Planner/Planner Senior

Stlouiscountymn; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation Leave

Paid Holidays

Medical Plan

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement Benefits

Training Opportunities

Employee Wellness Program

Job summary

St. Louis County is seeking a Land and Minerals Planner/Planner Senior to oversee land use needs, including easements, leases, and similar processes.

You will coordinate transactions, respond to public inquiries, and conduct feasibility research to ensure compliance with local, county, and state requirements. The role includes contract execution, historical documentation review, and collaboration with multiple departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree or four years as Planner is accepted for senior level.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee land transactions and encumbrances.
• Respond to public inquiries about land transactions and encumbrances.
• Plan and research feasibility of land transactions and encumbrances.
• Facilitate execution of leases, easements, authorizations, and permits.
• Conduct historical land records research.
• Ensure approvals and statutory requirements are met.
• Liaise with staff and other departments for land transactions.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range planning programs.

Skills

GIS skills

Liaison skills

Public inquiries handling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Kind of Work
Are you a self-motivated, detail-oriented individual with strong GIS skills? Are you ready to be a liaison and point-of contact between our area field offices, land asset team, county attorneys, stakeholders and the public? This position oversees, manages and keeps track of the department's land use needs, including but not limited to easement processing and recording, miscellaneous lease processing and recording, recreational and shoreland lease billing (initial, late, delinquent taxes and cancellations), and exchanges. As a Land and Minerals Planner/Planner Senior, we need you to you ensure projects are meeting local, county and state requirements.
A Planner/Planner Senior in this role will have the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate and oversee land transactions and encumbrances.
• Respond to inquiries from the public related to land transactions and encumbrances.
• Plan and conduct research to determine feasibility of land transactions and encumbrances.
• Facilitate the execution of lease contracts, easements, authorizations, and permits.
• Conduct historical research related to land ownership, encumbrances and other documents of record.
• Obtain the necessary approvals, releases and other statutory requirements, as needed.
• Act as a liaison with departmental staff and other departments/municipalities for land transactions and encumbrances completion.
• Provide professional planning work involving the development and implementation of short- and long-range planning programs in an assigned functional area of the County.
  

Note: Responsibilities do not include urban planning. Experience in investigating and reviewing land records and titles is preferred.
The salary range reflected above is the normal hiring range.
The full salary range for a Planner, including longevity pay, is $30.18 - $42.65 per hour.
The full salary range for a Senior Planner, including longevity pay, is $33.54 - $47.71 per hour.
This position is part of the Civil Service Basic Unit Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement represented by Council 5 of AFSCME.
St. Louis County does not participate in E-Verify. All employees must be continuously authorized to work in the United States, for St. Louis County, on a full-time basis. St. Louis County does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.Distinguishing Features of Work
Planner: An employee in this class is responsible for assisting in the development and administration of short- and long-range planning programs. Duties include assisting in recommendations regarding policies, procedures, regulatory documents, services and other improvement projects or programs in a specialized area of assignment. The work is performed under the direction of assigned supervisory staff.
Planner Senior: An employee in this class is responsible for planning, designing, developing, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and administration and evaluation of assigned functional area. Duties include project management; developing plans and specifications, initiating requests for bids, and contracts; site design, survey and preparation; inspection of construction/installation projects; assisting in the administration of assigned programs; reviewing and evaluating services and programs; developing recommendations for program, policy, service, or budget changes; communicating with and educating the public on related state and department policy and programs; and working independently with local units of government on project/program implementation. Work direction may be exercised over staff in lower classifications. The work is performed under the direction of assigned supervisory staff.
Work Environment
Planner: These work environment factors are general in nature and may vary depending on the specific position being filled. CONSTANT: Near, midrange, and far vision; depth perception; field of vision; color vision; hear within 5 feet and up to 20 feet; balance; bend neck; climb stairs; talk/speak; walk; and customer/public contact. FREQUENT: Feel; grasp; handle; maintain posture; move about; reach; sit; stand; exposure to weather; work alone, with others and around others; work inside; work outside; and drive. OCCASIONAL: Lift and carry up to 20 pounds; crouch; use fingers; rotate neck; and squat.
Planner Senior: These work environment factors are general in nature and may vary depending on the specific position being filled. FREQUENT: Near and midrange vision; visual accommodation; hearing up to 5 feet; talk/speak; works alone, with and around others; public contact. OCCASIONAL: Lift and carry/push/pull up to 10 pounds; far vision; depth perception; field of vision; hear up to 20 feet and drive.
Selection Process
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Planner (Pass/Fail):

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Planner Senior (Pass/Fail):

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with Bachelor’s degree AND four (4) years full-time paid verifiable professional experience in the assigned functional area; OR a Master’s degree AND two (2) years full-time paid verifiable professional experience in the assigned functional area; OR four (4) years as a Planner, and the recommendation of the director of the department.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
  

Note: If the successful candidate possesses the above qualifications, they may be considered, at the discretion of the hiring authority, for appointment at the Planner Senior level. This would be determined at the time a job offer is extended.
RATING SYSTEM: Supplemental questionnaire will be 100% of the scoring process:

• Points will be awarded based on the applicants answers to supplemental questions 9-14.
• Experience beyond ten years may be included on the application for purposes of meeting minimum qualifications or informing the hiring authority of your complete employment history.
  

Please Note: When answering the supplemental questions on the website, the webpage may time out after 30 minutes. It's recommended you draft your answers in a separate document and copy/paste the answers into the application when you're finished writing. Failure to answer and save all of the questions on the "Supplemental Questions" page within 30 minutes may result in the deletion of your answers by the application system.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT & SCREENING PROCESS SCHEDULE:

• September 29, 2026 - Applicant screening will begin
• Week of October 19, 2026 - Supplemental question scoring to be completed
• Week of November 2, 2026 - Interviews to be conducted
  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The essential functions for this position are listed under the "ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK" on the specification, available in the Human Resources Department or online at www.stlouiscountymn.gov/jobdescriptions.
VETERANS PREFERENCE: If you are eligible to apply for Veterans Preference, please attach to your application a copy of document(s) listed for the option that applies to you:

• Veteran: DD214 noting character of service.
• Disabled Veteran: DD214 & compensable disability award letter issued within the last 6 months.
• Spouse of Disabled Veteran: DD214 & compensable disability award letter issued within the last 6 months & marriage certificate. (Eligible only if Veteran is unable to qualify because of the disability.)
• Spouse of Deceased Veteran: DD214, Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate.
  

Please refer to Minnesota Statute 197.455 for additional requirements. Click Here.
PHYSICAL - MEDICAL STANDARDS: Qualified applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants selected must meet the physical requirements for the position.
DRUG TESTING: Applicants selected for appointment must take and pass a drug test.
BACKGROUND CHECK: Applicants selected for appointment to a position with St. Louis County are subject to a background investigation.
EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION: All new employees must submit documentation verifying identity and employment eligibility within three days of their first day of employment.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Appointees to the position must successfully complete a twelve-month probationary period prior to being certified for permanent employment.
NON-DISCRIMINATION: St. Louis County is an equal opportunity and veteran-friendly employer.
Eligible St. Louis County employees earn a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Vacation, Sick and Personal Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Medical Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Benefits
• Deferred Compensation
• Training and Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Wellness Program
• Pet Insurance
  

Benefits are prorated for part-time employees and administered in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement or management compensation plan.