Environmental and Land Use Planner

SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for assisting local governments in areas of community planning, environmental management, sustainability and smart growth, hazard mitigation, transportation, zoning, community development, and grant preparation. This is a professional position that engages in local government issues involving administration, project management, and developing innovative solutions in coordination with member governments. It involves the application of considerable knowledge, research, and planning in matters of government, planning, urban design, historic preservation, transportation, housing, public administration, and any related matters.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides technical assistance to local governments with the development of various plans including but not limited to comprehensive plans, pre-disaster mitigation plans, transportation plans, greenspace plans, and recreation master plans.
• Conducts regional planning activities including maintenance of a Regional Comprehensive Plan, Regionally Important Resources Plan, and other similar documents.
• Assists local governments in the development of policies and programs that increase the sustainability and resilience of local communities.
• Serve as project lead for activities of the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition and support the work and activities of other regional organizations working to improve environmental quality.
• Assists local governments with a wide variety of technical assistance, including administration, research, project management, and developing innovative solutions to the community’s problems.
• Works with local elected and appointed officials to develop and prepare grant and loan applications for public infrastructure, community development, recreation, sustainability, and other identified program areas.
• Assists local governments in the facilitation and formation of various special projects, such as housing needs assessments and economic development strategies.
• Supports local governments and their affiliates through workshop attendance, facilitation, and participation.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal ordinances, laws, and regulations.
• Knowledge of grant programs and funding sources from public, private, and non-profit sectors.
• Knowledge of the day-to-day functions of local, state, and federal governments.
• Functional knowledge of spreadsheets, databases, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat.
• Ability to read, manipulate, analyze, and interpret data from various sources.
• Ability to read, write and comprehend professional journals, government regulations, reports, and business correspondences.
• Ability to decipher federal and state regulations and instructions.
• Ability to successfully work on multiple projects at one time.
• Skill in communicating professionally both orally and in written form.
• Skill to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times and in a wide variety of professional situations.

MINIMUM TRAINING and/or EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Environmental and Land Use Planner should, at a minimum, have a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a related field from an accredited college or university and one to two years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master's Degree in Environmental Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or Public Administration is preferred. Historic Preservation knowledge/ experience is a plus.

SUPERVISORY CONTROL and RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director of Planning Public Administration assigns work in terms of general instructions requiring the use of judgment. Completed work is reviewed for compliance with procedures and for the nature and propriety of the final results. The Environmental and Land Use Planner does not have any supervisory responsibility.

TRAVEL:
The Environmental and Land Use Planner is regularly required to travel to meetings held throughout the Middle Georgia Regional Commission service area. The Environmental and Land Use Planner must possess a valid driver's license and must have access to reliable transportation. The Environmental and Land Use Planner is sometimes required to attend meetings that occur during the evening (after working hours), and/or during the early morning (prior to working hours). Occasional overnight trips may be required. Some meetings may be held in areas outside the Middle Georgia Regional Commission Service Area.

GUIDELINES:
The Environmental and Land Use Planner utilizes guidelines and data set forth by the MGRC Personnel Manual and Office Procedures, Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Open Records Act, Sunshine Laws, Personnel Regulations and Case Law, L.O.S.T. law, Service Delivery Act, Georgia Public Works Construction Law, NEPA & GEPA, Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, Georgia Planning Act of 1989, A.D.A., requirements and regulations for various grant programs, and data from U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia County Guide, Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance, and Catalogue of State Financial Assistance Programs.

(ADA) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence (including email), grant proposals, and policy and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively and persuasively present information and respond to questions from local officials, department heads, and the general public in a professional manner.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra, geometry, and statistics. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Must be able to communicate orally and in written form in a professional manner in order to give or exchange information, resolve problems, provide service, influence others, and direct the efforts of others. Contacts are typically with MGRC employees, federal, state, or local government officials, development authorities, business and industry representatives, Chambers of Commerce, task forces, citizens and citizen groups, and the media.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect and manipulate data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, listen and use a computer. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is usually performed in an office or in the field. The noise level in the work environment is usually light to moderate.