Associate Planner

Summary

North Star Planning (www.northstar-planning.com) is a small, Maine-based planning firm located in the Portland area. We work on a variety of municipal and private sector projects involving land use issues, transportation systems, public process and facilitation, and development planning and permitting.

We are looking for an Associate Planner to join our team to better serve existing clients and support continued expansion of our project base.

The Position

The Associate Planner is an entry level or early career salaried position. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a high level of commitment to client success and will thrive working on a wide variety of projects as part of a small team in an entrepreneurial environment.

The Associate Planner will support projects related to:

• Development review and Planning Board support
• Ordinance drafting
• Research and analysis
• Long-range planning and plan drafting
• Public engagement and small group facilitation

As such, candidates with a background in local or regional planning, community development, public policy, economic development, urban planning and design, landscape architecture, or communications are encouraged to apply.

This position offers a somewhat flexible schedule, and like the communities we serve, our work involves a mix of in-person and online interactions. There is an expectation that the position will require a physical presence at our office on the Pineland Farms business campus in New Gloucester, though NSP has adopted a 3-day in-office/2-day remote work schedule.

Preferred Skillset:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to interact with the team, clients, and other professionals
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Effective writing skills in a range of writing formats, including narrative reports, summary memoranda, and technical ordinance drafting
• Strong research and data synthesis skills
• Ability to manage work for multiple deadlines simultaneously and willingness to learn technical subject matter as needed
• Desire to work in a busy, high-performance, professional, service-oriented environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace/G Suite
• Familiarity with some of the following preferred:

• Adobe InDesign
• ArcGIS
• Squarespace or similar

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in community planning and development, city and regional planning, public policy, public administration, or another related field is a minimum requirement. A Master’s degree is preferred.

• A driver’s license and the ability to attend occasional evening or weekend meetings. Typically, this role will involve 1-4 night meetings per month, which are typically located within an a 1-hour range of our office.
• AICP accreditation is not required, though a path to certification is envisioned.

Salary and benefits

Range $55,000-$65,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Competitive benefits package includes medical, short-term disability and life insurance, retirement match, and professional development opportunities.

To Apply

Qualified candidates are asked to submit your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample or other sample of your work to dking@northstar-planning.com

North Star Planning is an Equal Opportunity Employer