Director, Central Maryland (PRINCIPAL PLANNER)

Introduction

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is seeking a talented, knowledgeable, and motivated professional to join its Planning Best Practices Division and expand its Regional Planning Program in the Central Maryland region. As a cabinet level state agency, MDP collaborates closely with Maryland’s cities, towns, and counties to build a more sustainable and thriving future.��\r\n\r\n\r\nMDP’s Regional Planning work program presents an unparalleled variety of projects for the proper candidate, including municipal and county community and economic development, best practices and curriculum development, regional coordination, statewide policy review, and comprehensive sustainable growth implementation. This position serves as one of the division’s leaders, alongside the Directors of Eastern and Western Maryland.\r\n�\r\nTwo upcoming statewide planning efforts, overhauling Maryland’s comprehensive planning framework and drafting the next state development plan, offer exciting opportunities to advance revitalization, housing supply, sustainable transportation, and regionally tailored development. In addition to managing the Southern Maryland Baltimore Metro Regional Planners, this position has its own regional planning duties for Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties and the municipalities therein.\r\n\r\n\r\nThis position will be located at the Department of Planning’s new office in the City of Baltimore at�120 E. Baltimore St.�\r\n\r\n\r\nThis Position is eligible for Telework.\r\n

GRADE

STD0021

LOCATION OF POSITION

120 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

As Director of the Central Maryland Planning Region (Director), this position manages the Southern Maryland and Baltimore Metro Regional Planners, including the assignment of work and coordination of the Maryland Department of Planning’s (MDP’s) local engagement. In this role, this position also serves as the lead for MDP’s Central Maryland Planning Best Practices Program. The main purpose of this position is managerial oversight of best practices development and planning liaison activities provided to appointed and elected officials, and staff of municipal and county planning departments, or other government agencies in Maryland’s Central Region (Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s Counties). This position also participates in these activities as needed to meet regional demands, at the direction of the Director of Planning Best Practices, or as Central Region staffing needs require it. The technical assistance services provided must be consistent with, and in furtherance of, the programs and policies of MDP. The Director is also responsible for allocating Central Maryland Region staff resources, as well as coordinating with other MDP division staff to secure their resources, to meet fluctuating project and programmatic demands by both content area and jurisdiction. The Director is expected to visit the Central Maryland region as required by the Director of Planning Best Practices to advance department programs and projects.\r\n\r\n\r\nStaff in the Central Maryland office are responsible for reviewing and commenting on planning and growth-related plans and ordinances including local comprehensive plans, master water and sewer plans and amendments, and other local planning efforts and initiatives to ensure local plans and ordinances are consistent with state planning goals and laws. These programs and policies support sustainable growth in accordance with the 8 Planning Principles through comprehensive planning and various implementation tools, including zoning ordinances, placemaking, subdivision regulations, priority funding areas, and infrastructure programs and projects. The Director is responsible for reviewing and approving formal plan reviews of Central Maryland Region staff and ensuring they advance MDP policy and objectives and demonstrate high quality, accurate analysis.�\r\n\r\n\r\nThis position is responsible for supervising two full-time regional planners who develop and advance planning best practices and provide general planning advice and technical assistance to municipalities and counties in the Central Maryland Region. This position requires highly specialized knowledge, project management, and supervisory level work to establish systems, resources, capacity building mechanisms, and partnerships which municipalities and counties can use to implement local planning programs and land use regulations with limited direct assistance from MDP staff. Where appropriate and as directed by department leadership, this position oversees the provision of direct technical assistance to the same jurisdictions.�\r\n\r\n\r\nWhile serving a supervisory role for the Baltimore Metro and Southern Maryland Regions, this position also serves as the lead Regional Planner for the Maryland Capital Region (Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s Counties) and the liaison to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. This position provides technical assistance services consistent with, and in furtherance of, programs and policies of the Department.\r\n\r\n

POSITION DUTIES

This position balances the demands of division programs and complex projects. Programmatic responsibilities include completing statutorily mandated local government plan reviews and comments, prioritizing and assessing the work of supervised staff, organizing interagency coordination and work groups, managing technical assistance requests, deploying and maintaining best practice resources, managing grants, and developing and reviewing legislative policies. Project management responsibilities include creating new best practice resource and educational products, implementing state planning legislation, coordinating local and regional planning collaborations, and upgrading protocols and processes.�\r\n\r\n\r\nThis position assists in the administration of the division’s communication and local government services including preparing outreach materials, maintaining web-based information, responding to public inquiries, organizing statewide informational workshops, presentations, and webinars, and serving as the liaison between local governments and MDP leadership. This position also prepares materials for division, department and regional meetings, allocates division resources, and supports the preparation of annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly.��\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university that includes 30 credit hours in Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, Information Technology or Urban Affairs.�\r\n\r\n\r\nExperience: Three years of experience in research and planning projects related to the development and use of land, water, transportation, community, or natural resources by assisting in obtaining, analyzing and conducting research on demographic, socio-economic, political, cultural, geographic or land-use trends.\r\n\r\n\r\nNotes:�\r\n1.\tCandidates may substitute the possession of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the specified educational fields for one year of the required experience. *\r\n\r\n\r\n2.\tCandidates may substitute the possession of an additional master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the specified educational fields for one additional year of the required experience. *\r\n\r\n\r\n3.\tCandidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in one of the specified educational fields for two years of the required experience.�\r\n\r\n\r\n*Two years is the maximum number of years that may be substituted by education for the required experience.\r\n\r\n\r\n4.\tCandidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Logistics, Urban Planning, Architect, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst or Cryptologic classifications; or Logistics, Urban Planning or Architect specialty codes in the Architect field of work, on a year-for-year basis, for the required experience and education.\r\n

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualifications:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2 years experience with managing and executing complex planning and community development projects that involve multiple stakeholders\r\n\r\n\r\n2 years experience with making public presentations representing a department or organization\r\n\r\n\r\n2 years experience and proficiency with GIS, urban design, landscape architecture, Adobe, or other similar software visualization tools.\r\n

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.�We will not consider information submitted after this date.�Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the�eligible (employment) list for at least one year.\r\n

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position.�It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.�Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.\r\n

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online,�the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be submitted to:�Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and�Examination Division, 301 W. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201.�Paper application materials must be received in our office�by the�closing date for the recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted.\r\nFor questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the�DBM Recruitment and�Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov�or 410-767-4850,�MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.\r\nWe thank our Veterans for their service to our country.\r\nPeople with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.\r\nAs an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.\r\n