Senior Planner

Boulder County, CO; Colorado; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department is hiring a Senior Planner to lead major interdisciplinary planning efforts and advance strategic priorities across workgroups that steward open space lands. The Senior Planner will coordinate teams, synthesize input, and facilitate discussions that support department-wide decisions and long-range planning, capital programming, and policy development.

The position is full-time and exempt, based at 5201 St.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Planning or related field; five years planning experience.
• Experience leading interdisciplinary planning projects and public engagement.
• Driver's license and clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Lead large interdisciplinary planning projects from scoping through adoption.
• Support long range and capital planning, budgeting, prioritization.
• Coordinate with external partners and represent the department regionally.
• Develop strategies for broad public engagement and equity in planning.
• Manage consultants, contracts, budgets and schedules.

Skills

Interdisciplinary planning

Public engagement

Policy development

Team coordination

Public-speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Planning or related field

Five years urban/rural planning experience

PMI PMP certification preferred

Tools

AMS

GIS

Job description

Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department is seeking to hire a Senior Planner. The Senior Planner will strengthen the department’s ability to deliver major interdisciplinary planning efforts and advance strategic priorities across workgroups that involve the range of open space lands that the department stewards. The Senior Planner will lead complex planning efforts and public engagement processes that result in the creation of management plans and other strategic plans and initiatives in support of the department’s mission. The Senior Planner will coordinate interdisciplinary teams, synthesize diverse technical input, and facilitate planning discussions that support department-wide decision making. This position will also expand capacity for long range planning, capital programming, prioritization frameworks, and policy development. The Senior Planner will coordinate closely with external partners and represent the department in regional planning efforts. Experience and skill leading innovative public engagement that supports desired planning outcomes in an open space or natural resource management context is expected.

This is a full-time, benefited position that will work, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. This position will work out of 5201 St. Vrain Road Longmont, Colorado. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt.

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

Hiring Salary Range: $89,796.00 - $109,578.00 Annually

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• Phone Screening: Week of November 9th
• First Round Interviews: Week of November 9th
• Second Round Interviews: Week of November 16th
• Language Proficiency Test: Week of November 16th
• Reference Check: Week of November 16th

New employees receive an 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month (Must not have been employed at Boulder County during the 12 months prior to re-hire date to qualify). Boulder County offers bountiful benefits, including pension contributions.

Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information.

PLANNING & POLICY

1. Lead large interdisciplinary planning projects from scoping through adoption including public engagement, staff reports, and hearings before the Board of County Commissioners
2. Support long range planning efforts, such as district level planning
3. Support departmental strategic portfolio planning, including capital planning, budgeting, prioritization frameworks, and project sequencing
4. Contribute to policy development and the creation or refinement of planning standards and guidelines

INTERDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION AND FACILITATION

1. Organize, guide, and facilitate interdisciplinary teams working across multiple workgroups on a range of departmental planning priorities, ensuring alignment and integrated decision making
2. Facilitate complex discussions, navigate conflicting priorities, and synthesize input from multiple disciplines into coherent planning recommendations
3. Coordinate closely with leadership and cross department teams to ensure planning consistency across districts and programs

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

1. Develop and execute strategies, methods, and systems for broad public engagement efforts that are integrated into departmental planning processes
2. Work collaboratively to proactively integrate equitable community engagement principles and actions into the department’s planning work
3. Regularly engage with the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) as a component of departmental planning processes

DATA INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

1. Interpret AMS, GIS, ecological, spatial, and demographic data to inform planning decisions, workflows, and prioritization
2. Translate complex data into clear planning insights that support land management planning and departmental decision-making

PROJECT AND CONSULTANT MANAGEMENT

1. Serve as project manager for consultant contracts, including planning and public engagement teams
2. Manage project budgets, timelines, deliverables, and quality to ensure planning objectives are met
3. Coordinate with external partners, including county departments, municipalities, regional organizations, federal agencies, and other land managers
4. Represent the department in regional planning initiatives and interagency working groups

MENTORSHIP AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT

1. Mentor planning staff and other colleagues, supporting their professional growth and strengthening planning skills across project teams
2. Provide coaching on planning methods, project scoping, public engagement, and technical planning tools
3. Performs related work, as required
4. May be reassigned during emergency situations

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Human Dimensions, Recreation Management, Natural Resources, Landscape Architecture, or related field.

AND

• Five (5) years of experience in urban, rural, regional, transportation, parks or community planning, or other related field, including two (2) years in a project management capacity.

Additional related education may count towards required experience.

DRIVER'S LICENSE:

• Applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record
• For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
  • Additional compensation will be provided based on the use of bilingual skills.
• Possession of a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
• Mater's degree

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Experience developing framework, strategic, and site management plans.
• Experience working in environments that require coordination across multiple disciplines, agencies, or stakeholder groups.
• Background in interpreting and applying spatial, ecological, demographic, or operational data to inform decisions.
• Experience managing consultants, contracts, budgets, schedules, and deliverables on medium- to large-scale initiatives.
• Familiarity with permitting and regulatory processes common in environmental or land use projects.
• Experience working with or within public agencies, municipalities, or regional partners.
• Experience supporting or mentoring colleagues in a professional or technical setting.

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.