SENIOR PLANNER

The State of New Hampshire; Concord (NH); On-site; USD 43,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Wellness program

Job summary

The State of New Hampshire, Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Office of Planning and Development, seeks a Senior Planner for a full-time vacancy in Concord. Responsible for leading planning initiatives, coordinating with state and local partners, and guiding the development plan with strong project management and GIS expertise.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree with 4.5 years of related experience or an equivalent combination, plus a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Education and experience must be in land use or urban planning, geography, public policy/law, public administration, community development, architecture, landscape architecture, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree and 4.5 years of experience or equivalent combination of 8.5 years of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a project manager reporting to the OPD Administrator on updating and maintaining the State Development Plan.
• Proficiently applies advanced and long-range planning principles to statewide initiatives with broad impacts.
• Works with diverse stakeholders including municipalities and state agencies on land use planning and related policies.
• Leads research and design of planning studies and reports.
• Collaborates on GIS design and NH GRANIT data projects.
• Supervises the Assistant Planner and provides mentorship to staff.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Planning

Collaboration

Public policy

Budgeting

GIS

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 4.5 years of experience

8.5 years of education/experience post-high school

AICP certification (preferred)

Tools

NH GRANIT

Job description

For assistance, contact the State of New Hampshire - Division of Personnel Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST 603-271-3261 or [e-mail]

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Department of Business and Economic Affairs

Office of Planning and Development

100 North Main St., Suite 100, Concord, NH 03301

SENIOR PLANNER

Position # 10023

$31.33/hour - $42.60/hour

*See total compensation information at the bottom of announcement.

The State of New Hampshire, Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Office of Planning and Development has a full-time vacancy for Senior Planner.

Summary

Functions as a senior staff position within the Office of Development and Planning (OPD), providing independent professional judgment and leadership. As a key advisor, implements agency programs in the areas of natural resources, land use planning, economic development, and related policy matters. Functions as a project manager reporting to the Administrator for the development and maintenance of the State Development Plan.

YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS: Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience and/or each additional year of approved work experience may be substituted for one year of required formal education.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a project manager reporting to the OPD Administrator on the process of updating and maintaining the State Development Plan. Develops timelines; conducts outreach and collaboration with federal, state, local, and regional partners; manages consultants as needed; organizes content; and revises, reviews for accuracy, publishes, and updates plan as needed per RSA 9-A for submission to the Governor every 4 years. Incorporates direction and feedback from the OPD Administrator, the Division Director, and the Commissioner. Ensures to the greatest degree possible that the final work product guides agencies and stakeholders on resource and financial planning issues to support and achieve the State’s goals and objectives.
• Proficiently applies advanced and long-range planning principles to statewide, cross-sector initiatives with broad impacts to areas including, but not limited to, recreation, land use, natural resource management, housing, and transportation. Conducts outreach, provides technical expertise, and influences and informs decision-making at the local, regional, and state level. Leads and collaborates on research and design of planning studies and reports.
• Works collaboratively and persuasively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including representatives and staff of regional planning organizations and commissions, municipalities, and state agencies including HSEM, DNCR, DOT, and NH Housing, on land use planning, demographics, smart growth, floodplain management, community development, municipal and regional planning, and geographic information systems. Represents the Office as a senior planning authority and implements municipal and regional planning work programs, ensuring strategic coordination and alignment efforts.
• Collaborates on the design and implementation of a geographic information system and other research/data collection projects and advanced analytical techniques essential to OPD programs and New Hampshire Geographically Referenced Analysis and Information Transfer System (NH GRANIT) functions, providing technical leadership and guidance as needed.
• Dedicates time and effort into building, maintaining, and expanding statewide networks with local, state, and federal agencies and special interest groups involved in development to promote partnership, use of best practices, consistency, and achievement of long-term statewide planning goals.
• Directly supervises the Assistant Planner to include assigning tasks and projects, evaluating work performance, providing education and training, and making recommendations for hiring and discipline in accordance with agency policy. Provides consultation, mentorship, and guidance to subordinate less experienced professional planners within the Office.
• Serves in a Deputy role, to include assuming additional duties in the OPD Administrator’s absence and/or as assigned, such as attending management meetings, providing oversight to staff, and advising the Division Director on matters as necessary. Evaluates the effectiveness and appropriateness of planning policies, procedures, and work programs and makes recommendations to the OPD Administrator on any necessary changes to policies, processes, legislation and/or work programs.
• Prepares and administers contractual agreements with other units of government and private firms necessary to the achievement of agency objectives. Prepares grant applications to secure funding for creation of statewide planning documents to help municipalities plan for growth and development, coordinating with the Finance Director as appropriate. Oversees grant budgets and ensures compliance with grant requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree and 4.5 years of experience OR equivalent combination of 8.5 years of education and experience after completion of high school. Education and experience must be in land use or urban planning, geography, public policy/law, public administration, community development, architecture, landscape architecture, or a related field.
• License/Certification: Valid driver’s license
• Other Requirements: None
• Trainee Option: Not applicable

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree; AICP(AmericanInstituteofCertifiedPlanners)certification; progressively responsible professional planning experience
• Strong understanding of land use planning, public policy, and best practices as they relate to land use, housing, conservation, and regulatory frameworks. Experience in public and private sectors. Strong writing and public presentation experience including development of media presentations. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to communicate well with both technical and non-technical audiences.

After-Hire Requirements

None

Career Advancement Opportunities

In-Band Advancement Available: ☐ Yes ☒ No

Criteria: None

Broad Group Level Advancement Available: ☐ Yes ☒ No

Criteria: None

Disclaimers

The supplemental job description lists the essential functions of the position and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed on the supplemental job description provided that such duties are characteristic of that job title.

When applicable, the work of an employee in trainee status in this position shall be overseen by a fully qualified individual. An employee in trainee status shall meet the minimum qualifications within the period of time specified on the SJD, not to exceed one year of being hired into this position.

For further information please contact Heather Shank, Director Division of Planning and Community Development, [e-mail], 603.271-1762.

Total Compensation Information

• HMO or POS Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits
• The actual value of State-paid health benefits and the amount of employee health benefit contributions may vary depending on the type of plan selected and the bargaining unit with which a position is associated.
• Value of State’s share of Employee’s Retirement: 12.87% of pay
• Dental Plan at minimal cost for employees and their families ($500-$1800 value)
• Flexible Spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• State defined benefit retirement plan and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Work/life balance flexible schedules, paid holidays and generous leave plan
• $50,000 state-paid life insurance plus additional low-cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program (ability to earn up to $500)

https://www.das.nh.gov/hr/benefits.aspx

https://www.das.nh.gov/jobsearch/compensation-calculator.aspx

https://www.das.nh.gov/hr/documents/BenefitBrochure.pdf

https://www.das.nh.gov/hr/index.aspx

EOE

TDD Access: Relay NH1-800-735-2964

Post Date: 09/03/2026

Close Date: 09/17/2026

Location: US:NH:CONCORD

Employment Type: FULL-TIME

Salary: $31.33/hour - $42.60/hour