Senior Planner

Metropolitan Council; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework options

Travel opportunities

Job summary

The Metropolitan Council, Community Development Division, seeks up to three Senior Planners to join a collaborative team in the Twin Cities region. After onboarding onsite, the role offers a hybrid telework arrangement with occasional travel to partner sites and communities across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Candidates should bring strong local planning and policy experience and a commitment to equity. Typical duties include leading land-use policy initiatives, reviewing local plans, and supporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in geography, urban or environmental studies or related field.
• Master’s degree and/or significant planning experience preferred.
• Experience interpreting and communicating technical information to lay audiences.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate reviews of local comprehensive plans, amendments, and environmental reviews.
• Develop policy assessments, plans, and regional policies.
• Provide technical assistance to local governments for planning and implementation.
• Lead or support multiple planning projects and ensure timely delivery.
• Foster equity and collaborative relationships across stakeholders.

Skills

Local planning

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in geography, urban or environmental studies

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

GIS

Job description

The Metropolitan Council's Community Development Division is accepting applications for up to three (3) Senior Planners.

After a period of onsite onboarding, this position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Occasional travel is expected between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area as well as visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as the work requires. The candidate's permanent resident must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development Divisionis responsible for the Council's regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rental assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

The Community Development Division is a leader for racial equity within the Council and the region. Our staff, working environment, relationships, and investments reflect our commitment to racial equity. We have set the following goals to guide our work:

• Grow staff capacity and foster an equitable workplace.
• Center equity in process and priorities.
• Foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

Local Planning Assistance leads the Council's implementation of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act as well as the development and implementation of the metropolitan development guide and policy plans. This work unit implements the Act through the Sector Representative Program and reviews comprehensive plans, amendments to those plans, and environmental reviews, which deal with an array of land use, transportation, housing, parks, natural systems, climate strategies, and other issues. This unit also provides planning technical assistance to Metropolitan Council Members and communities in the local implementation of regional policies.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

Persons in this position will join a collaborative team from various planning, land use, geography, natural systems, public health, climate/sustainability, community development, landscape architecture, and related backgrounds with values centered on service, relationships, equity, innovation, and accountability.

Persons hired for this position will:

• apply local planning and policy expertise in support of the development and implementation of the regional development guide (currently Imagine 2050), and Regional Systems and Policy Plans, in particular land use policy.
• apply local government experience and build long-standing relationships with Metropolitan Council Members and local government representatives.
• be part of a collaborative team implementing land use policy that guides the growth and development of the region as part of the regional development guide, Imagine 2050, advising on the intersections of land use with regional system and policy areas.
• manage projects which move forward regional planning and policy initiatives, contributing to the implementation of Imagine 2050.
• develop resources and technical assistance tools related to a variety of planning topics like land use, density, community engagement, equity, and others in local planning and implementation.
• contribute to and facilitate review of local comprehensive plans, comprehensive plan amendments, environmental reviews, and other types of planning reviews.
• grow capacity, foster an equitable workplace, center equity in process and priorities, and foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

