Planning Analyst - Water & Climate

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
As a Planning Analyst in Water Resources, you will play a vital role in leading and supporting the climate planning efforts by the Council to ensure the sustainability, reliability, and stability of water resources and water utility services for the Twin Cities' seven-county metropolitan area. This position will include creating and updating climate decision-making tools, organizing and implementing internal efforts from our Climate Action Work Plan, project management, and supporting water-related policy and planning work through technical assistance and plan reviews to ensure the Council is producing highly valued and credible information for making local and regional planning decisions. This work requires an extensive professional background in climate resiliency and mitigation.

This position's work helps to fulfill the Council's legislative mandate for surface water and water supply planning. It also supports collaboration among water utility and policy stakeholders, which is critical to fulfilling the Council's Water Resources Planning work plan and implementing the Climate Action Work Plan, Regional Development Guide, Water Policy Plan, and Metro Area Water Supply Plan.

• Leads the development of deliverables of the Climate Action Work Plan, such as an update of the Localized Flooding Assessment Tool and other internally focused actions/tools to improve the climate resiliency of Environmental Services' planning and operations.
• Initiates and manages projects with external consultants to create climate tools and resources for internal and external uses, including coordination with stakeholders who may be partners in those projects.
• Analyzes, compiles, and interprets climate and water data for planning purposes.
• Participates in climate-related project teams and initiatives led by other units of the Council or external agencies.
• Collaborates with state and regional partners to coordinate with them on their climate and water planning efforts at the region- and state-wide levels.
• Reviews local surface water management plans, local water supply plans, watershed management plans, water and climate-related elements of community comprehensive plan updates and amendments, climate-related elements of environmental assessment worksheets, and similar environmental documents, and coordinates reviews with other planning staff.
• Represents the Council with regulatory agencies, local interests, neighborhood groups, city, county, state, and federal governmental units, industrial user groups, and other interested parties.
• Builds competency, takes meaningful action, and contributes to advancing racial equity within the Council and across the Twin Cities region.
• Develops written communication materials for internal and external use (e.g., website content, press releases, newsletters, etc.).
• Creates and delivers presentations to a variety of internal and external partners.
• Applies knowledge of local government climate and water-related planning practices, methods, and principles to implement Council policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in city, urban, or environmental planning or a field related to the area of assignment. Five (5) years of planning-related experience must have included two years of project management or team lead experience.

Equivalency: A master's degree in a related field will be considered two (2) years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience in planning and executing technical projects focusing on water sustainability and climate resiliency.
• Leading multiple cross-divisional teams to embed climate-related work in utility operations and water planning.
• Experience developing and implementing climate and water-related tools focusing on water sustainability and reliability to support planning and policy decisions.
• Experience and familiarity with environmental plan review.
• Knowledge of state and federal climate and water resources-related regulations and standards.
• Knowledge of intergovernmental relationships involved with Minnesota's climate planning and water resources management.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, service providers, and coworkers to promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, preparing concise and accurate planning documents, reports, correspondence, and memos for various audiences, including staff, government and regulatory agencies, contractors, and the public.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting data and communicating information in support of management and policy decisions.
• Skilled in developing and fostering collaborative relationships within the staff and with outside organizations, including environmental groups, industry, representatives of federal and state agencies, and local governments.
• Skilled in dealing with conflict and responding to stressful situations calmly and effectively.
• Ability to communicate with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to identify problems, analyze issues, and implement resolutions.
• Skilled at managing multiple tasks concurrently, prioritizing without direct supervision, handling critical deadlines, and maintaining high accuracy
• Experience working and collaborating with diverse colleagues or stakeholders.

• Ability to review local surface water management plans, local water supply plans, watershed management plans, water and climate-related elements of community comprehensive plan updates and amendments, climate-related aspects of environmental assessment worksheets, and similar environmental documents.
• Understanding of land planning legislation about the metro area and its relationship to water resources/water supply management legislation.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply policy guidelines of the Council.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in policy analysis or development.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel, and ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet and database programs.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage employees to develop skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard office setting. The position requires working at outdoor events in various weather conditions. Travel between the primary worksite and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:
1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education, employment, and criminal history. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they relate to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the region's diversity and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.