Assistant Environmental Planner

Job Description Primary Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Environmental Planner, the Assistant Environmental Planner is an integral member of the Planning team, with a focus on the implementation of the State Wetlands Protection Act, land management, and long-range environmental planning initiatives. The Assistant Environmental Planner will primarily assist with reviewing all wetland permit applications for completeness and compliance, responding to applications and messages sent via Open Gov, conducting site visits, assisting with the Conservation Commission meetings, including the preparation of memorandums and visual presentations, and representing the City on projects which fall under the Conservation Division oversight.

The Assistant Environmental Planner is also responsible for administrative tasks in the Conservation Division like overseeing and processing division financial transactions, updating the division’s website, etc. Performs other duties as requested.

Scope and Judgement: Answers questions, reviews environmental plans for compliance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures in order to enforce appropriate regulations and assist businesses and residents in solving a wide variety of environmental planning issues. Duties require mature and independent judgment and initiative to analyze, solve problems, and make decisions based on departmental, city, state and federal policies and regulations.

Exercises considerable judgment and initiative in performing duties.

Supervision Received: Works under the policy direction of the Director and Deputy Director of Planning and Development and works under the general supervision and direction of the Chief Environmental Planner. Operates in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures, requiring the ability to plan and perform operations to independently complete assigned tasks according to a prescribed time schedule.

Independently establishes own daily work plan based on regular, routine and special assignments based on the needs of the Director, Deputy Director, Chief Environmental Planner and/or Executive Office.

Supervision Given: None

(The essential functions or duties listed 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 from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

Primary Elements:

• Assist with State Wetland Protection Act and City Floodplain Ordinance implementation
• Address applications and messages received in Open Gov (wetland, engineering, building, etc.)
• Respond to customer inquiries
• Conduct site visits
• Assist with review of permit applications for completeness and compliance
• Assist with required paperwork
• Assist with Conservation Commission meetings (once every three weeks, via Zoom)
• Carry out administrative obligations
• Financial management (purchase orders, bill pay, contract management, etc.) using MUNIS
• Website updates
• Mapping (using ArcGIS)
• File management (electronic and paper)
• Assist with special projects as they arise (e.g., open space planning, climate action planning and implementation, trails efforts, and advocacy efforts)
• Assist with management of over 300 acres of Conservation Commission-owned land
• Conduct site visits
• Help oversee maintenance contractors
• Support volunteer stewards
• Work with residents, contractors, public officials or other departments to answer questions and resolve issues applying technical knowledge. Make inquiries/referrals to other Departments for additional assistance as may be necessary.
• Performs other duties as required.

Secondary Elements:

• Attend and participate in Department and other meetings and special events.

(To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the…