Senior Planner (Coastal Land Use Planner) - Municipal Planning Assistance Program

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State..Join the State of Maine’s land-use planning team and help build thriving communities that are sustainable, resilient to environmental challenges, and prepared for the future!DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRYMUNICIPAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSENIOR PLANNERCOASTAL LAND USE PLANNEROpening Date: May 22, 2026Closing Date: End of day June 05, 2026Location: AugustaPosition Number: 09510-1110Position Type: Full Time/Year-RoundClass Code: 0603Grade: 25 (Professional/Technical Unit)Salary: $54,412.80 - $76,315.20 Per YearInterested applicants need to complete a Direct Hire Application , along with a Cover Letter , and detailed Resume.AGENCY DESCRIPTION: The Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) at the Maine Office of Community Affairs has a part-time Coastal Land Use Planner (Senior Planner) opportunity. MPAP partners with Maine municipalities, regional planning councils, state agencies, and the Legislature to build the planning capacity that Maine communities need to grow responsibly, adapt to change, and protect the assets that define Maine. The program and this part-time position are in Augusta, and remote work options are available subject to management approval. This position will become a full-time position by December 2026.BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This professional services position works with Maine’s coastal communities to increase their resilience to the impacts of growth and development, storm damage, changing demographics, and economic challenges. As the Coastal Land Use Planner, you will support efforts to protect shorelines, support coastal economies, and strengthen long-term resilience. In this role, you will manage municipal and regional grants that advance implementation of Maine's Growth Management Law and Climate Action Plan, translating statewide priorities into practical, on-the-ground outcomes. You will also contribute to the development of coastal land use policies and guidance that inform decision-making at the state and legislative levels. The plans you support, the guidance you develop, and the partnerships you build will have lasting impacts on Maine’s coastal communities and landscapes.The successful candidate will have experience in and know the principles, practices, methodologies, and objectives of land use planning and resilience issues facing coastal municipalities; local government management, capabilities, and constraints; funding opportunities to address municipal planning concerns; and the ability to evaluate land use planning problems and recommend solutions. Finally, the successful candidate will be able to extract and apply information from technical documents, effectively communicate orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, work collaboratively in a team environment, and produce high-quality work products.Work is performed under limited supervision.Remote work options are available for this position with the approval of management.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors’ Degree in assigned area and four (4) years of related work experience. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.Assigned area(s) for this position: Urban or regional planning, geography, environmental science, landscape architecture, public administration, or a related field.Preference will be given to those who demonstrate:Familiarity with general principles of land use planning and coastal resilience planningExperience in coastal zone management, comprehensive planning, writing and interpreting land use ordinances, community development, and housing issuesExperience in GIS, database management, and other computer software applications.Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills are essential.Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays , 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office .Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.Thinking about applying?Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart..If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting. #J-18808-Ljbffr