Iowa Department of Transportation's Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation's five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.   Location: Ames, IA - Systems Planning Bureau    Shift: Days, Monday through Friday; in-state travel will be required.    As a Planning Aide 1, for the Traffic Collection & Analysis Team in the Systems Planning Bureau, you will be required to perform entry-level technical work. This team is directly responsible for planning, scheduling, collecting, processing, and publishing traffic data on Iowa's transportation systems.   Traffic data are collected on field units, downloaded to computers, verified for integrity, analyzed, and summarized for publication in charts and maps. You will collect, enter, and analyze data, perform repetitive mathematics and statistical calculations, and read and develop mapping products effectively and accurately.    The person in this position must be able to be trained to utilize a variety of applications such as Access, Esri, MicroStation, Excel, Word, and traffic data analysis software such as High Desert Traffic's Jackalope and Peek's Data Validator and Data Collector applications.   You will conduct traffic data collection operation in the field and will assist in training and coordinating traffic collection efforts of temporary summer field staff. Also, you will also be required to maintain a strong working knowledge of all traffic data collection equipment and train the temporary summer staff in the use of this equipment. The responsibilities of this position require proficiencies with mathematics and computers as well as strong communication skills in a team-based environment.    Special Requirements:  The ability to lift and carry 20 pounds over rural right of way terrain.  Possess and maintain a valid driver's license to travel statewide overnight or throughout a work week (Sunday-Friday).   What we offer YOU:  - Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance  - Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2024 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here.  - Opportunities for professional growth and development.  - Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.  - Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match  - Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.  - Employee Discount Programs from variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).   We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!   You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa - Apply today!   If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us Reasonable accommodation such as: interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment / devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs. Graduation from high school or the G.E.D. equivalent, and six months of experience in technical highway planning; highway construction work or computer database work; OR three (3) semester hours of post high school course work from an accredited college, university or recognized trade school in transportation planning may be substituted for the required experience. OR fifteen (15) semester hours of post high school course work from an accredited college, university or recognized trade school may be substituted for the required experience. For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.