Planning Associate (Planner II/GIS)
Texas A&M University
Location:
Houston, TX
The position will be open until filled. First review will be September 04, 2015.
The Texas Coastal Watershed Program is seeking a Planning Associate (Planner II/GIS) for their Houston-Clear Lake office. This position will assist with urban and environmental planning projects on the Texas Coast and beyond. Projects in our office deal with GIS-based scenario planning, watershed planning, coastal risk mitigation, and habitat conservation.
Primary duties require experience with GIS analysis and data development, GIS-based scenario planning, planning research and methods, and report writing. Knowledge of land development, comprehensive urban planning, scenario planning tools, and coastal hazards will be very beneficial. This is part of a FEMA funded opportunity that seeks to broaden the conversation about hazard mitigation on Texas Gulf Coast towards long-term planning and hazard mitigation, and will be a remarkable opportunity to support planning work in communities across Texas.
Salary: $42,000-$52,000 per year, commensurate.
This position is located in Houston-Clear Lake, TX. The position is full time with benefits, paid sick leave and vacation. Website: tcwp.tamu.edu. The position is for new projects which are not described on our website.
To apply contact smikulencak@tamu.edu with subject line: "Planning Associate (GIS)- Houston." Include a cover letter, a resume, and a three page sample of your writing from previous work. Please do not submit project portfolios - they will not be considered until an interview is scheduled.
Major Essential Duties:
- GIS & Planning Analyses. Compile and summarize research and data on a range of community planning issues and from multiple sources; Perform quantitative research in GIS; Develop, test, and update planning scenarios in GIS; Incorporate quantitative findings into the development of GIS projects; Prepare reports and summaries for project deliverables; Prepare charts, tables, graphics, and presentations; draft publications related to planning principles and GIS analyses for stakeholders and general public use.
- Program Development and Support Activities. Work closely with project team to develop and implement projects and existing programs; identify and address technical and logistical requirements related to GIS and planning projects; maintain and update program resources online; build and sustain relationships with program partners; support project tasks as required by project managers; administrative and logistical project support.
- Community Planning Workshops. Coordinate logistics and outreach for public workshops and stakeholder meetings; Attend workshops and public meetings outside of usual business hours; Some travel required.
Occasional Duties: Reporting and other administrative tasks as required carrying out essential duties
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or closely aligned degree in Geography or Environmental Management;
Preferred Education: Master’s degree in Urban Planning or closely aligned degree in Geography or Environmental Management;
Required Experience: No experience required
Preferred Experience: 2 or more years professional work in the planning field or closely related project work in environmental resources; project work in GIS analyses in support of planning.
Required Licenses, Certs, or Registrations:none
Preferred Licenses, Certs, or Registrations: AICP, GISP
Required Special Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:
- Applicants must be able to work in a collaborative professional environment and to contribute to the strategic development of projects and programs;
- Must be able to write effectively and clearly;
- Knowledge of principles of local government planning practices, land development, and conservation;
- Knowledge of coastal risks and hazards;
- Must utilize ESRI ArcGIS software for data acquisition, data development, and planning analyses;
- Must have knowledge of GIS methods in support of plan development;
- Knowledge of principles of GIS systems, projections, and cartography;
- Ability to manage time effectively and be able to prioritize project duties;
- Ability to write summaries about key information from regulations, plans, and official policies;
- Ability to clearly summarize technical information for public use;
- Adept with spreadsheet analyses and creating tables;
- Must be proficient with Word and Excel.
Preferred Special Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:
- CommunityViz Software and development of GIS projects in CommunityViz;
- Knowledge and skills for the development of online mapping tools;
- Knowledge of statistical analyses with planning data;
- Specialized knowledge of the land development process and coastal hazards;
- Skills with web content development.
Other Requirements:Some travel required