Senior Planner

Senior Planner

Salary

$88,566.40 - $143,707.20 Annually

Location

390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2026-00408

Division

Community Development

Department

Administrative Management

Opening Date

11/09/2026

Closing Date

11/30/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

WHO WE ARE

The Metropolitan Councils Community Development Division is accepting applications for up to three (3) Senior Planners.

After a period of onsite onboarding, this position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Occasional travel is expected between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area as well as visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as the work requires. The candidates permanent resident must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development Division is responsible for the Councils regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rental assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

The Community Development Division is a leader for racial equity within the Council and the region. Our staff, working environment, relationships, and investments reflect our commitment to racial equity. We have set the following goals to guide our work:

• Grow staff capacity and foster an equitable workplace.
• Center equity in process and priorities.
• Foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

Local Planning Assistance leads the Councils implementation of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act as well as the development and implementation of the metropolitan development guide and policy plans. This work unit implements the Act through the Sector Representative Program and reviews comprehensive plans, amendments to those plans, and environmental reviews, which deal with an array of land use, transportation, housing, parks, natural systems, climate strategies, and other issues. This unit also provides planning technical assistance to Metropolitan Council Members and communities in the local implementation of regional policies.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

Persons in this position will join a collaborative team from various planning, land use, geography, natural systems, public health, climate/sustainability, community development, landscape architecture, and related backgrounds with values centered on service, relationships, equity, innovation, and accountability.

Persons hired for this position will:

• apply local planning and policy expertise in support of the development and implementation of the regional development guide (currently Imagine 2050), and Regional Systems and Policy Plans, in particular land use policy.
• apply local government experience and build long-standing relationships with Metropolitan Council Members and local government representatives.
• be part of a collaborative team implementing land use policy that guides the growth and development of the region as part of the regional development guide, Imagine 2050, advising on the intersections of land use with regional system and policy areas.
• manage projects which move forward regional planning and policy initiatives, contributing to the implementation of Imagine 2050.
• develop resources and technical assistance tools related to a variety of planning topics like land use, density, community engagement, equity, and others in local planning and implementation.
• contribute to and facilitate review of local comprehensive plans, comprehensive plan amendments, environmental reviews, and other types of planning reviews.
• grow capacity, foster an equitable workplace, center equity in process and priorities, and foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

Full Salary Range: $42.58 - $69.09 hourly/$88,566 - $143,707 yearly

Anticipated Salary Range: $44.79 - $53.97 hourly/$93,163.20 - $112,257.60 yearly

• The starting salary will depend on the selected candidates experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity.

What you would do in this job

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Council and local governments as a Sector Representative by coordinating meetings and presentations, communicating Council policies, elevating local perspectives on regional issues, providing technical assistance, and building strong collaborative relationships with community and government partners.
• Coordinate cross-divisional review of local comprehensive plans, plan amendments, environmental reviews, and related documents. This includes applying Council policies to specific situations, identifying issues, fostering collaborative relationships across Council divisions, meeting with review participants (such as local officials and staff, developers, residents, and Council Members) to surface perspectives and resolve differences, analyzing policy impacts, negotiating solutions, and preparing staff reports and recommendations for the Council and its committees.
• Communicate daily with Council members, local staff, officials, developers, federal and state agencies, and members of the public regarding specific review issues and Council policies.
• Represent the Council with external agencies and organizations as it relates to areas of assigned responsibility such as reviews, Council policy, and as a land use subject matter expert.
• Participate in the development of policy assessments, reports, and regional plans and policies. Relate plans to guiding statutes and the Council's vision, values, and goals.
• Develop technical assistance resources for local governments in cooperation with team members to support local comprehensive planning and implementation efforts.
• Develop scopes of work for various plans, projects, and guidance documents and manage assigned projects which may include cross-divisional coordination using project management principles. As a project manager (or mentor), may oversee the work of other technical staff, students, or interns.
• Specialize or use advanced experience in a specific planning area, depending on a match between a candidate's qualifications and the work unit's need for specialized experience in policy development and delivery of technical assistance. Potential areas include transportation, TOD, water resources, equitable development, or other related areas.
• Assist with existing program and project teams depending on need, capacity, interest, and staffing levels. For example, as part of the Small Communities Planning Program, people in this position may join the project team to lead or assist in the development of 2050 Comprehensive Plans for some of regions smallest and resource-limited communities by providing direct technical assistance and plan production. Other project teams focus on work with equity initiatives, transportation, natural systems, climate change, and others as needed.
• Promote an equitable, positive, and respectful professional environment that values lived experiences, culture, and diversity among all stakeholders and colleagues.
• Foster a customer service mentality and ensure a high level of service to all stakeholders.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of completed education (in geography, urban or environmental studies, urban planning, community development, or a related field) AND experience in long-range comprehensive planning, land use planning, or plan implementation with a local unit of government such as a city, county, or township. Must have demonstrated experience in effectively interpreting and communicating complex or technical information to lay audiences:

• Bachelors degree and 4 years of experience
• Masters degree and 2 years of experience

