Parks and Trails Principal Planner

Job Summary

The Division of Parks and Trails is seeking to fill one (1) Planner Principal State position located in St. Paul, MN. The work hours will be Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

This position exists to provide statewide planning services for the Division of Parks and Trails, including developing and implementing strategic and system plans and planning processes, leading master and management planning efforts for units within the state parks and trails system, establishing new planning processes, and improving existing planning processes; b) provide guidance on the division’s research and survey agenda and coordinate and implement research projects, and c) manage priority projects as assigned by the Policy and Planning Supervisor and supported by the Division Leadership Team.

• Planning Services:
  Provide statewide planning services for the Division of Parks and Trails, including developing and implementing strategic and system plans and planning processes, leading master and management planning efforts for units within the state parks and trails system, establishing new planning processes, and improving existing planning processes.
• Survey, Research Coordination and Analysis:
  Coordinate the division’s survey and research agenda, as established by the Division Leadership Team, the Policy and Planning Supervisor, and other planning staff as needed to inform strategic planning and decision making and ensure that work is relevant and meets stakeholder and public needs.
• Project Management:
  Manage priority projects as assigned by the Policy and Planning Supervisor and supported by the Division Leadership Team.
• Other Planning Duties as Assigned:
  Perform other duties, as directed, in order to fulfill the Department’s and Division’s mission and mandates and to advance Minnesota’s outdoor recreation agenda.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement. This position will require reporting to the primary work location on an occasional basis.

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in planning, outdoor recreation, natural resources management, environmental studies, landscape architecture, public administration or policy, social or natural sciences, or a closely related degree.

AND

• Three (3) years of professional level experience in planning, research, and project management, which includes coordinating large programs or research projects in outdoor recreation, natural resources/environmental management, urban/regional planning, land use or related field.

• Knowledge of planning principles and practices, project management, and public involvement strategies.
• Ability to design and manage complex planning processes.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and public relations skills sufficient to effectively interact with internal and external customers, facilitate and lead meetings, influence future direction, deliver challenging messages/information, resolve disagreements, and defuse potentially volatile situations.
• Demonstrated ability to create and edit clear and professional written materials, such as letters, reports, plans, and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage complex collaborative projects to ensure that deadlines and procedural requirements are met, and projects are completed successfully.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research and knowledge of research and survey design, statistical analysis methods, and data process software.
• Demonstrated ability of analytical and data analysis skills to review and track technical information, make recommendations, and clearly communicate results.
• Computer skill sufficient in word processing, spreadsheets, electronic communications, presentation software, survey software (such as Qualtrics), and document management (electronic and paper).

• Graduate degree in planning, outdoor recreation, natural resources management, environmental studies, landscape architecture, public administration or policy, the social or natural sciences or closely related degree.
• Working knowledge of state and federal recreation statutes, laws, rules, strategic plans and programs.
• Experience working in outdoor recreation research.
• Experience managing public intercept surveys or research projects that included public surveys.
• Experience managing trail or vehicle counters.
• Technical skills in geographic information systems (e.g., Arc Map or ArcGIS) sufficient to create maps and in database management.
• Experience and/or certifications in continuous improvement.
• Certifications in project management or planning (e.g., AICP).