Principal Land Use Planner

DESCRIPTION:

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks a Principal Land Use Planner to work on a wide variety of local and regional planning projects in Greater Boston, with a particular focus on plans and regulatory changes that will have “impacts on the ground”, advance equity, encourage intermunicipal collaboration, and promote housing and economic development in appropriate locations, while preserving the region’s natural resources. MAPC aims to support land use that is sustainable, equitable, and climate resilient. The Principal Planner will also help to evaluate and improve state laws, regulations, policies, and programs consistent with these values, while working closely with state agencies, local officials, community groups, businesses, and institutions.

About MAPC:

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities involve sustainable development, advancing equity, regional collaboration, and creating a climate-friendly region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 120 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.

MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office. 

MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.

This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org

About the Department:

The Land Use Department includes three divisions: Generalists, Housing & Neighborhood Development, and Economic Development. The Principal Land Use Planner will be a part of the Generalist division and report to the Land Use Generalist Manager but will seamlessly support work in all three divisions. The team provides the technical planning skills to support a wide variety of planning technical assistance projects including comprehensive municipal plans, open space and recreation plans, housing production plans, economic development plans, neighborhood plans, corridor plans, zoning recommendations, redevelopment analyses, and other land use projects. MAPC also works with cities and towns to implement the plans we draft, and other plans, policies, and programs. The department strives to focus as much on implementation as planning. The Principal Planner will lead projects across all Land Use divisions, including Housing and Economic development, working closely with all staff within the department and MAPC staff outside the department based on the needs of specific planning projects and implementation initiatives. More information about the department can be found here: https://www.mapc.org/our-work/services-for-cities-towns/community-planning/

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advise cities and towns to develop plans, policies, zoning, procedures, and programs to align with best practices in land use, housing, and economic development and to advance sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient development and preservation;
• Take a lead role and work independently to complete a variety of complex planning projects, many of which may be interdisciplinary, at times overseeing and coordinating among staff from multiple departments including projects such as comprehensive or strategic plans; research studies; topic-specific plans in areas such as housing, open space, and economic development; station area and corridor plans; new municipal policies and programs; zoning bylaws/ordinances; and other project types;
• Act as the project manager on projects with budgets that range from $30K-150K and timelines from 6 to 24 months; drive the project to comply with the work plan, schedule and budget; draft, review and integrate the contributions of other staff to assure coherence of the final product prior to public release;
• Develop and use data-driven methodologies to assess new areas of practice in response to a changing context and to increase the relevance and impact of MAPC's planning and policy work; innovating and developing actionable concepts that take into account the region’s opportunities and challenges;
• Lead research and prepare reports, studies, testimony, and presentations to share data and work with a variety of audiences;
• Track emerging planning trends and challenges that are likely to face Greater Boston now or in the future; remain informed about current planning issues, resources, and programs and provide input to MAPC’s land use policy priorities;
• Manage partnerships with state agencies and municipal staff and leaders to improve state and municipal laws, regulations, policies, and programs;
• Cultivate relationships with external collaborators whose work is aligned with the mission and values of the department and agency;
• Design, organize, and facilitate engagement events, workshops, and other digital and in-person community engagement events, often in collaboration with MAPC’s Community Engagement Department; analyze existing policies and programs and suggest changes to advance MetroCommon2050, often in collaboration with MAPC’s Government Affairs Department; and
• Conduct other planning activities as assigned to implement MetroCommon2050 and MAPC’s strategic priorities.

Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are responsibilities for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account, and BlueBikes membership.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a mentor and sounding board for less-experienced staff;
• Provide direct supervision to interns; and
• Act as a resource to colleagues by helping them to develop technical skills, knowledge, and insight to be effective in their areas of expertise

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates for this position must have either a Bachelor’s degree in urban/regional planning, public policy/administration, housing/economic development, or a closely related field and at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, OR a Master’s degree plus at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.

Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:

• Subject matter expertise in land use planning, public policy, sustainable development and preservation strategies, and a knowledge of relevant policies and programs in Massachusetts and elsewhere;
• Proven experience leading professional planning projects, such as comprehensive plans, master plans, corridor plans, neighborhood plans, and other plan types for clients including local governments, developers or other clients;
• Experience mentoring planning staff;
• Demonstrated leadership in developing or enacting new approaches to land use planning work and/or related practice areas;
• Experience with federal, state and local land use policy issues, laws, and regulations, as well as with state statues such as MGL Chapters 40A, 40B, 40R, etc.;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with elected and appointed officials, community-based groups, underrepresented populations, and other key stakeholders;
• Project management experience, including strong organizational skills and attention to detail, ability to prepare work plans and budgets, ability to manage project timelines, meet deadlines and work within budget limits, and ability to work in a self-directed manner to produce relevant project content;
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to facilitate meetings, articulate planning and policy issues to a variety of audiences, conduct and synthesize research with qualitative and quantitative data to inform policy development, and use GIS effectively;
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners in a range of settings, including diverse urban neighborhoods, suburban centers, BIPOC and Environmental Justice communities, and/or small or rural communities; and
• Strong skills and abilities in public process, facilitation, and collaboration.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in planning or directly related field
• AICP Certification
• Skills in graphic design or web design; experience with software and platforms such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, or social media platforms;
• Additional skills using 3D visualization software such as Sketchup or Rhino  

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Compensation and Benefits: 

The salary ranges from $92,000 - $102,000, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to continued professional development

How to Apply:

Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States.

MAPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead. For more information on MAPC’s culture of equity, see our Equity at MAPC page.