Regional Planner or Senior Planner

POSITION SUMMARY

CRCOG is recruiting an enthusiastic and motivated Regional Planner or Senior Regional Planner to join the Regional Planning & Development team. Working both independently as well as supporting Principal and Director-level staff, this role will assist member municipalities in the areas of planning, research, policy analysis, land use, housing, community development and environmental planning/sustainability. Work is distinguished by the ability to maintain high standards while managing multiple projects simultaneously in order to meet established deadlines.

This position reports to the Director of Regional Planning and Development.

Note: This position is advertised at Grade 3 or Grade 4, depending on the applicant's qualifications, and the salary range reflects both grades.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning, Policy & Research

• Provide planning, research, and policy analysis for the greater Hartford region in the areas of transportation, land use, housing, community development, and environmental planning and sustainability.
• Manage and administer municipal referral process under Connecticut General Statutes by receiving, filing, and providing comments to municipalities on referrals. The referral process requires regional councils of governments be notified of and provided opportunity to review and comment upon updates to municipal plans of conservation and development and applicable, zoning map updates, regulation amendments, and proposed subdivisions.
• Staffing support to the Regional Planning Commission (RPC).
• Community engagement support, e.g. social media posting, survey creation, and analysis.
• Monitor, share information, and apply knowledge on planning and land use trends and best practices.

Project, Grant & Administrative Support

• Assist in preparing and reviewing grant proposals and applications for various funding opportunities.
• Assist with updating Regional Planning & Development department and project webpages.
• Provide support for numerous CRCOG planning studies, including involvement in the RFP/Q process, consultant selection, contracting, and invoicing, and reviewing deliverables. (Role commensurate with level)
• Supervise interns. (Senior level)
• Coordinate the management of consultant efforts on specific projects. (Senior level)

Transportation Department Support and Other Duties

• Collect data from municipalities to support planning endeavors.
• In coordination with GIS staff, review parcel, zoning, and land use layers.
• Identify, download, organize, and accurately interpret various data (e.g. Census).
• Assist Transportation Planning department with various micromobility and other projects and studies as assigned (e.g. micromobility, walk audit, corridor studies)
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in planning, urban studies, real estate development, economics, public policy, political science, landscape architecture, or related studies; including or supplemented by one year's experience in planning, zoning or land use, GIS, transportation planning, public policy; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, ability, and skills.

Senior Planner minimum qualifications add 3 experience years in local municipal planning, regional planning, private sector consulting or equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, ability and skills. A master's degree in planning, public policy or closely related field may substitute for 1 year of experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning; including transportation, land use, housing, community development, and public engagement.
• Housing and/or affordable housing background and experience, a plus.
• Zoning regulations and CT land use processes.
• CT municipalities and Councils of Government framework, a plus.
• Public policy process, a plus.
• Project development, implementation, and management (Senior level).

Ability to:

• Research and analyze various factors involved in regional and municipal planning.
• Speak in a public setting providing information and answering questions.
• Effectively coordinate and facilitate meetings or support senior-level staff.
• Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with CRCOG management and staff, committee members, municipal officials, consultants and members of the public.
• Organize, coordinate, and prioritize multiple project assignments.
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously and use good judgment in prioritizing work assignments.
• Attend occasional evening or weekend meetings or events (typically 1-2 per quarter).
• Identify, download, and utilize data from appropriate sources and communicate findings.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

Skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills Proficiency with word-processing and spreadsheets and other software
• GIS, a plus.
• Graphic design software experience (e.g. inDesign, Illustrator, Canva) and strong graphic design/communication and data visualizations, a plus.
• Reading or speaking proficiency in Spanish and/or Polish, a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed mostly in an office setting and remotely. CRCOG currently has a 50/50 hybrid policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

CRCOG offers a competitive benefits package including a defined contribution retirement plan (currently 10% of salary with no match required); medical, vision, dental, life insurance; short-term and long-term disability; tuition assistance; and paid vacation and holidays.

This position is either a Grade 3 or Grade 4 and the salary range reflects both grades, depending on experience outlined in the minimum qualifications.

CRCOG has a minimum 35-hour work week.

Grade 3 (Planner) Salary Range: $ 59,994 - $77,992

Grade 4 (Senior Planner) Salary Range: $ 71,123 - $92,460