Associate Planner

SUMMARY: Position provides varying level of technical and administrative support to several City land use boards and the public, in addition to performing directed studies and research at the request of the Director and Assistant Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Include the following; other duties may be assigned.

• In either a direct or supporting role, provide administrative and technical assistance to several City boards, which may include Design Review Board, Parking and Traffic Commission, Historic District Commission, Community Preservation Committee, and/or Open Space and Recreation Committee, involving the review of plans and projects for compliance with local policies and ordinances and the preparation of staff reports and follow up correspondence and certification of board action as required. Best efforts are made to match staff interests and balance workloads.
• In a supporting role, provide administrative and/or technical assistance to other City boards where other staff are the primary support, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission.
• Provide assistance to the general public, applicants, and other City departments in the interpretation of local permitting processes and City policies and programs of a planning and land use nature.
• Participate and assist in the research of general planning studies and projects, and assist in the writing and production of resulting documents, ordinances, staff reports, and maps. The position may include management of planning studies or projects based on gained experience.
• Research, prepare, and administer proposals and grants.
• Represent the Planning and Development Department and the City at various inter-departmental, agency, and public meetings as requested by the Director or Assistant Director.
• Attend, as necessary, evening, occasional weekend and out-of-office meetings, seminars and conferences as assigned by the Director or Assistant Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in City Planning or related field. Master’s Degree is preferred.
• A minimum of one year of professional planning experience with a working knowledge and interest in the principles and practices of municipal planning, transportation planning, arts/cultural planning, urban design, and/or historic preservation are highly desirable.
• Any combination of education and experience that would provide the desired skills, knowledge and ability to perform the job.
• Working knowledge of Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 40A, 41, 40C; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Complete Streets Funding Program; State and Federal transportation policy; and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and/or National Register Criteria for Evaluation is desirable, but not required.
• Effective technical, written, and oral communication skills including the ability to provide guidance and technical assistance and explain regulations and policies clearly and courteously.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with GIS.

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 required on a daily basis to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance or stoop. The employee must lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

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. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate.

Interested applicants should submit resumes/applications to jobs@beverlyma.gov or City of Beverly, Human Resources, 191 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915.