For all levels of education, at least 2 years of experience must be in development review and permitting, ordinance writing, plan implementation, or long-range planning while working for, or on behalf of, a local unit of government such as a city, county, or township, as the staff planner or planning consultant.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications)

In addition to meeting one of the above education and experience criteria, the following are highly desired:

• Six or more years of planning-related professional experience with a strong preference for local government experience in development review and permitting, ordinance writing, plan implementation, or long-range planning while working for, or on behalf of, a local unit of government like a city, county, or township, as the staff planner or planning consultant.
• Experience working with a range of urban, suburban, and rural communities on issues like, but not limited to, land use, natural systems, transportation, housing, redevelopment/infill, equitable development, and community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and completing deliverables within allotted timeframes.
• Development and implementation of comprehensive plans, small area plans, neighborhood plans, or other initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in developing innovative community engagement initiatives, trust-building with underrepresented stakeholders, successful meeting facilitation, or planning efforts that effectively engaged diverse populations and can include leadership or project lead roles as a community organizer, volunteer, or other strategic collaboration experience.
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex information to lay audiences.
• Racial and social equity experience and/or training along with a demonstrated ability, or growth capacity, to participate in conversations about race and equity, as well as identify opportunities to integrate equity initiatives meaningfully into the work.
• Advanced skills in MS Word and Excel, ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.
• Experience using Geographic Information System (GIS) to perform geographic analysis.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Basic knowledge of the governmental environment in which the Metropolitan Council works.
• Knowledge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and the regional planning role the Metropolitan Council plays in relationship to local governments.
• Clear understanding of the historical context of the Council and the people it serves and how the Council can work to acknowledge, repair, and reduce regional racial disparities.
• Extensive knowledge of Council policies, practices, and operational procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of policy analysis and planning principles, methods, and theory.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the policy guidelines of the Council.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in the policy analysis or development process.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training, external professional development opportunities, and tuition reimbursement may be available.
• We encourage and support staff in bringing the full range of experiences and identities that define them to the workplace.
• We encourage and support staff in contributing to a dynamic work culture that improves the Council's ability to serve the region and strives to effectively support all employees.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.
• We offer the ability to set a flexible work schedule and work remotely/telework when workload and work scope allows.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

Work is performed in a standard office setting with hybrid telework options available. Occasional travel between primary Council work sites in the Twin Cities Metro area as well as visits to local government partners, agencies, and other organizational partners as the work requires. Vehicles and transit passes are provided, and a driver's license may be necessary for some travel requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety-sensitive position) and criminal background checks if the job youre applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

We believe our employees are a key to our agencys success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

03

If you selected Other, please describe where you first heard about this job. If you selected Employee Referral please enter the employees first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify the following statement:

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI. I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars, external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

05

Please select the option below that best reflects your level of education (in geography, urban or environmental studies, urban planning, community development, or related) AND professional experience in long-range comprehensive planning, land use planning, or plan implementation with a local unit of government:

• Bachelors degree with 4 or more years of experience
• Masters degree or higher with 2 or more years of experience
• Some relevant education and experience, but not enough to meet either of the above options
• Other/none of the above

06

Please select the option that best reflects your experience (select all that apply):

• Six or more years of professional local government planning experience
• Experience working directly for a range of communities (urban, suburban, rural)
• Experience working on complex land use issues
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Development and implementation of local comprehensive plans or other plan types
• Demonstrated experience leading engagement efforts with diverse populations
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex information to lay audiences
• Racial or social equity experience or training; or skilled participant in racial equity conversations
• Advanced skills in MS Word and Excel
• Experience using Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Other/none of the above

07

Please describe your planning-related professional experience, specifically your experience working with or on behalf of local governments as a staff planner or as a consultant. Describe your responsibilities and duties performed, the location and duration of this experience, and key accomplishments. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

08

Please describe your experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and working within deadlines. Describe your role and level of responsibility, the types of project(s), how you organized your time, how you assigned tasks, and how you ensured completion of the work. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

09

Please describe your experience in successfully assessing, implementing, or advocating for equity policies or programs within a professional context. Please describe your approach, the issue(s) you addressed, and how you brought others along with you. What were the outcomes realized through your actions? If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

10

Please describe your experience working to implement local comprehensive plans, small area plans, neighborhood plans, or other policies/initiatives. As part of your response, please include the place(s) of work, your role, and the duration of your experience as well as demonstrated outcomes achieved through your implementation efforts. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

11

Please describe your experience explaining complex or technical information related to community planning issues. Include how you have helped frame conversations or prepared information for policymakers, elected officials, residents, or other stakeholders to understand local planning issues or the outcomes of planning policies. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

12

Describe your experience as a land use planner (generalist) and how you have developed this experience, or if applicable, an area of specialization or advanced experience that you have developed in a specific planning area. Potential areas include community engagement, equitable development, natural systems, transportation, housing, climate, water resources, or other related areas. Connect this area of planning to the position as you understand it. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A."

Required Question

Employer Metropolitan Council

Address 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website https://metrocouncil.org