Assistant Planner

Biddeford, Maine; Biddeford (ME); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement with employer match

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

Paid bereavement leave

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Job summary

The City of Biddeford is seeking an experienced planner to join its planning office. The role focuses on land use, zoning, planning and transportation projects, managing multiple applications, and presenting recommendations at public meetings.

Ideal candidates have at least 3 years municipal planning experience, strong communication, and ability to collaborate with applicants and departments. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in land use planning, community development, public policy, geography, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years progressively responsible professional experience
• Candidates must have experience in understanding and interpreting zoning and land use laws, site plans, subdivisions, and construction drawings.
• Effective oral and written communications skills, and a work history of working collaboratively.
• Strong organizational, communication, and public-facing skills.
• Proficient in Word, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Excel, GIS and hard and digital documentation organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage development applications from start to finish.
• Work with applicants, consultants, and the public.
• Contribute to current development projects, ordinance updates, and long-term planning initiatives.
• Communicate clearly in writing and at public meetings.
• Navigate public-sector processes with transparency and ethics.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Organizational skills

Public presentations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in land use planning or related field

Tools

Word

Microsoft Teams

OneDrive

Excel

GIS

Job description

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Biddeford offers a breadth of opportunities for planning and land use professionals. The City recently completed an update to the Comprehensive plan and has a number of initiatives underway that focus on climate change and sustainability, beach management and resiliency, housing, strengthening our downtown, and smart growth. This opportunity offers a chance to work in one of the busiest and most exciting planning offices in the state and as a result the office is expanding by adding additional planners and expanding our capacity.

Position Overview

The ideal candidate is an experienced planner with a successful record of working with a variety of land use, zoning, planning, and transportation projects. This position is a good fit for the professional who:

• Has at least 3 years of municipal planning experience, is action oriented, works to find solutions, and has the proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Is experienced in zoning and development review and applies regulations with confidence and consistency.
• Has a record of managing applications from start to finish, working directly with applicants, and presenting recommendations in a public setting.
• Enjoys working directly with applicants, consultants, and the public.
• Thrives on contributing to working on a mix of current development projects, ordinance updates, and longer-term planning initiatives.
• Takes ownership of development applications and see projects through from initial review to final decision.
• Communicates clearly, in writing, and in interactions with colleagues, applicants, and at public meetings.
• Understands the realities of working in a public-sector environment, including navigating competing priorities and perspectives, transparency, political and organizational acumen, and a deep commitment to ethical public service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

We're looking for a collaborative, solutions-oriented professional with strong technical knowledge, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to serving the community with integrity and professionalism.

• Bachelor’s degree in land use planning, community development, public policy, geography, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years progressively responsible professional experience
• Candidates must have experience in understanding and interpreting zoning and land use laws, site plans, subdivisions, and construction drawings.
• Effective oral and written communications skills, and a work history of working collaboratively. This includes public presentations, professional written reports and project coordination between numerous departments.
• Strong organizational, communication, and public-facing skills.
• Proficient in Word, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Excel, GIS and hard and digital documentation organization.

Salary:$74,213 to $97,935

Benefits.The City of Biddeford offers an excellentcomprehensive benefits package which includes Health insurance, retirement plans w/employer match, dental insurance, vision insurance, employee assistance program, flexible spending account, life insurance, paid bereavement leave, paid parental leave, paid time off, and professional development assistance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Biddeford’s mission is to cultivate and sustain a diverse, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and belonging-based workplace where employees actively practice solidarity for the greater good of the work environment and employee experience.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the City of Biddeford shall employ, develop, and work to maintain the best qualified person(s) available without discrimination to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, dimensions of gender, disability, citizenship, veterans’ status, ancestry, national origin, and/or political affiliation or any other status protected by law.

Equitable access to services and employment is available and those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for this application and/or the interview process should notify the City of Biddeford Department of Human Resources.