Senior Planner - Sustainability

Play a key role in Coon Rapids’ sustainable future as the City’s Senior Planner—Sustainability. If you’re passionate about environmental policy, energy efficiency, and managing a wide array of projects and initiatives, this is the opportunity for you!

The City of Coon Rapids employs a great team of people dedicated and service centered! Our mission revolves around the understanding that only together, can we provide outstanding leadership and services that strengthen our community. Serving our Citizens and local businesses is essential in our work. Our vision is to strengthen our community with a respectful, collaborative, and innovative employee culture that values employee growth, personal balance, and contagious enthusiasm.

Our core values include dedication to essentials such as trust, teamwork, innovation and commitment to excellence! No doubt we have something great here!

This position works primarily in-person, but would be eligible to work remotely, once a week, at the discretion of the Department Director.

This posting will remain open until filled, with first consideration given to applications received by February 23, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $95,305.60 - $

This is us! - Video link -  to get to know us!

The City of Coon Rapids is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. The City welcomes, and encourages any qualified applicant to apply regardless of race (including traits associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locks and twists), color, creed, religion, familial status, sex (including pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, marital status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors or any other basis protected by law.

Essential duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

• Develops and implements the City’s sustainability work program and policies, including managing energy efficiency programs, administering grants, and coordinating promotional and educational offerings.
• Assists in research, public engagement, and drafting of comprehensive plan updates.
• Leads and writes chapters and plan content in areas of sustainability, resiliency, water management, environmental resource protection, and transportation as it relates to various City functions.

• Develops and administers contracts with external entities to achieve project goals.
• Researches, applies for and administers grants to support environmental policy, recycling and sustainability efforts; including preparation of application materials, City Council agenda materials, and presenting applications to the City Council for approval as necessary.

• Conducts research, maintains data and coordinates with internal staff and external agencies to develop city-wide action plans (i.e. active transportation, energy conservation, parks master plan, etc.)
• Makes recommendations for sustainability inclusion and periodic updates to various City Plans.
• Assist Community Development staff in conducting research, preparing reports, drafting ordinances, and preparation of policy documents. Presents these to the City’s Sustainability Commission, Planning Commission and City Council for review and approval.
• Serves as the Green Step Cities coordinator, implementing environmental policy, attending training sessions, overseeing the progress of best management practices (B3 reporting), and pursing and administering grant opportunities.

• Assists Engineering and Planning staff with reviews and inspections of development plans and site permits to ensure code compliance. Including sustainable practices, recycling and refuse, stormwater runoff best management practices (BMP’s), shoreline protection, and…