Principal Planner – Resiliency

Overview

The Middlesex County Office of Planning is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented experienced professional to join its Sustainability and Resiliency Group as a Principal Planner. This position offers the opportunity to lead and support a broad range of environmental, sustainability, resiliency, stormwater, and flood mitigation initiatives that advance the County’s long-term climate adaptation and infrastructure planning goals. The Principal Planner will have a demonstrated knowledge of land use and environmental planning best practices, and will lead the division’s geospatial analysis of maps, site plans and data relevant to applications, projects and initiatives. The Principal Planner will develop ideas, recommendations and provide technical expertise necessary to guide the Planning Office’s goals and project deliverables.

The Principal Planner will manage and coordinate planning studies, regulatory reviews, and resiliency-focused projects, with a primary emphasis on flood mitigation, stormwater management, wastewater planning, watershed protection, and sustainability and climate resilience initiatives. The Principal Planner will coordinate with, review and oversee the work of junior staff.

Reporting to the Supervising Planner of Sustainability and Resiliency, the Principal Planner will lead the review of Sewer Service Area Amendment Applications, Water Quality Management Plan activities, Wastewater Management Plan applications, and watershed and stormwater management plans/ordinances for compliance with County procedures and applicable state and municipal regulations. The Principal Planner will be responsible for tracking the latest New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) rules and other relevant State, local and federal laws, rules and regulations impacting the County’s sustainability and resiliency program areas for integration into Office-wide work deliverables.  

The position will also serve as project manager for a consultant-supported and federally funded regional flood mitigation initiative involving 10 municipalities and multiple stakeholders aimed at improving regional flood resiliency. The Principal Planner will also be responsible for overseeing the preparation of staff reports, presentations, and meeting materials for public board meetings under the division’s purview. Additional responsibilities include supporting watershed management, water quality protection, CRS/MS4 coordination activities, grant applications, and broader County sustainability initiatives.

Responsbilities:

• Manage and support local and regional stormwater management, flood mitigation, and resiliency projects.
• Serve as County Project Manager for a regional flood mitigation initiative involving multiple municipalities, consultants, and partner agencies.
• Manage reviews of Water Quality Management Plan and Wastewater Management Plan applications, including Sewer Service Area Amendments.
• Coordinate Sewer Service Area Site-Specific Amendment (SSA) and Revision applications with local, state, and regional agencies and stakeholders.
• Review stormwater management plans and ordinances for regulatory compliance and provide recommendations.
• Analyze flood mapping, modeling, and related environmental data to support resiliency planning.
• Assist in developing flood risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies.
• Support watershed management and water quality protection initiatives.
• Lead CRS/MS4 coordination activities and related resiliency programs.
• Research and interpret local, state, and federal regulations related to stormwater, resiliency, and environmental planning.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and planning documents.
• Present findings at public meetings, Planning Board meetings, and stakeholder forums as assigned.
• Develop initiatives to advance the goals and recommended actions of adopted County master plan elements and Destination 2040 more broadly.
• Support grant writing, stakeholder outreach, and community engagement activities.
• Support the division’s land preservation and agricultural retention initiatives, as assigned.
• Supports other program areas within the Division of Sustainability and Resiliency, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of environmental, sustainability, and resiliency planning principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience with stormwater management, flood mitigation, watershed planning, and climate adaptation strategies.
• Understanding of local, state, and federal environmental and land use regulations.
• Experience with flood mapping, modeling, and resilience planning tools.
• Knowledge of land use planning processes and comprehensive planning practices.
• Familiarity with GIS mapping and spatial analysis techniques.
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written, editing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to review, edit and manage the work of junior staff.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate effectively with agencies, consultants, and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Planning or a related field, including at least 21 semester credit hours in professional planning subjects.
• Master’s degree in Planning preferred.
• New Jersey Professional Planner (PP) license preferred.
• AICP certification preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in environmental planning, stormwater management, climate resiliency, or related fields.

Substitutions:

• A current New Jersey Professional Planner (PP) license may substitute for the educational requirement.
• AICP certification may substitute for the educational requirement.
• A Master’s degree in Planning may substitute for one (1) year of required experience.

Additional Requirements:

• Valid New Jersey driver’s license required.
• Middlesex County residency preferred.