Planning Support Specialist

Planning Support Specialist

Salary

$30.87 - $33.42 Hourly

Location

MSB Administration Building, 350 E Dahlia, Palmer, AK

Job Type

Regular Full-Time

Job Number

2026-00104

Department

Planning

Opening Date

08/24/2026

• Description
• Benefits

Job Summary

This position provides technical planning and administrative support for assigned division programs and functions. Current plans and projects include, but are not limited to, Transit & Transportation, Lake Management, Comprehensive Plans, Historic Preservation, and School Walking Routes. The team responds to requests from Community Councils to help provide land use guidance, evaluates connections to land use and transportation systems, works to maintain robust public outreach relating to individual projects and the larger goals of long-range planning efforts, and provides staff support for several boards and commissions, including the MSB Fish & Wildlife Commission, Historical Preservation Commission, and the Transportation Advisory Board.

Work is performed and duties are carried out in accordance with established policies, procedures, and Borough core values: Accountability, Customer Focus, Dedication, Integrity, Responsiveness and Teamwork.

Pay Grade

K1 - K5 - DOE

Minimum Requirements

Associates degree in a course of study related to the occupational field. Post-secondary education or experience which provides the expertise required to perform effectively the functions of the position may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

Three (3) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, sufficient to understand and successfully perform the major duties of the position, and to be able to answer questions and resolve problems. Relevant experience may include: Overall budgeting, project tracking, contract management and invoicing; writing, editing, and distributing various forms of correspondence, legislation, meeting minutes, and public engagement materials; managing mailings, scheduling and facilitating meetings, maintaining records, and supporting overall team project management. A high level of competency in logistical, organizational, and time management skills is welcomed. As a part of the Planning Division, you may also participate in planning efforts as needed, including conducting research, analyzing data, and preparing and editing plans, studies, and reports. With the team's heavy emphasis on community engagement, experience with website design, graphics, communications, and public meetings is beneficial. We anticipate the Planning Support Specialist will offer support in various ways, adapt smoothly to changing priorities, and solve problems creatively, both independently and in a team setting. One (1) year of experience must be in an administrative support role.

Possession of a valid drivers license issued by the State of Alaska for the type of vehicle or equipment operated. If assigned driving duties/responsibilities, candidate must be at least 19 years of age with one (1) year of driving experience.

Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) courses, ICS 100 and IS 700, within ninety (90) days of hire.

Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Prepares disbursement requests, processes invoices for payment, handles financial agreements, purchasing requests, and reimbursement claims.
• Participates in budget preparation and monitoring; adjusts budgets as needed; updates internal project tracking data, including costs, progress, and completion dates.
• Assists with administrative tasks such as creating, editing, and distributing correspondence, reports, and other materials; ensures accuracy and consistency in documentation.
• Acts as the main Records Coordinator, managing division files and records according to the Borough Records Management Program; assists with public records requests.
• Attends and facilitates meetings, may facilitate and/or serve as Parliamentarian for Borough boards and commissions associated with the Department's scope of responsibility, prepares agendas and materials, records minutes, and handles post-meeting documentation.
• Develops planning studies and reports to support new and updated plans, programs, and regulations, while assisting in the review of development proposals and site plans to ensure conformance with applicable codes and regulations. May conduct field evaluations and assessments.
• Prepares detailed reports on development proposals for government bodies and collects statistical data, such as census information, land use, tax base data, and occupancy rates, to create reports and maps.
• Assists in evaluating rezoning requests, ordinance amendments, site plans, special use permits, and variances, as well as aiding in the implementation of comprehensive plans.
• Coordinates the review of public and private development projects and conducts research for both routine and special projects.
• Provides information to the public regarding development regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The Mat-Su Borough offers a variety of benefits to its eligible employees. These benefits include Health, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, accident and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, retirement, supplemental benefits (in lieu of social security), deferred compensation, and an employee assistance program. Following is brief description of some of these benefits.

Health Insurance:

The Borough offers group health insurance to all Regular employees scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week. The plan includes medical, prescription, audio and optional dental and vision benefits. Employees may decline any or all of these coverages. Coverage begins for the employee and family members the 1st of the month following date of employment. Family members include spouse and children under age 26. Beginning July 1, 2022, the amount charged to each employee, with a regular work week of 35 or more hours, will be based on which Tier you select and whether the optional vision/dental coverage is added. That amount will be divided between the first two paychecks of each month. The Borough will pay the remainder of the monthly costs. For employees working at least 30 hours but less than 40 hours a week, if the employee elects to be covered, the employee cost will also be based on the Tier selected and if the optional vision/dental coverage has been added.

Life & AD&D:

All regular full time or part time employees will have life insurance coverage provided by the Borough of $50,000 on themselves, $2,000 on their spouse and $1,000 on each qualified child. The benefit for Accidental Death & Dismemberment on the employee is $50,000.

• Employees may purchase additional life insurance through the State of Alaska Supplemental Benefits System.

Retirement:

PERS Tier IV (applies to employees first entered into PERS service on or after July 1, 2006): Alaska Public Employees Retirement System is mandatory with a contribution rate of 8%. The Borough portion is as follows: Defined Contribution Plan - 5%; Health Plan - 0.86%, Health Reimbursement Arrangement - $94.92 (per pay period), Occupational Death & Disability - 0.24%.

PERS Tier I, II, & III (applies to employees first entered into PERS service prior to July 1, 2006): Alaska Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is mandatory with a contribution rate of 6.75%. The Borough portion is 22%.

For further information, go to the state of Alaskas website at www.state.ak.us/drb.

Alaska Supplemental Benefits System:

The Supplemental Benefits System (SBS) is in lieu of Social Security and is mandatory. An employee contributes at 6.13% of gross wages, matched by the Borough (6.13%), on the present wage base of $176,100.

SBS offers other various benefit options which are fully explained on their website at www.state.ak.us/drb.

Deferred Compensation Plan:

The Borough offers a Deferred Compensation Plan to eligible employees. The maximum amount an employee may defer in any taxable year is 100% of taxable wages or $23,500, whichever is less. Employees over the age of 50 may contribute an additional $7,500 and ROTH $7,000.

Holidays:

The Borough recognizes 11 paid holidays (plus 1 floating holiday). Regular employees with a regularly scheduled work week of less than forty (40) hours shall receive holiday pay on a pro-rated basis.

Personal Leave:

Personal leave will begin accruing the first day employment, however, it will not be available until after the employee has completed three (3) months of service. Accrual rates are as follows:

0 through 1 years 6 Hours per pay period

1 through 2 years 6.93 Hours per pay period

3 through 5 years 8.77 Hours per pay period

6 through 10 years 9.7 Hours per pay period

11 years and longer 11.64 Hours per pay period

Regular employees with a regularly scheduled work week of less than forty (40) hours shall accrue leave on a pro-rated basis.

Employer Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Address 350 E Dahlia Avenue

Palmer, Alaska, 99645

Phone 907-861-8404

907-861-8404

Website http://www.matsu.gov