Principal Long-Range Planner

Are you passionate about collaborative planning and making a difference in our communities? The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) invites you to apply to join our team as a Principal Long-Range Planner to guide our efforts to plan for the future of the Greater Sacramento area through integrated land use, economic development, equity, and transportation planning.  

SACOG is looking for someone with strong project management and collaborative planning skills with a solid understanding of the relationships between land use, transportation, equity, community engagement, economic development, and environmental stewardship.  

As the Principal Long-Range Planner, you will:  

• Lead collaborative planning projects 

• Work closely with SACOG’s Planning & Programming Manager and a team of experts 

• Partner with local governments, agencies, and community organizations  

• Advance SACOG’s strategic priorities, including equity, sustainability, and economic prosperity 

• Regularly provide updates to a board of 31 elected officials 

The Position 
The principal planner position’s primary role will be to oversee the development of and coordinate implementation of the region’s 20-year vision, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS).  

The ideal candidate will have background in collaborative planning processes and an ability to communicate effectively with broad audiences including elected officials, the public, professional staff, and advocates. The candidate should also have a good understanding of the relationship between land use and transportation decisions and the opportunities or costs they can create for people, the environment, and the economy.  

The principal planner will need strong project management skills to direct a team of professionals from various departments across the agency.  They will provide regular updates to executive leadership, the SACOG Board of Directors, member agencies, other government organizations, and advocacy groups. This is a Principal level position, which is the highest non-management classification at SACOG.  

Hybrid Position 
As an integral part of our organization, employees will provide support in a flexible work environment. This position will have the ability to telework three days per week.  

The remainder of the work week will be in-person. Employees are required to live within 200 miles of Sacramento.  

We support telework because it: 

· Enhances employee productivity, satisfaction, and ability to collaborate. 

· Improves recruitment and retention 

· Reduces greenhouse gas emission, vehicle miles travels (VMT), traffic and parking congestion, and air pollution 

The Organization  

SACOG is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the six-county Sacramento region. Formed as a Joint Powers Authority, SACOG is governed by a board of 31 elected officials that directly represent all six counties and 22 cities in the region, and one ex-officio member (Caltrans). While transportation is core to SACOG’s role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, SACOG has over two decades of experience approaching regional issues from an integrated perspective that examines the linkages between transportation, housing, economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and air quality. Under the leadership of its executive director, SACOG has a vision of a vibrant and thriving Sacramento region for all. Its mission is: SACOG convenes and connects the region to advance an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.  

Our Commitment to Racial Equity 

SACOG acknowledges that residents living in the greater six-county Sacramento region face significant inequities, resulting in disparities and divides that exist by race and ethnicity, by income, and by urban and rural areas. SACOG is committed to tackling inequities and disparities in all forms. SACOG is committed to advancing racial equity in order to build a thriving economy and healthy environment for all residents of the Sacramento region, particularly for Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and other communities of color, that have been historically disenfranchised and excluded. SACOG envisions a Sacramento region where race is no longer a predictor of life outcomes, and outcomes for all groups are improved.   

SACOG employs a dedicated and professional staff of 60 who work together to advance solutions to some of the region’s shared challenges of transportation, housing, air quality, climate change and the protection of the region’s agricultural and natural resources. SACOG fosters an inclusive, mission driven, and fun employee culture and offers flexible schedules and a progressive telework policy. 

Diversity at SACOG 
SACOG values diversity and believes that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that contribute to an innovative and collaborative environment in which talents are fully utilized, uniqueness is valued, and SACOG’s objectives are met. SACOG is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities.

In addition to being an organizational value, we also uphold equal opportunity under the law. SACOG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. SACOG provides fair and equal opportunity for all with no discrimination because of race, creed, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. 

SACOG will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental disabilities of an otherwise qualified individual who is an applicant or employee. 

The Region 

The six-county Sacramento region exemplifies physical, cultural, and economic diversity. This makes it a stimulating place to work for people in the planning profession but perhaps more important, it also makes it a great place to live. Landscapes range from fertile agricultural lands to the high Sierra Nevada mountains, encompassing a vibrant collection of small towns, established and emerging suburbs, and an urban core that houses the capital of the fifth largest economy in the world, with cultural and sporting events year-round. Pacific coast beaches, Tahoe region ski resorts, and wild Sierra Nevada lakes and mountains are less than two hours’ drive from the City of Sacramento, which sits at the confluence of two major California rivers — the American and the Sacramento — that also offer many recreational opportunities. The American River Parkway provides access to more than 50 miles of paved bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting Downtown Sacramento, through the river canyon, several historic mining camps, and towns, to Folsom Lake; the 20th largest lake in the state and one of the most frequently visited parks in California’s state park system.  

The region’s much lower cost of living and housing compared to coastal California, as well as its ethnic diversity, have led to a population boom and a revived and vibrant downtown. Its reputation as the Farm to-Fork capital of America also draws foodies and tourists. The 22nd largest metropolitan region in the nation, Sacramento lies at the confluence of commerce in northern California. Interstate 80 delivers an east-west connection from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and Interstate 5 opens the entire West Coast from Mexico to Canada for goods movement, recreation, and economic vibrancy. Multiple rail lines extend in all directions through the heart of the region and provide quick and frequent passenger train service between San Francisco, Sacramento, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Commuting and traveling within and beyond the Sacramento region are easy thanks to the region’s integrated transportation network. With two interstate freeways, an international airport, and 6 Amtrak stations with long distance connections to Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, and Chicago. The region’s light rail system provides commuters, residents, and visitors a ready alternative to driving with more than 40 miles of track and 26 stations with connections to the region’s most robust job centers, the historic Sutter Street in Downtown Folsom, the Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station, and numerous suburban communities along the Interstate 80 and Highway 50 corridors. 

The Principal Long-Range Planner will be responsible for oversight and management of SACOG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy including coordinating implementation efforts across the agency. Specific duties will include: 

• Manage finalizing the 2025 Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy and Programmatic Environmental Impact Report including: 

• Manage the drafting of final plan sections, policies and strategies, appendices, and responses to public comments. 

• Oversee consultant and staff work in the finalization of the plan’s programmatic draft EIR and assembly of the final EIR. 

• Develop staff reports and presentations for SACOG’s board of directors 

• Oversee the submission of the plan, Enviornmental Impact Report (EIR), and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) documentation to federal and state regulators 

• Collaborate with executive leadership and teams across the agency to develop a program and process to guide a limited update of the plan in 2027, including development of necessary technical assumptions and datasets, external and internal engagement strategies, and overall plan development. 

• Work across teams within SACOG and with external partners to oversee and coordinate implementation of the long-range plan. Includes regular reporting to the SACOG board of directors to discuss implementation successes and setbacks. 

• Support SACOG’s strategic priorities by weighing in and participating in projects/programs managed by other teams within SACOG. 

• Represent SACOG at external meetings with partner agencies, state agencies, elected officials, and regional stakeholders. 

• Must be comfortable with public speaking and have strong presentation skills. A significant part of this role involves representing SACOG at board and committee meetings, as well as other public settings.  

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical—but not the only—way to obtain the required qualifications would be: 

1. Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Studies, Environmental Studies, Community Development, Public Policy, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, or closely related field. 

2. Three (3) to five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience performing land use and/or transportation planning, policy analysis, complex project management or similar work. 

3. Preferred, but not required, qualifications include AICP certification and working knowledge of Federal and State planning requirements and policy guidelines.