Full Salary Range:$42.58 - $69.09 hourly/$88,566 - $143,707 yearly
Anticipated Salary Range:$44.79 - $53.97 hourly/$93,163.20 - $112,257.60 yearly
*The starting salary will depend on the selected candidate's experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Council and local governments as a Sector Representative by coordinating meetings and presentations, communicating Council policies, elevating local perspectives on regional issues, providing technical assistance, and building strong collaborative relationships with community and government partners.
• Coordinate cross-divisional review of local comprehensive plans, plan amendments, environmental reviews, and related documents. This includes applying Council policies to specific situations, identifying issues, fostering collaborative relationships across Council divisions, meeting with review participants (such as local officials and staff, developers, residents, and Council Members) to surface perspectives and resolve differences, analyzing policy impacts, negotiating solutions, and preparing staff reports and recommendations for the Council and its committees.
• Communicate daily with Council members, local staff, officials, developers, federal and state agencies, and members of the public regarding specific review issues and Council policies.
• Represent the Council with external agencies and organizations as it relates to areas of assigned responsibility such as reviews, Council policy, and as a land use subject matter expert.
• Participate in the development of policy assessments, reports, and regional plans and policies. Relate plans to guiding statutes and the Council’s vision, values, and goals.
• Develop technical assistance resources for local governments in cooperation with team members to support local comprehensive planning and implementation efforts.
• Develop scopes of work for various plans, projects, and guidance documents and manage assigned projects which may include cross-divisional coordination using project management principles. As a project manager (or mentor), may oversee the work of other technical staff, students, or interns.
• Specialize or use advanced experience in a specific planning area, depending on a match between a candidate’s qualifications and the work unit’s need for specialized experience in policy development and delivery of technical assistance. Potential areas include transportation, TOD, water resources, equitable development, or other related areas.
• Assist with existing program and project teams depending on need, capacity, interest, and staffing levels. For example, as part of the Small Communities Planning Program, people in this position may join the project team to lead or assist in the development of 2050 Comprehensive Plans for some of region's smallest and resource-limited communities by providing direct technical assistance and plan production. Other project teams focus on work with equity initiatives, transportation, natural systems, climate change, and others as needed.
• Promote an equitable, positive, and respectful professional environment that values lived experiences, culture, and diversity among all stakeholders and colleagues.
• Foster a customer service mentality and ensure a high level of service to all stakeholders.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Any of the following combinations of completed education (in geography, urban or environmental studies, urban planning, community development, or a related field) AND experience in long-range comprehensive planning, land use planning, or plan implementation with a local unit of government such as a city, county, or township. Must have demonstrated experience in effectively interpreting and communicating complex or technical information to lay audiences:

• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of experience
• Master's degree and 2 years of experience

For all levels of education, at least 2 years of experience must be in development review and permitting, ordinance writing, plan implementation, or long-range planning while working for, or on behalf of, a local unit of government such as a city, county, or township, as the staff planner or planning consultant.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications)

In addition to meeting one of the above education and experience criteria, the following are highly desired:

• Six or more years of planning-related professional experience with a strong preference for local government experience in development review and permitting, ordinance writing, plan implementation, or long-range planning while working for, or on behalf of, a local unit of government like a city, county, or township, as the staff planner or planning consultant.
• Experience working with a range of urban, suburban, and rural communities on issues like, but not limited to, land use, natural systems, transportation, housing, redevelopment/infill, equitable development, and community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and completing deliverables within allotted timeframes.
• Development and implementation of comprehensive plans, small area plans, neighborhood plans, or other initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in developing innovative community engagement initiatives, trust-building with underrepresented stakeholders, successful meeting facilitation, or planning efforts that effectively engaged diverse populations and can include leadership or project lead roles as a community organizer, volunteer, or other strategic collaboration experience.
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex information to lay audiences.
• Racial and social equity experience and/or training along with a demonstrated ability, or growth capacity, to participate in conversations about race and equity, as well as identify opportunities to integrate equity initiatives meaningfully into the work.
• Advanced skills in MS Word and Excel, ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.
• Experience using Geographic Information System (GIS) to perform geographic analysis.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Basic knowledge of the governmental environment in which the Metropolitan Council works.
• Knowledge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and the regional planning role the Metropolitan Council plays in relationship to local governments.
• Clear understanding of the historical context of the Council and the people it serves and how the Council can work to acknowledge, repair, and reduce regional racial disparities.
• Extensive knowledge of Council policies, practices, and operational procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of policy analysis and planning principles, methods, and theory.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the policy guidelines of the Council.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in the policy analysis or development process.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training, external professional development opportunities, and tuition reimbursement may be available.
• We encourage and support staff in bringing the full range of experiences and identities that define them to the workplace.
• We encourage and support staff in contributing to a dynamic work culture that improves the Council’s ability to serve the region and strives to effectively support all employees.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.
• We offer the ability to set a flexible work schedule and work remotely/telework when workload and work scope allows.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be: Work is performed in a standard office setting with hybrid telework options available. Occasional travel between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities Metro area as well as visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as the work requires. Vehicles and transit passes are provided, and a driver’s license may be necessary for some travel requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, affirmative Action, veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email [e-mail].