Senior Planner (Resiliency Coordinator)
Texas A&M University
Professional Area:
Community Development and Redevelopment
Experience:
3-5 years
Location:
Houston, TX
The position will be open until filled. First review will be September 11, 2015.
Texas A&M’s TCWP program (tcwp.tamu.edu) is implementing several innovative and participatory planning projects that will shape how communities on the coast plan for conservation and prepare for natural hazards. We are looking for an energetic and skilled candidate to lead and manage projects that support communities by aligning state, federal, and university planning resources with community planning priorities. 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 work in communities across Texas.
Stakeholder engagement across the coast and beyond will be critical, and the Coordinator will be responsible for facilitation-process design and outreach activities for local officials, agency staff, and stakeholders. Experience with planning research and methods, plan development, community outreach materials, and report writing will be important for this position. Specialized knowledge of land development, comprehensive urban planning, land conservation practices, and coastal hazards will be very beneficial.
Salary: $46,000-$57,000 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: "Resiliency Coordinator- 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:
- Stakeholder Process Design & Facilitation. Apply principles of collaborative planning, stakeholder engagement and meeting facilitation to the development of a planning program for local and state officials, staff, and stakeholders; Implement outreach programming and meetings in multiple rural and urban communities; apply meeting and facilitation outcomes towards the achievement of project goals; Identify and develop for implementation appropriate outreach methods for a variety of stakeholder groups; sustain and develop contacts after meetings for long-term program engagement; identify appropriate planning strategies and practices (municipal regulations, conservation practices, development BMPs) based on priorities and interests determined through meetings and workshops.
- Program Development Activities. Collaborate with project managers and contribute directly towards the strategic development of programs; coordinate program activities with other project managers; identify opportunities to align state, federal, and university resources with the planning priorities and needs of communities ;
- Community Planning Workshops. Coordinate logistics and resources for public workshops and stakeholder meetings; Attend workshops and public meetings outside of usual business hours; Facilitate a variety of meeting types including focus groups and community-wide meetings; Some travel required.
Required Education: Master’s degree (or Bachelor’s with appropriate experience)
Preferred Education: Master’s degree in Urban Planning or closely aligned degree in Public Affairs or Environmental Resources/Management.
Required Experience: Three years of experience in program management or related planning project work
Preferred Experience: Four or more years of experience with project management in urban planning, natural resource management, or closely related fields of work; development of plans and local strategies in partnership with local stakeholders; Experience with stakeholder process design and implementation; Creation of planning related outreach materials for the public, officials, or project stakeholders.
Required Licenses, Certs, or Registrations:none
Preferred Licenses, Certs, or Registrations:AICP, CFM
Required Special Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Knowledge of the municipal planning process, state and local development regulations, and land development/conservation practices;
- Knowledge of coastal risks and hazards;
- Excellent skills for meeting facilitation and recording;
- Skills and knowledge for effective interpersonal stakeholder engagement;
- Skills with collaborative problem solving in an urban planning/conservation context;
- Ability to apply appropriate communication styles with various audiences, including public officials, project stakeholders, municipal staff, and the general public;
- Ability to summarize key information from regulations, plans, and other official policies;
- Ability to clearly summarize technical information for the public;
- Adept with spreadsheet analyses and creating tables;
- Must be proficient with Word and Excel.
Preferred Special Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:
- Skills and knowledge of using of mediation and consensus building in a community planning context;
- Highly effective oral communication and interpersonal skills for work with the general public, project stakeholders, state/federal agency staff and officials;
- Specialized knowledge of the land development process and coastal hazards;
- Skills with web content development;
- Skills with basic ArcGIS functions;