Land Use Planner (Senior Planner) - Municipal Planning Assistance Program - 0162 - Limited Period (Augusta)

The State of Maine is seeking a Senior Land Use Planner for its Municipal Planning Assistance Program. This full-time, limited period position involves assisting municipalities with land use and climate resilience, supporting grant programs, and developing technical guidance materials. Candidates should have a relevant bachelor's degree, four years of experience, and familiarity with land use planning. The role offers various benefits including health insurance and paid leave.
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 Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has a limited period Land Use Planner opportunity. MPAP provides land use planning expertise for Maine citizens, municipalities, regional planning councils, state agencies, and Legislature. It promotes growth management principles in state and local policies, programs, regulations, and investments. This full-time position is located in Augusta. Your professional services will assist Maine municipalities with addressing the intersection of land use and climate resilience in the context of a housing crisis. This position will support and inform grant programs for municipalities and Regional Councils and provide a policy and research bridge among state practitioners in land use, housing, and community resilience programs. In this inter-sectoral position, the candidate's skills will inform the executive department, legislature, and line agencies. The Land Use Planner will work across multiple program areas, including the Community Resilience Partnership and the Municipal Planning Assistance Program, the Floodplain Management Program, the Housing Opportunity Program, the Code Enforcement Training and Certification Program, and the Maine Coastal Program. The successful candidate will develop land use technical assistance guidance materials, assist in the design and review of grant programs, and support implementation of the cross-sectoral land use recommendations of Maine Won't Wait, the state's 4-year action on climate, updated in 2024.

Responsibilities
• Assist Maine municipalities with land use and climate resilience issues.
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• Support and inform grant programs for municipalities and Regional Councils.
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• Provide policy and research support among state practitioners in land use, housing, and community resilience.
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• Develop land use technical assistance guidance materials.
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• Assist in the design and review of grant programs.
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• Support implementation of land use recommendations from Maine Won't Wait.

Requirements
• Bachelor's Degree in community planning and development, environmental sciences, public administration, or a related field.
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• Four (4) years of related work experience.
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• Familiarity with general principles of land use planning and community resilience planning.
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• Experience in housing issues, housing development, comprehensive planning, and land use ordinance development.
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• Experience in GIS, database management, and other computer software applications.

Nice-to-haves
• Master's degree in planning.
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• AICP certification.
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• Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills.

Benefits
• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave.
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• Health Insurance Coverage with 85%-100% of employee-only premiums paid by the State.
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• 100% of employee-only dental premiums paid by the State.
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• Retirement Plan with 13.29% of pay contributed to MainePERS.
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• Gym Membership Reimbursement up to $40 per month.
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• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
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• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility.
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• 42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave.