Senior Planner

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 hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development Division is 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 rent 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.

The Senior Planner will:

1. Apply local planning and policy expertise in support of the development and implementation of the regional development guide (currently Imagine 2050), and its Regional Systems and Policy Plans.
2. Apply local government experience and build long-standing relationships with Metropolitan Council Members and local government representatives.
3. Be part of a collaborative team implementing land use policy that guides the growth and development of the region as established in the regional development guide, Imagine 2050, advising on the intersections of land use with the regional system and policy areas.
4. Develop resources and technical assistance tools related to a variety of planning topics like land use, climate change, environmental justice and others in local planning and implementation.
5. Contribute to and facilitate review of local comprehensive plans, comprehensive plan amendments, environmental reviews, and other types of planning reviews.
6. Grow capacity, foster an equitable workplace; center equity in process and priorities; and foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

NOTES: After a period of on-site on-boarding, this position is eligible for a hybrid (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 residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

• Act as a liaison to local units of government as a Sector Representative which includes: coordinating meetings, presentations, and disseminating Council policies; serving as a conduit of information to the Council on issues and opportunities in the region from a local government perspective; providing technical assistance to local units of government in coordination with cross-divisional teams to assist with local comprehensive plan and regional goal implementation; and establishing cooperative and long-standing relationships with local government and community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Coordinate cross-divisional review of local comprehensive plans, amendments, environmental reviews, and other submittals which includes: applying Council policies to specific situations and identifying issues; establishing cooperative relationships with personnel across all divisions of the Council; meeting with principal reviewers (such as local government officials and staff, and Council Members) to share points of view, identify problems, and resolve differences; and analyzing policy impacts, negotiating a resolution of conflicts, and presenting staff reports and recommendations to 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.
• Serve as primary staff for the Local Planning Assistance team on work related to the Council's climate change initiatives, particularly implementation of climate-related land use policies but also including and not limited to, participation in or lead on collaborative cross-divisional climate teams, update of the regional climate vulnerability assessment, maintenance and updates related to the urban tree canopy program, and others.
• Coordinate with external partners on technical assistance for local units of government to develop tools and resources to assist in implementation of land use climate planning requirements and regional climate goals in support of local comprehensive planning and implementation efforts.
• Participate in the development and implementation of policy assessments, reports, and regional plans and policies. Relate plans to guiding statutes and Council goals.
• 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.
• 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.

Any of the following combinations of education (degree in geography, urban studies, environmental studies, urban planning; community development, or related field) AND experience in land use planning or climate-related experience such as development review, climate/sustainability planning, plan implementation or long-range planning with a local unit of government, such as city, county or township.

• High school diploma/GED AND eight (8) years of experience.
• Associate degree AND six (6) years of experience.
• Bachelor's degree AND four (4) years of related experience.
• Master's degree AND two (2) years of related experience.

*For all levels of education at least two (2) of the years of experience must be in development review and permitting, ordinance writing, planning implementation, or long-range planning with a local unit of government, such as a city, county, or township.

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

• 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 (large city to small town to rural area) on land use issues related to sustainability, climate change, climate resilience, or similar. Strong preference for special expertise or focus in one of these areas.
• Experience incorporating issues of sustainability and climate change into local planning efforts, such as long-range plans and ordinances.
• Application of environmental justice frameworks, practices, or programs within planning work.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively interpreting and communicating complex or technical information to lay audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and delivering work within identified timeframes.
• Implementation of comprehensive plans, small area plans, neighborhood plans, or other 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.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or a demonstrated, sustained commitment to learning within the field of policy and planning.

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!

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

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, and 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 HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.