Planner II - Environmental Planning Division

Planner II - Environmental Planning Division; Leonardtown (MD); On-site; USD 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary’s County Government is hiring a Planner II in the Environmental Planning Division to facilitate local, state, and federal environmental programs related to building and development.

The role involves reviewing permits, guiding development through compliance steps, and presenting variance or appeal cases to the Board of Appeals. The position requires collaboration with the public and professionals, knowledge of environmental regulations, and the ability to attend after-hours meetings as

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years in environmental science or related field.
• Experience with Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review permit applications and development reviews for regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with public and developers to achieve regulatory compliance.
• Present or prepare variance and appeals cases as needed.
• Serve as staff liaison for environmental Commission meetings.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Reading legal documents

Analytical thinking

multitask prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

3+ years environmental experience

Equivalent training/education

Tools

Engineer’s scale

Job description

Job Summary

Performs a wide variety of tasks to facilitate the implementation of local, state, and federal environmental regulatory programs as they relate to building and development in the county.
The hiring salary for this position is $66,102 - $72,925 annually.

Essential Functions

1. Review permit applications and assist in the review of development review applications for environmental and Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulation compliance in accordance with the St. Mary’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR);
   
2. Work with the public and development professionals through the Permitting andDevelopment Services processes to achieve compliance with regulations of local and state environmental and Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations;
   
3. Prepare and present Critical Area variance cases, and potentially appeals and conditional use cases to be heard before the Board of Appeals;
   
4. Serves as a team member for the review and recommendation of revisions to Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations;
   
5. Serve as the staff liaison for Commission on the Environment (requires attending meetings after normal business hours as assigned);
   
6. Attend Board of Appeals and Planning Commission board meetings to provide technical information as needed (requires attending meetings after normal business hours as assigned);
   
7. Attend training and conferences as directed (could occur out of the county);
   
8. Performs other duties as assigned.
   

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to gain thorough knowledge of St. Mary’s County Government policies and procedures;
2. Ability to act as a representative of St. Mary’s County Government to the public;
3. Knowledge of department practices and procedures;
4. Knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and Local regulations regarding the administration of plans and programs;
5. Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with the public, outside agencies, and other staff;
6. Ability to read and analyze complex legal documents and relay information professionally in writing;
7. Ability to prioritize and multitask;
8. Ability to review and analyze existing information and development plans and make informed and sound decisions;
9. Ability to use available resources to research information;
10. Ability to keep accurate records;
11. Ability to operate relevant computer systems, including hardware and software, simple office machines and use of an engineer’s scale.

Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree preferred;
2. Three or more years of job-related experience, or additional training/education in specialized areas, focusing on environmental science and Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations;
3. Or equivalent technical training, education, and/or experience.

Additional Requirements:

1. Must successfully pass background investigation with favorable results;
2. Must pass a pre-employment drug test.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Work requires no unusual demand for physical effort.
Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls.
Full salary range for this position is $66,102 - $113,734 annually. The full salary range does not reflect the anticipated hiring salary for this position. The anticipated hiring range is $66,102 - $72,925 annually, based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.