Planner – Northwestern Land Office Area Planner

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s mission is to help ensure that Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We practice accountability.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

The Area Planner position is responsible for providing professional land use planning and real estate support for the Northwestern Land Office within the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. This position manages Area‑level planning activities, evaluates development opportunities, and assists in determining the highest and best use of state trust lands to support long‑term revenue generation for public school trust beneficiaries.

Duties include developing and implementing land use plans, coordinating the application of local land‑use regulations, supporting land sale and exchange processes, and conducting planning and technical analyses related to growth policies, subdivision review, site design, surveying, zoning, floodplain management, and infrastructure planning. The position works collaboratively with Unit offices to ensure consistent application of statewide planning and real estate policies and provides technical guidance to local governments, professionals, and stakeholders involved in land use and development.

The Area Planner operates with a high level of independence, exercises sound professional judgment, and collaborates effectively with interdisciplinary teams, local jurisdictions, and members of the public.

This position manages and administers the land‑use‑planning program for the Northwestern Land Office, serves as the Area’s principal land use planner, and coordinates real estate management programs for the NWLO. The position coordinates land management planning projects and activities, oversees complex issues related to project development and lease administration, provides guidance and technical expertise in implementing land use and development plans, and advises Area and Unit staff on Department real estate and special use programs.

The Area planner coordinates new project opportunities between unit offices, analyzes and incorporates complex issues and factors in decision-making, provides Area‑level budget allocations, oversight and tracking, conducts specialized research, obtains funding sources for projects, leads and directs interdisciplinary teams, coordinates communication efforts between field staff, Bureau personnel and other agency staff, prioritizes projects, implements Bureau‑level‑planning program objectives and policies, resolves land use conflicts and responds to controversial issues, and researches and coordinates Area training activities and programs related to land use planning and real estate management principles.

The position implements land development projects and performs a variety of project management duties including reviewing and analyzing development proposals, ensures compliance with local ordinances and regulations, develops reports and outlines proposed land use planning strategies, presents and defends proposals and…