Associate Community & Recreation Planner

Mountain Careers LLC.; United States; Remote; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Health insurance

HSA contribution

Disability & life insurance

Paid family leave

Generous vacation

Flexible work env

Headspace access

Outdoor deals

Job summary

SE Group seeks an Associate Community & Recreation Planner to join our team in Colorado. You will work on community planning and recreation planning projects, primarily in Colorado, with mentoring and client coordination responsibilities.

Applicants should have 5–8 years in planning, a Bachelor's in planning or related field (Master’s preferred), and strong writing, data analysis, and GIS skills. Colorado relocation encouraged; strong communication required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in planning, geography, environmental science/policy, urban studies, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred in planning or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor project teams on community and recreation planning projects.
• Coordinate client communications and public outreach for Colorado projects.
• Manage subconsultants and budgets for multiple projects.
• Contribute to business development through proposals and networking.
• Develop graphics and visualizations using GIS and design tools.
• Write, edit, and review planning documents and reports.

Skills

Project management

Business development

Writing skills

Data analysis

Data visualization

Spanish (preferred)

AICP certification (preferred)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field

Master’s degree in planning or related field (preferable)

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online

SketchUp

InDesign

Alchemer

Job description

Overview

SE Group is seeking an Associate Community & Recreation Planner to join our team in Colorado. This is an exciting opportunity to join an industry-leading team that specializes in planning for communities that are shaped by a strong natural resource base, visitation and tourism, or access to recreation. As our projects in the Mountain West continue to grow, your portfolio could include projects such as a Comprehensive Plan for a mountain community, an affordable housing analysis for a rural county, or a trails and recreation master plan for a desert community. Our site visits take us to the most beautiful places in the West!

This position is primarily designed for candidates that are established within the community planning field and have demonstrated project management and business development experience. If that’s you – and you are passionate about addressing growing communities’ most entrenched issues –

About SE Group

At SE Group, our mission is to enrich people’s lives through the power of outdoor recreation — turning local insight and bold ideas into plans, places, and experiences that help communities thrive, landscapes endure, and outdoor recreation to inspire.

SE Group has been the industry leader in the planning and design of mountain resorts since 1958. Over the years, our team has grown to include landscape architects, community planners, environmental analysts, and economic advisors that are pioneering how communities across the country think about recreation, tourism, and outdoor spaces.

With hubs in Utah, Colorado, and Vermont, we are lucky to live in the heart of some of the amazing recreational communities we serve. We all share a passion for getting outside (in its many diverse forms) and SE Group is committed to offering an exceptional employee experience that honors this, as well as one that promotes collaboration, mentorship, growth – and laughter!

What You’ll Do

This position will work closely with project managers and staff on a variety of projects in Community Planning and Recreation Planning, primarily in Colorado.

The key responsibilities include:

• Project management of small-to-medium sized projects (e.g. impact studies, housing needs assessments) including:
• Mentoring project team members and managing their work
• Managing project subconsultants
• Coordinating all client public interactions and communications
  Budget preparation and oversight
• Leading and facilitating interdisciplinary team and client meetings

Assistant project management for large, complex projects (e.g., Comprehensive Plans) including:

• Writing, reviewing, and editing various documents produced for the project
• Assisting and directing coordination between clients and subconsultants
  Identifying and researching project‑specific resource issues
• Analyzing appropriate local and project‑specific issues and policy recommendations

Community Engagement: lead the preparation, facilitation, and execution of any community events, such as open houses, online surveys, and public hearing or council presentations.

Writing: draft, edit, and review community planning documents such as master plans, comprehensive plans, outdoor recreation plans, housing plans and analyses, and others.

Policy: review site‑specific policy, legislation, and other ordinances – such as zoning – to best inform planning recommendations.

Business Development: contribute to business development initiatives, including client relationship management, lead generation, and project proposals.

Design: support / direct / develop graphics and visualizations that bring concepts/plans to life for community stakeholders, using tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Sketchup, and ArcPro.

What We’re Looking for

Experience: This position is primarily designed for candidates that already have 5-8 years of experience working in the planning field, ideally in a consulting environment.

Education: Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, environmental science/policy, urban studies, or a related field. A Master’s degree in planning or related field is preferable.

Skills & Traits:

• Demonstrated 2+ years experience serving as project manager on community‑style planning projects – you’ll be asked to manage these projects upon hire
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects at once, often with varying scales/scopes – this work will require you to be highly organized
• Demonstrated experience contributing to business development initiatives through proposal development and networking
• Excellent writing skills – this position requires you to be able to write concisely and objectively (show us your skills in your cover letter!)
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high results in an independent work setting – you’ll be asked to stay on task with minimal oversight
• Strong skills in data analysis and data visualization; proficiency in survey software such as Alchemer.
• Preferred: demonstrated skills in GIS (ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online) and graphic design (SketchUp and InDesign)
• Preferred: Proficient in Spanish
• Preferred: AICP certification

Location: we will be prioritizing candidates that live in (or are willing to relocate to) close proximity to the I-70 coordinator between Golden and Glenwood Springs, but remain open to qualified candidates in other parts of Colorado.

What You Can Expect from Us

• The anticipated salary range for this position is between $75,000 and $95,000, depending upon qualifications and experience. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, and location.
• 401k + 4% company match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (premiums 100% covered for employees)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) program with $2,000 annual employer contribution
• Short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage
• Paid Family Leave: we offer new parents paid family leave (for birth or adoption) through a variety of options
• Generous vacation policy that promotes wellness (we want to you to be balanced!)
• Flexible work environment that supports active lifestyles (‘work hard, play hard’ is our ethos!)
• Paid subscription to Headspace app and numerous outdoor pro form deals

What’s next?

Applications received by November 1, 2026 will be given full consideration.