Travel Demand Modeler

Salary: $25.97 - $43.49 Hourly
Location : Salt Lake County, UT
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 40949
Agency: 810 Department of Transportation
Unit: 8218 DOT EPM
Opening Date: 03/26/2024
Closing Date: 4/4/2024 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Exempt
Recruiter: April Nicholls, anicholls@utah.gov
# of Openings: 1
Location: Calvin Rampton Complex, 4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, UT
Background Check: You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Schedule Code: B - Competitive Career Service - Employment in this position requires a probationary period.
Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package. See benefits tab below for details.
EEO Statement: The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, dial 711 or TTY: 800-346-4128.
Job Description
The Planning Division of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) invites applications from dynamic individuals to join our team as a Travel Demand Modeler. We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated, collaborative, and driven professional who is passionate about shaping the future of transportation planning. As a key member of UDOT's planning analytics team, you will play a pivotal role in the development, enhancement, and maintenance of the data tools used in the state's Travel Demand and land use forecasting program. These data and tools are critical to support a diverse range of planning and environmental efforts, including the long-range plan, corridor studies, environmental studies, and various strategic initiatives.
The ideal candidate will see beyond the status-quo, demonstrating a keen ability to assess existing processes and envision innovative approaches to enhance efficiency, responsiveness, and clarity. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are excited about contributing to the advancement of transportation planning in Utah, we encourage you to apply and become an integral part of our progressive team.
Principal Duties
In this position you will be responsible for:

• Updating data for Travel Demand and land use models, such as highway and transit networks, socioeconomic datasets, college and recreation datasets, etc.
  
• Developing and enhancing Travel Demand model components, including recreation and long-distance modules.
  
• Reviewing and processing model output data to support planning studies and applications.
  
• Performing Travel Demand and land use model validation and sensitivity analyses and identify areas for improvement.
  
• Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools for spatial analysis, enhancing the visual representation of Travel Demand model information.
  
• Clearly communicating model-related information to diverse stakeholders.
  
• Collaborating with partner agencies to maintain consistency across state Travel Demand models.
  
• Attending and contributing to model user group and interagency model technical committee meetings.
  
• Maintaining comprehensive documentation for Travel Demand and land use models.

The Ideal Candidate
The best person for this position will:

• Have a Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited university engineering, urban planning, data or computer science, information systems, geography or related field or at least four years of related experience.
  
• Develop effective working relationships with management, fellow employees, and interagency staff.
  
• Meet deadlines.
  
• Work independently and as part of a team.
  
• Be self-motivated, proactive, and assertive.
  
• Maintain professionalism, integrity, and a public-service attitude.
  
• Exercise initiative and independent judgment, creative thinking, and analytical problem solving to address challenges encountered during data processing and model development and application.
• Have experience with Travel Demand modeling tools to forecast future volumes: familiarity with Travel Demand modeling software such as CUBE or ActivitySim.
  
• Have experience with data cleaning, validation, post processing, and integration with Travel Demand models.
  
• Have the ability to process and analyze transportation datasets, and draw meaningful conclusions and communicate them to internal groups within UDOT, as well as partner-agencies and consultant audiences.
  
• Have experience using Excel/Google Sheets for analysis, data processing, filtering, and visualization: ability to follow existing workflows, troubleshoot with little guidance, and develop new workflows.
  
• Have experience with ESRI ArcGIS for mapping and spatial analysis: ability to map data to enhance analysis of Travel Demand and land use model data.
  
• Have experience with technical writing to document processes and analysis results: ability to document processes and write memorandums and reports to communicate analysis results.

Preferred Skills
Preference may be given to those with experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Programming languagesfor data analysis:basic understanding or interest in Python, SQL, R, or other coding languages to automate and enhance analytical and modeling processes.
  
• Big Data to support transportation analysis: experience with StreetLight or other big data vendors or experience working with Access or other big data platforms.
  
• Aesthetically pleasant visuals: ability to create graphics, visuals and charts that successfully convey technical information to internal and external audiences is a plus.
• Existing Transportation Data to support planning: experience working with UDOT or partner agency data (UGRC, UTA, WFRC, etc.).

