Sustainability & Resilience Senior Planner

Start Date: March 19, 2025 | End Date: April 30, 2025
County: York County
Job Type: Planning
More Information: Click here

Application Deadline: Rolling until position is filled
Start Date: ASAP
Salary Range: $68,000 to $80,000 – Dependent on experience and qualifications
To Apply: Send resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and reasons for applying to Deb Cyr, [email protected].

The Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) is seeking an organized, independent, and motivated Senior Planner to support the Sustainability and Resilience Division. The Senior Planner is a position on SMPDC’s Sustainability and Resilience team that will bring expertise in climate resilience and project management to support successful delivery of a portfolio of climate action and coastal adaptation projects. The role will be a balance of developing new programs and managing and delivering existing programs.

The chosen candidate will work as part of a tight knit team assisting communities and other regional partners on actions such as climate change planning, coastal resilience projects, outreach and educational efforts, renewable energy/energy efficiency projects, and more. This position will interact with diverse stakeholders, including internal SMPDC staff teams, municipal staff from SMPDC’s member communities, regional non-profits and businesses, State agencies, and elected and appointed officials. This is a dynamic and fast-paced team that is looking for someone who thrives working on a variety of projects across all aspects of climate action.

This will be a hybrid position with both in-office work and the opportunity for remote work. The position will require occasional attendance at night meetings.

Roles and Activities
This position will work under the guidance of the Sustainability Division Director to:

• Manage existing projects related to climate action, coastal adaptation, and emissions reduction. This includes:
  • Developing internal scopes of work and detailed work plans.
  • Leading multi-disciplinary teams to implement projects, delegating tasks and tracking progress.
  • Managing reporting and financial flows and evaluating and reporting on project results.
  • Managing the work of consultants, including contract development, invoicing, and quality management.
  • Writing technical recommendations and reports, and designing impactful presentations.
• Participate as a team member on projects led by other members of the Sustainability and Resilience team, including the Sustainability Division Director, Sustainability and Resilience Planner, and Sustainability and Transportation Planner, as well as other SMPDC divisions. Activities may include:
  • Synthesizing data, writing reports, communicating climate hazard information to diverse audiences, conducting greenhouse gas inventories, creating compelling visuals and infographics, developing and facilitating workshops, and conducting direct outreach and technical assistance to stakeholders.
  • Supporting ongoing division activities including regular program meetings for municipalities, bi-monthly newsletters, informational webinars, and general technical assistance to municipalities.
• Along with the Sustainability Division Director, identify, design, and implement new projects for municipalities and the region based on community needs and interests. Activities may include:
  • Identify aligned funding opportunities, develop partnerships, and prepare funding proposals.
  • Project scoping, budgeting, and staffing plans.
• Occasionally supervise fellows and interns, as needed. There is the potential for expanding supervisory responsibilities as the organization evolves.

Skills and Qualifications
Skills and qualifications of the successful candidate include:

• Knowledge of and demonstrated experience with effective climate action strategies.
• Proven record of project management with strong organizational, budgeting, and record-keeping skills.
• Demonstrated ability to research, integrate, analyze, and interpret data from various sources to produce technical and non-technical information and reports.
• Experience and comfort with planning and facilitating meetings of diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Ability to multitask and perform under tight deadlines independently and as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communications to non-technical audiences.
• Strong sense of professionalism and ability to meet deadlines among competing demands.
• Experience with writing and managing state and/or federal grants.
• Expertise in land use planning and/or floodplain management preferred.
• Expertise and experience in coastal resilience and adaptation preferred.

Education and Experience
The Sustainability and Resilience Senior Planner must have at least five (5) years’ experience in a professional setting or any equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. The preferred candidate will have applied experience working on climate change and coastal resilience issues in a municipal and/or regional setting.

About SMPDC
SMPDC is a non-partisan nonprofit that cultivates thriving, sustainable communities and strengthens local governments by leading planning and economic development for 39 member towns in southern Maine. SMPDC is a leader in land use, sustainability, and resilience planning throughout Maine. SMPDC works closely with member municipalities by providing Planning Board support, development review, ordinance writing services, and long-range planning services.

SMPDC offers a flexible work environment with opportunities for advancement and professional enrichment. The position offers a competitive benefits package. SMPDC’s office is located in a vibrant area, walking distance from both downtown Saco and Biddeford.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should electronically submit a resume and cover letter to Deb Cyr at [email protected] with the email subject line: Sustainability and Resilience Senior Planner. Candidates will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer
SMPDC is an equal opportunity employer and shall continue to pursue a policy of non-discrimination in all employment actions, practices, and conditions of employment.

1. Recruitment and selection will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
2. Reasonable accommodations for any qualified individual, applicant, or employee will be made in accordance with the provisions of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).