative Cloud.
Knowledge of VISUM and VISSIM is considered an asset.
Familiarity with municipal development / planning processes is considered an asset.
A valid BC Drivers’ License. Access to a personal vehicle would be considered an asset, as this position may also be asked to support project data collection in the field. Mileage expenses are reimbursed.

What You Will Do at WATT:

Apply your technical expertise to the many diverse projects our transportation team undertakes, with the specific range of responsibilities depending on whether you are an Engineer or Planner:
- As a Transportation Engineer on our team, this would typically encompass the areas of multi-modal road safety, network, and intersection analysis using modelling software, transportation/traffic impact assessments, parking studies, traffic signals, active transportation planning and facility design, complete street design, transit planning, and functional road design.
- As a Transportation Planner, this would typically encompass the areas of active transportation, parking management, transit planning and scheduling, transportation demand management (TDM), future mobility (i.e., electric vehicles, electric bikes, micromobility, autonomous vehicles, etc.), community planning and urban design.
Work on projects of all sizes in small, medium, and large sized communities across Western Canada.
Prepare written materials to document projects including letters, memos, and reports. The ability to prepare graphics to supplement reports is an asset.
Attend client, community and Council meetings, and present / communicate technical information in an understandable manner.
Ability to work on multiple projects at one time for multiple project managers.
Lead small and medium size projects of moderate complexity under the direction of senior engineers / planners and/or practice area leads.
Field work, including data collection and site inspections, as well as assisting with open houses and other public engagement activities for projects.
Support the preparation of proposals for public and private sector clients.
Explore and develop technical competency in transportation engineering and/or planning and project delivery, including active participation in professional organizations and on-going professional development.
Data entry and preliminary analysis/verification of collected transportation survey information in MS Excel, as well as viewing and tabulating information from intersection recorded video.
Deliver clear and concise reports, presentations, and other deliverables in a variety of formats and styles, for consumption by various audiences, including technical staff, partner agencies, senior decision makers / elected officials, interest holders, and the public. The ability to prepare graphics to supplement reports is an asset.
Undertaking activities as directed to support client communications, stakeholder outreach, and public engagement, including attending client, community and Council meetings in a support role. Note these meetings may occur in the evenings and/or weekends.
Assisting project managers with administrative tasks, such as file set up, project coordination, and logistics.
Day trips within the Vancouver Island/Coastal BC region may be required. There may also be potential for travel to support projects within Western Canada.
Other duties as required.

We encourage candidates who may not meet every requirement—as well as those with additional experience—to apply. Compensation will be based on relevant experience, education, and overall qualifications.

Please Note: WATT Consulting Group is a dynamic and growing organization, as a result the above role and responsibilities may change as the requirements of WATT Consulting Group business change.

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