Supplemental Information
Here is some information you should be aware of:

• The position is located at the Calvin Rampton Complex in Taylorsville, Utah. Currently this position is eligible for a hybrid of both in-office and remote work days after an initial training period. Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.
• May need to travel within the State of Utah.
• Working Conditions - Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Physical Requirements - Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.

Why Should You Join Our Team?
The work we do matters. If you want to make a positive difference doing meaningful work, this is the right place for you. Our mission statement is, "Enhance quality of life through transportation." We define quality of life through a framework of Good Health, Connected Communities, Better Mobility, and Strong Economy. We help the State of Utah and its traveling public to get to where they want, when they want, in the way they want -- and we make sure they can do it safely.
You will become part of a team with an internal culture of Trust, Teamwork, and Flexibility. Our organization lives by the values of Respect, Integrity, and Caring. If these are your values too, you'll be a great fit.
Aside from working for a cause-driven, cutting edge agency that is leading all other transportation departments in the nation, you will receive great health and retirement benefits. Working for the State of Utah provides a positive work-life balance. Clickto view a summary of the benefits we offer.
The Agency
UDOT is a strengths-based organization, which means its approach is based on identifying and developing individual and organizational strengths. Our philosophy is to address challenges by bringing our strengths to each situation and create the best solutions. Candidates are encouraged to be familiar with their strengths and consider how they may potentially be of benefit to the roles for which they are applying. UDOT uses the CliftonStrengths Assessment, but there are multiple strengths assessment tools available online, and no formal assessment is required.
For more information on the Utah Department of Transportation please click
Benefits:
The State of Utah offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for a detailed information page: To access a Total Compensation Calculator in Excel format click
FMLA General Notice:
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01
As part of this application process, you must provide your work history in the work history section of your application. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Your answers to the questions on this application must be supported by your work history, otherwise you may not receive credit. Listing "see resume" as a response to a question may also result in not receiving credit.

• I have read and understand the above statement

02
Do you have a Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited university in engineering, urban planning, data or computer science, information systems, geography or related field?

• Yes
• No

03
How many years of related experience do you have?

• None
• 1 year or less
• 2 - 3 years
• 4 - 5 years
• 6 - 7 years
• 8 - 9 years
• 10 or more years

04
Please provide details of your experience, including where you obtained it and how it is related to this position.
05
Please select all the Travel Demand modeling tools have you used?

• CUBE
• TransCAD
• EMME
• VISUM
• Other - please specify in question below
• I have not used any Travel Demand modeling tools

06
If you have used a Travel Demand modeling software, please provide details of your experience, including a specific example.
07
Do you have experience working with the Travel Demand models in Utah?

• Yes
• No

08
If yes, please provide a brief summary of your experience working with the Travel Demand models including the employer(s) that provided this experience.
09
Do you have coding experience?

• Yes
• No

10
If yes, please provide details of your experience, including what specific tools and/or languages you have experience with (SQL, Python, R, etc.).
11
Do you have any experience working with existing big data sets, including Census data, employment data, parcel data, Roads and Highway data, etc.?

• Yes
• No

12
If yes, please provide details of your experience, including the data sets you have experience with and where you obtained it.
13
Do you have experience using Esri ArcMap and/or ArcGIS Pro?

• Yes
• No

14
If yes, please provide a brief summary of your experience including the employer(s) that provided this experience.
15
Do you have any relatives who currently work for UDOT? Per UDOT Policy, relatives are defined as: spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin (including in-laws and step relatives), or cohabitating employees.

• Yes
• No

16
If you do have relatives working for UDOT, please list the name, relationship, and work location for each relative.
17
Please indicate how you heard about this specific job posting.

• State of Utah job site (www.governmentjobs.com/careers/utah)
• Referred by a Friend or Family
• Indeed
• Other External Job Board or Site
• LinkedIn
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• DWS job website (www.jobs.utah.gov)
• Advertisement (Digital Ad, Billboard, Print, etc.)
• Professional Network (Association, Membership, Work Colleague)
• University Network (Handshake, School Job Board, Career Center, etc.)
• Contacted by a Recruiter
• Career or Job Fair
• Internship
• Interviewed for different position
• Internal communications (Agency/Division, etc.)
• Jobwise
• Other (not listed above)

Required Question