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

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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 & FORESTRY

MUNICIPAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

SENIOR PLANNER

COASTAL LAND USE PLANNER

Opening Date: May 22, 2026

Closing Date: End of day June 05, 2026

Location: Augusta

Position Number: 09510-1110

Position Type: Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 0603

Grade: 25 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $54,412.80 - $76,315.20 Per Year

Interested 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 planning
• Experience in coastal zone management, comprehensive planning, writing and interpreting land use ordinances, community development, and housing issues
• Experience 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 BBTECH_RESERVED_