This position is eligible for a hybrid (a combination of remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

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.

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! Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) 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. MCES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. MCES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

About the Water Resources Team:
The role of the Metropolitan Council in water planning is to work with local, regional, and state partners to develop a shared regional plan, monitor and assess regional rivers, lakes, and streams, maintain a databases of technical information, assist watersheds and communities in developing and implementing their local surface water management, local water supply, and watershed management plans, and identify approaches to address emerging water resources issues.

To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: .


How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

As a Senior Planner 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, 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. The work of this position helps to fulfill the Council's legislative mandate for surface water and water supply planning, supporting collaboration among water utility and policy stakeholders, which is critical to fulfilling the Council's Water Resources Planning work plan and implementation of the Regional Development Guide, the Water Policy Plan, and the Metro Area Water Supply Plan. Examples of stakeholders include municipal water planning and public works staff, state and federal agencies, subregional work groups, watershed organizations, non-profit organizations, and academic researchers. Strong collaboration and facilitation skills are critical to the relationships that must be built and maintained to manage the work of the Water Resources Section.

• 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 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 on 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 the advancement of racial equity within the Council and across the Twin Cities region.
• Develops written communication materials for internal and external use (e.g., content for websites, 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 the implementation of Council policies and practices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Any of the following combinations of experience (in water policy and planning) and completed education (degree field of study in City, Urban or Environmental Policy or Planning, or a related field):

• High school diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience
• Associate degree with six (6) years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with four (4) years of experience
• Master's degree with two (2) years of experience

• Experience in planning and executing technical projects that focus on water sustainability and climate resiliency.
• 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 climate planning and water resources management in Minnesota.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.

• 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 work cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to meet project goals and timelines.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, preparing concise and accurate planning documents, reports, correspondence, and memos for a variety of audiences including staff, government and regulatory agencies, contractors, and the public.
• Excellent knowledge of intergovernmental relationships in climate and water resources management.
• 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 elements of environmental assessment worksheets and similar environmental documents.
• Understanding of land planning legislation pertaining to the metro area and its relationship to water resources/water supply management legislation.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting data and communicating information in support of management and policy decisions.
• Ability to exercise productive leadership in interagency and interdepartmental teams.
• Skilled in developing and fostering collaborative relationships within the staff, as well as with outside organizations including environmental groups, industry, representatives of federal and state agencies and local governments.
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills, with the ability to communicate to the general public and policy board members as well as professional colleagues.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to ad hoc questions from individuals and groups of customers, clients and/or employees.
• Skilled in dealing with conflict and respond to stressful situations in a calm, effective manner.
• 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, prioritize without direct supervision, handle critical deadlines, and maintain a high degree of accuracy.
• 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 the policy analysis or development process.
• 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 our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

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.