Senior Planner - (Small Communities Planning Program)

Metropolitan Council•390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Metropolitan Council is seeking up to three Senior Planners for a long-term temporary position (up to 2 years) to assist the region's smallest and resource-limited communities with their Imagine 2050 Comprehensive Plan updates. This role involves providing direct technical assistance and plan production under a new Small Communities Planning Program. The Community Development Division is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce and is a leader for racial equity within the Council and the region. The Local Planning Assistance unit implements the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and develops regional policy plans, providing technical assistance to local governments. This position will contribute to expanding local capacity for planning processes grounded in community priorities, ensuring plans meet requirements and align with regional policies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with four years of experience in long-range comprehensive planning, land use planning, or plan implementation with a local unit of government, OR Master's degree with two years of experience in long-range comprehensive planning, land use planning, or plan implementation with a local unit of government.
At least two (2) years of experience must be in long-range planning with a local unit of government, such as a city, county, or township.
Demonstrated experience in effectively interpreting and communicating complex or technical information to lay audiences.
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.

Nice To Haves

Six or more years of planning-related professional experience with a strong preference for local government experience working for, or on behalf of, a city as the staff planner or planning consultant.
Experience working with a range of community types (preference for small town and rural) on issues like but not limited to land use planning, housing, transportation, climate/natural systems, or similar.
Strong preference for special expertise or focus on development of local comprehensive plans.
Demonstrated experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and delivering work within identified timeframes.
Writing, production, and implementation of comprehensive plans, small area plans, neighborhood plans, or other similar initiatives.
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 gather and manage data and perform geographic analysis.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or a demonstrated, sustained commitment to learning within the field of policy and planning.

Responsibilities

Serve as a direct point of contact to select local governments on behalf of the Met Council and the Small Communities Planning Program, helping eligible communities update their 2050 comprehensive plans while maintaining responsive, consistent communication throughout the project.
As a Project Manager, lead development of multiple local comprehensive plans in a fashion similar to a consulting planner, including development of a work plan and schedule, coordination of data collection, assistance in preparation for locally-led public meetings, coordination with consultants and local staff, and facilitation of internal cross-divisional review by Met Council technical staff, as needed.
Address applicable minimum requirements for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update as identified in the Local Planning Handbook.
Use community-specific Minimum Requirements to address land use, housing, transportation, water resources, parks and trails, climate, and natural systems in the comprehensive plan updates.
Identify and respond to any issues of consistency with Met Council policy, conformance with regional system plans, and compatibility with plans of affected and adjacent jurisdictions towards a determination of “complete for review” by the Met Council.
Facilitate review and approval of local drafts and public comment responses as well as final Met Council technical review, Committee reviews, and final Council action.
As a project manager or mentor, may oversee the work of other technical staff, students, or interns.
Foster a customer service mentality and ensure a high level of service to all stakeholders.
Promote an equitable, positive, and respectful professional environment that values lived experiences, culture, and diversity among all stakeholders and colleagues.
Other related duties, as assigned.