Position Description
The Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) seeks a highly skilled and self-motivated individual for a full-time Regional Planner position to work with a team of dedicated professionals, municipal officials, and regional partners. This planner will work under the direct supervision of the Executive Director in support of regional plan development and strategic implementation, town plan and bylaw development, and the leadership and administration of special projects in support thereof. This is grassroots planning at its core, requiring the ability and enthusiasm to work directly with the public, volunteer planning commissions, and town staff persons. Knowledge of planning areas is necessarily broad, and includes land use and working landscape planning, community and economic development, natural resource and water quality planning, as well as transportation, hazard mitigation, climate resilience, and energy planning in a scenic and rural environment.
Immediate job tasks will include supporting NVDA staff with a major regional plan update, providing planning, bylaw assistance to local communities and guidance on their implementation. A good candidate must be able to independently manage multiple projects at any given time with NVDA staff support.
Candidates should be familiar with regional and municipal planning tools (regulatory and non-regulatory), and should have excellent writing, public speaking, meeting facilitation, inclusive public engagement, community organizing, project development and management skills, and grant writing experience. Familiarity with planning in small rural communities is a plus.
The ideal candidate for the position will have a degree in planning or a closely related field (including landscape architecture, geography, public administration, etc.) and 1 – 3 years’ experience in rural municipal and/or regional planning, or equivalent experience. A master’s degree in planning or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of required experience. Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience working with complex and cross-cutting issues.
The NVDA is the regional planning and economic development corporation for the 50-town, 3-county region of northeast Vermont. Our purpose is to assist the communities in our region with local governance and to work collaboratively with them to address regional issues. Our office is located in St. Johnsbury – a community with vibrant downtown. Our workplace is friendly and highly flexible in terms of both workday and location. We offer competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including health and retirement. The expected annual salary range for this position is $50,000 to 55,000+ depending upon experience.
Contact:
Please email a letter of interest and resume (with references and contact information) in a single pdf to David Snedeker, Executive Director at dsnedeker@nvda.net. This position will remain open until filled. No phone calls please. NVDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.