Senior Planner, (Water Planning)

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.
We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
As a Senior Planner in Water Planning, you will play a vital role in leading and supporting the surface water and groundwater planning efforts by the Council to ensure the sustainability, reliability, and stability of water resources and water utility services for the Twin Cities' seven-county metropolitan area. This position will include supporting water-related policy and planning work through technical assistance and plan reviews, convening and engaging local stakeholders about regional water challenges, project management, and developing resources and information to assist local and regional water planning and implementation decisions. This work requires a professional background in water and environmental planning. This position's work helps to fulfill the Council's legislative mandate for surface water and water supply planning. It also supports collaboration among water utility and policy stakeholders, which is critical to fulfilling the Council's Water Resources Planning work plan and implementing the Climate Action Work Plan, Regional Development Guide, Water Policy Plan, and Metro Area Water Supply Plan.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (a combination of remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

• Reviews local surface water management plans, watershed management plans, local water supply plans, wellhead protection plans, water-related supply elements of community comprehensive plan updates and amendments, and other environmental documents and coordinates reviews with other planning staff.
• Represents the Council with regulatory agencies, local interests, neighborhood groups, city, county, state, and federal governmental units, industrial user groups, and other interested parties.
• Co-leads and supports sub-regional water resources work for groups. Conducts necessary communications and interactions with these groups.
• Plans and manages department projects and assignments, including coordination with cities/counties and other stakeholders who may be partners in those projects.
• Develops written communication materials for internal and external use (e.g., content for websites, press releases, newsletters, etc.).
• Creates and delivers presentations to a variety of internal and external partners.
• Helps to implement the Council's Imagine 2050: Water Resources Policy Plan.
• Helps facilitate public outreach meetings to gather information needed to prepare policies and other planning documents.
• Writes white research papers on water issues to inform new policies and related strategies.
• Analyzes existing policies, plans, and implementation programs in the subject area.
• Analyzes, compiles, and interprets data for planning purposes.
• Applies knowledge of local government water-related planning practices, methods, and principles to the implementation of Council policies and practices.
• Acts as a key liaison to the community and stakeholder groups and formulates outreach processes related to planning initiatives.
• Participates in project teams and planning initiatives led by other units of the Council or external agencies.
• Performs other related duties.

Any of the following combinations of experience in water policy and planning AND completed education (degree field of study in City, Urban or Environmental Policy or Planning or water resources related degree WITH a focus on Water Planning and Policy or closely related field):

OR

Master's degree with two (2) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience reviewing watershed and local water plans and other environmental documents.
• Experience developing and implementing water policies, focusing on water sustainability and reliability.
• Excellent understanding of and ability to apply the concepts, principles, and practices of planning in water resources management including water supply planning.
• Knowledge of Minnesota water management and governance structures.
• Knowledge of state and federal water supply and water resources-related regulations and standards.
• Good facilitation skills and/or experience in planning and leading stakeholder meetings.
• Knowledge of intergovernmental relationships involved with water resources management, including information on water supply, and drinking water management in Minnesota.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, service providers, and coworkers; to promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to meet project goals and timelines.

• Excellent knowledge of intergovernmental relationships in water resources management.
• Strategic thinking skills
• Understanding of land planning legislation pertaining to the metro area and its relationship to water resources/water supply management legislation.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting data and communicating information in support of management and leadership responsibilities.
• Ability to exercise productive leadership in interagency and interdepartmental teams.
• Skilled in developing and fostering collaborative relationships within the staff, as well as with outside organizations including environmental groups, industry, representatives of federal and state agencies and local governments.
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills, with the ability to communicate to the general public and policy board members as well as professional colleagues.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to ad hoc questions from individuals and groups of customers, clients and/or employees.
• Skilled in dealing with conflict and responding to stressful situations in a calm, effective manner.
• Ability to communicate with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to identify problems, analyze issues, and implement resolutions
• Skilled at managing multiple tasks concurrently, prioritize without direct supervision, handle critical deadlines, and maintain a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply policy guidelines of the Council. Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in the policy analysis or development process.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel, and ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.
• More about why you should join us!

What your work environment would be: You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment and criminal history if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.