How to Find Transportation Planning Jobs in Canada

Transportation planning jobs are in Toronto and other major Canadian municipalities.

Transportation planners are professionals who apply their post-secondary education and practical experience in a variety of ways, from research to policy development and facilitating public input. You can find Canadian transportation planning jobs in a many settings, including federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments and private sector consulting firms. To find these jobs, create a systematic strategy that combines Internet job searches with personal networking.

Instructions

1. Search the Internet for transportation planning jobs. If you are looking for jobs in a particular geographical location, be sure to include the name of the city, region or province in your search. You can perform a general search, for example "transportation planner Canada," or you can tailor your search to meet your particular areas of expertise by adding specific terms like "goods and freight movement," "bicycle route planning" or "intelligent transportation systems."

2. Search the human resources and careers pages of municipal, provincial and federal government websites. Don't forget to look at public transportation agencies and departments that are involved in sustainable and active transportation projects.

3. Search the careers pages of consulting firms that hire transportation planners. Examples include Morrison Hershfield, Stantec and BA Group.

4. Network with your professional contacts to find out about job openings. Speak to fellow graduates of the post-secondary transportation planning program you attended, members of planning associations and associates who are currently employed in the field.

5. Join your local chapter of a related professional association, such as the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers, the Transportation Association of Canada or the Association for Commuter Transportation of Canada. Networking opportunities will abound at chapter meetings and conferences.

6. Volunteer for a transportation planning project or participate in a transportation planning student internship, if hands-on experience is something you are lacking.

7. Secure a job in a government office or consulting firm that is not directly related to transportation planning. You may find this is the foot in the door you need to be able to apply for internal job postings for transportation planners.

Tips & Warnings

• Finding a transportation planning job opening only gets you part of the way to a career in transportation planning. Ensure you have the necessary education, experience and professional memberships so that when you apply for the job, you will be more likely to be called for an interview.

References

• Canadian Institute of Planners: Planning as a Career
• Faculty of Environment-Cool Job of the Month: Easing Traffic Flow Through Intelligent Transportation
• Morrison Hershfield: How to Apply
• BA Group Transportation Consultants: Careers
• Stantec: Welcome to Careers