Senior Planner (Coastal Land Use Planner) - Municipal Planning Assistance Program
About The Position
Join the State of Maine’s land-use planning team and help build thriving communities that are sustainable, resilient to environmental challenges, and prepared for the future! The Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) at the Maine Office of Community Affairs has a part-time Coastal Land Use Planner (Senior Planner) opportunity. MPAP partners with Maine municipalities, regional planning councils, state agencies, and the Legislature to build the planning capacity that Maine communities need to grow responsibly, adapt to change, and protect the assets that define Maine. The program and this part-time position are in Augusta, and remote work options are available subject to management approval. This position will become a full-time position by December 2026.
Requirements
- A Bachelors’ Degree in assigned area and four (4) years of related work experience.
- Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
- Assigned area(s) for this position: Urban or regional planning, geography, environmental science, landscape architecture, public administration, or a related field.
- Experience in and knowledge of the principles, practices, methodologies, and objectives of land use planning and resilience issues facing coastal municipalities.
- Experience in local government management, capabilities, and constraints.
- Experience with funding opportunities to address municipal planning concerns.
- Ability to evaluate land use planning problems and recommend solutions.
- Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills are essential.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with general principles of land use planning and coastal resilience planning
- Experience in coastal zone management, comprehensive planning, writing and interpreting land use ordinances, community development, and housing issues
- Experience in GIS, database management, and other computer software applications.
Responsibilities
- Works with Maine’s coastal communities to increase their resilience to the impacts of growth and development, storm damage, changing demographics, and economic challenges.
- Supports efforts to protect shorelines, support coastal economies, and strengthen long-term resilience.
- Manages municipal and regional grants that advance implementation of Maine's Growth Management Law and Climate Action Plan, translating statewide priorities into practical, on-the-ground outcomes.
- Contributes to the development of coastal land use policies and guidance that inform decision-making at the state and legislative levels.
- Extract and apply information from technical documents.
- Effectively communicate orally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Produce high-quality work products.
Benefits
- 13 paid holidays
- 12 days of sick leave
- 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
- Health Insurance Coverage (State pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums)
- Health Insurance Premium Credit (Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%)
- Dental Insurance (State pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums)
- Retirement Plan (State contributes 14.11% of pay to MainePERS)
- Gym Membership Reimbursement (up to $40 per month)
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
- Living Resources Program (employee assistance program)
- Forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation (MaineSaves 457(b) account)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
