Placemaking Planner

The City of Middleton, WI is seeking a Placemaking Planner to coordinate events and enhance public spaces in the Downtown area. Responsibilities include event programming, project management for public art, and collaboration with city officials and stakeholders. Candidates must have at least an Associate's Degree and one year of relevant experience. This is an in-person position focused on community engagement and urban improvement.
The City of Middleton, WI is hiring a Placemaking Planner to manage and coordinate events in the Downtown area, focusing on community engagement and public space improvements. The role involves event programming, project management for public art, and collaboration with city officials and stakeholders. Candidates should have at least an Associate's Degree and one year of relevant experience in event planning. This position is in-person and not remote.
About the position

The City of Middleton seeks its first ever Placemaking Planner! If you are looking for an opportunity to chart a course forward in both your own career and for the life and impact of our municipality on its residents this is an incredible opportunity for you. We seek an experienced event planner and manager who can balance both detailed and fast moving work with ongoing, deep, effective, and personable communications and coordination with varied stakeholders throughout the City staff and the community. You will be a key member of our high performing and close Department of Planning and Community Development. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we can't wait to meet you! Under the direct supervision of the Director of Planning and Community Development, the Placemaking Planner is responsible for event programming and all coordination of events related to the Downtown Middleton public green space - Stone Horse Green - and other placemaking initiatives including tactical urbanism (low-cost projects such as traffic calming that test ideas and gather input on design changes), streetscaping, and public art throughout the City of Middleton. Placemaking is a process that involves improving public spaces to make them more inviting, accessible, and active to encourage community connections. The Placemaking Planner is an outgoing networker who can guide inclusive and participatory projects by harnessing the strengths of community residents and volunteers. The Placemaking Planner is a connector of people, who can leverage and amplify goals and priorities of the City of Middleton.

Responsibilities
• Scheduling, coordination, advertising, permitting, preparation, setup/takedown, and evaluation of a variety of City-sponsored events (concerts, art walks, food cart pop-ups, and more) in Downtown Middleton.
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• Staff and attend all meetings of the Public Arts Committee, and other Committees and Commissions as requested by the Director of Planning and Community Development.
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• Project management related to public art installations (including competitive selection processes, budgeting, contract management, and construction oversight of installations).
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• Provides assistance with plans including the Plan for Public Art and Design, and community engagement related to other City plans, including the Comprehensive Plan, Sustainability City Plan, and other corridor and areas plans.
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• Meet with City officials, City staff across departments, residents, and other stakeholders on planning and community development issues, in particular event planning and changes to the built environment.

Requirements
• Minimum of an Associate's Degree required.
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• Completion of any assigned planning and community development related training within one year required.
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• Minimum of one year of relevant experience in event planning and management required; professional working or non-professional/volunteer experience accepted.

Nice-to-haves
• Associate's degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Urban Planning or related field preferred.
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• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Urban Planning or related field highly preferred.
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• Three years of relevant experience in planning and event management a preferred, professional working experience highly preferred.

Benefits
• Wisconsin Retirement System
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• Health/Dental/Vision available.
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• Fifteen days' vacation accrued in first year plus 4 personal days.