Search Jobs

The City of San Mateo Public Works Department is seeking a Senior Transportation Planner 

The Department

The Public Works Department is organized into several divisions, including Administration, Business Services, Wastewater Treatment, Clean Water Program, Fleet and Facilities, Data Management, Field Maintenance, Regulatory Compliance, Capital Improvements, Development Services, and Transportation. The Department operates under a Director and two Deputy Directors to support strong coordination and performance. The Department is responsible for the City’s major capital projects and infrastructure including streets, streetlights, traffic signals, parking lots and garages, sewer and storm conveyance systems, a wastewater treatment plant, pump stations, a lagoon, dams, and levees. 

The Department plays a central role in advancing a safe, connected, and efficient transportation network for all users. San Mateo is a regional leader in transportation, with a strong track record of securing grant funding for major corridor improvements, including along 19th Avenue/Fashion Island Boulevard and Peninsula Avenue. To learn more about the City’s transportation safety efforts, visit our website at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4727/Transportation-Safety.  

The Department is committed to high performance and continuous improvement, using data-driven decision-making, best practices, and collaborative, team-oriented approaches. Managers and supervisors are accountable for developing strong teams, supporting employee growth, and delivering on the Department’s goals and work plans. 

Look to some of the reasons why the City of San Mateo is a great place to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GTIzeSpc_g. 

The Position 

The Senior Transportation Planner under general direction, organizes, reviews, and participates in transportation planning work; supervises the work of professional and technical transportation planning personnel, projects, and other activities; and performs other related work as required 

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Supervises professional and technical staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, training staff, and supporting hiring decisions in consultation with the Engineering Manager, Deputy Director, and Department Head. 

• Represents the City and department in communications and interactions, including coordination, briefings, and presentations, with other City departments, City Commissions and City Council, government agencies, local industries, businesses, community groups, and other stakeholders interested in regional and local transportation, transit, traffic, and parking issues. 

• Plans, coordinates, formulates, and implements, in coordination with other City departments, goals, objectives, policies and priorities; and makes recommendations for changes to codes, plans and policies, as it relates to transportation planning and parking management. 

• Directs, coordinates, reviews, and participates in the work of professional, technical, and clerical staff, as well as consultants, in data collection, analysis, plan and policy formulation, and implementation of a wide variety of projects. 

• Participates in and provides technical expertise in transportation demand management and traffic forecasting including the formulation of a City-wide traffic model and the maintenance and update thereof. 

• Manages administration of the City’s parking permit programs, oversees the collection, control, and reconciliation of parking revenues, assists in the preparation and administration of the parking program operating budget, monitors expenses, and prudently allocates resources to support parking program operations and objectives. 

• Assists, contributes and manages the planning, design, and construction of capital projects including preparation of purchase requisitions, requests for proposals, development of the scope of work, professional service agreements and coordination with other City departments as appropriate. 

• Reviews planning applications and building permits in relation to transportation and parking related issues, including review of traffic impact analyses, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) analyses, and other related transportation studies. 

• Attend in-person meetings, site visits, and stakeholder engagements, often with minimal notice; respond promptly to urgent requests requiring physical presence at various locations throughout the region or state; transport necessary materials, documents, and equipment for meetings, presentations, or fieldwork. 

• Supports the review, update, maintenance of transportation-related impact fees. 

• Supports the drafting of submittals for grant funding from various local, state, and federal funding sources. 

• And other duties as assigned. 

This position receives oversight and general direction from the Engineering Manager or other higher departmental management personnel and may exercise direct supervision over professional, technical, and administrative personnel. 

For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/Home/Index/86c 

CITY OF SARATOGA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT • INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

1 Position  •  $25.00/hour  •  Up to 12 Weeks  •  Flexible Start Date  •  Summer 2026

This internship is offered as part of a Regional Internship Partnership designed to introduce current students and recent college graduates to local municipal government. The City of Saratoga participates in this program with the goal of connecting a diverse student population to public sector work, providing meaningful hands-on experience that supports both personal and professional growth.

Position Description

The Community Development Department has one part-time, paid summer internship opportunity in its Development Services Division (up to 20 hours per week). The selected intern will gain hands-on experience in municipal arboriculture, working alongside City staff on a range of tasks that support the protection and management of Saratoga’s urban tree canopy. The internship runs for up to 12 weeks, and the start and end dates can be arranged around the selected candidate’s college summer break schedule.

The workload will balance supporting day-to-day operations with exposure to longer-term planning and research projects. The intern will receive assignments and work direction from staff within the department.

Tree Permit Applications and Development Review. The intern will assist staff in the processing of tree permit applications and the review of development projects. This includes evaluating applications for consistency with the City’s tree regulations and tracking project status through the review process.

Field Inspections and Plan Review. The intern will participate in field inspections to assess potential construction impacts on trees. Work will include reviewing grading and site plans, identifying tree protection measures, and documenting field conditions.

Research and Ordinance Work. The intern will support research related to the City’s tree ordinance and fire preparedness initiatives. This may include reviewing comparable ordinances from neighboring jurisdictions, summarizing research findings, and supporting the City’s ordinance update process.

Tree Identification and Health Assessment. The intern will learn to identify tree species commonly found in Saratoga and develop familiarity with common pests, diseases, and abiotic factors that affect tree health. This knowledge will be applied during field work and permit review.

Tree Appraisal. The intern will be introduced to the basics of tree appraisal methodology, including an overview of how trees are valued in the context of permit applications and development projects.

Database Maintenance. The intern will assist with the maintenance of department databases and records related to tree permits, inspections, and urban forestry data.

Community Interaction. The intern will have the opportunity to interact directly with Saratoga residents and contractors, developing professional communication skills in a public service context.

Read more about the City of Saratoga's tree program here.

About the Position: The Planning Department is seeking TWO interns who are interested in learning about open space and planning for ecologically sensitive public recreation. Their responsibilities may include researching and compiling project information, supporting community and stakeholder engagement, assisting with environmental review and documentation, researching new programs and initiatives, conducting field surveys and data collection, and using computer-based systems such as GIS, Microsoft Excel and Adobe Illustrator for analysis of data and preparation of documents related to Midpen programs, lands and facilities. The interns will work as a team and individually on assignments, including opportunities for field work to gain experience in data collection techniques and tools and on-the-job training in project management, planning research, analysis, and written communication.  For additional information about the position, see the Job Description on our website. The expected start date for the interns is in early July 2026. We have limited flexibility to change the start date. 

About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! For more information please visit our Intern Program Brochure on our Employment Opportunities page. At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.

Basic Requirements: Current enrollment in an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree program, or trade school in a relevant field or a recent graduate (within the last 12 months). Successful candidates will have a background in park/open space management, regional/land use/environmental planning, environmental studies, GIS/geography, or another related field and experience with field data collection techniques. This internship requires strong organizational and analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and with a team. Experience with Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel, ArcGIS software, GPS equipment, Microsoft Excel, and Apple iPads is desired, and familiarity with Midpen preserves/trails as well as local flora, fauna, and natural history are a plus. Possession of a valid California driver’s license is required before time of appointment. Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:  This position will report to the Planning Department at the Administrative Office in Los Altos, California.  Midpen offers a hybrid office/telecommute work environment for this position, which will be divided between onsite work, field visits, and limited home office work.  The selected individuals will be required to work a minimum of three days on-site per week, and assignments may vary between field and office work. Field work is conducted in rural or mountainous Midpen open space areas, which may involve working alone or with another intern in wildland areas, traversing rough difficult terrain sometimes with poison oak and dense vegetation, and carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. This is a temporary position working 20 – 40 hours per week (within regular business days/hours). Regular business is conducted Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm. Interns may work up to a total of 950 hours over a 6-to-9-month period. This is a non-benefited position.

Ready to apply?  Great!  We welcome your application online at CalOpps.org.

Application deadline is April 12, 2026. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Cover letter 

3. Resume 

4. Supplemental question responses

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

Virtual Interviews are planned for Tuesday, April 28, 2026.  Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate individual schedules.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation

by contacting the Human Resources department at

(650) 691-1200 or via email at hr@openspace.org.

 Put your passion for Open Space to work!