Community Assistance Planner

Community Assistance Planner

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) is seeking a Community Assistance Planner (Regional Planner III) in the Community Assistance Unit of the Livable Communities Division. The Community Assistance Planner works in HLC's Community Assistance Unit, which helps cities and towns with housing, zoning, land use, and community development programs. This position administers several programs, including HDIP zoning and local tax exemption work, UCH-TIF, and 121A.

The role also provides active backup support for Chapter 40B and Housing Production Plans, Chapter 40R/Smart Growth, and Chapter 40Y/Starter Homes, with occasional support for Urban Renewal, the Bureau of Relocation, and other land use programs. The Community Assistance Planner uses professional judgment to review program-related documentation and submissions, identify and help address program and implementation issues, prepare guidance and correspondence, and collaborate with municipalities, developers, regional planning agencies, state agencies, HLC staff, and other stakeholders to support housing and community development across the Commonwealth.

Duties and responsibilities include program administration, program backup and support, planning and technical assistance, coordination and additional support.

Preferred qualifications include experience in housing, land use, zoning, municipal planning, regional planning, community development, urban renewal, relocation, economic development, or a related field. Knowledge of state housing, land use, zoning, planning, community development, urban renewal, relocation, or municipal assistance programs. Ability to review plans, applications, reports, regulations, zoning materials, program documents, and other technical materials for consistency with laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and program requirements.

Ability to explain technical information clearly to cities, towns, regional planning agencies, municipal staff, consultants, developers, public officials, HLC staff, and other stakeholders. Experience coordinating work across internal teams, external partners, municipalities, regional planning agencies, or multiple program areas. Strong writing skills, including the ability to prepare clear recommendations, memoranda, guidance materials, reports, correspondence, and public-facing information. Strong verbal communication and presentation skills.

Ability to manage competing priorities, track deadlines, maintain accurate records, and work independently. Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling policy, program, legal, stakeholder, or public questions. Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and related data or document management tools.