Senior Planner – Resiliency

Overview

The Middlesex County Office of Planning is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented professional to join its Sustainability and Resiliency Planning Group as a Senior Planner. This position offers the opportunity to lead and support a wide range of environmental, sustainability, resiliency, stormwater, and flood mitigation initiatives that advance the County’s long-term climate adaptation and infrastructure planning goals.

The Senior 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 climate resilience initiatives. The Senior Planner will review 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 position will also serve as project manager for a consultant-supported and federally funded regional flood mitigation initiative involving municipalities and multiple stakeholders aimed at improving regional flood resiliency. Additional responsibilities include supporting watershed management, water quality protection, CRS/MS4 coordination activities, grant applications, and broader County sustainability initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Conduct 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.
• Assist with 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.
• Support grant writing, stakeholder outreach, and community engagement activities.
• Support to 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.
• Familiarity 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 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 two (2) 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.