Energy & Land Use Planner

Summary Description: Under the general direction of the Director of Community Development & Planning the Energy and Land Use Planner develops coordinates and administers programs policies plans and initiatives that advance the Towns energy climate action and land use goals.

The position has primary responsibility for advancing the Towns sustainability and energy initiatives including implementation of the Towns Net Zero Implementation Plan greenhouse gas reduction strategies energy efficiency programs renewable energy initiatives climate resilience sustainable municipal operations and community energy programs. The position also performs professional land use and planning functions related to zoning housing environmental planning community development and long-range planning.

The Energy and Land Use Planner works collaboratively with Town departments boards and committees elected and appointed officials residents businesses regional and state agencies consultants and other stakeholders to develop and implement programs and projects that support a sustainable resilient and well-planned community.

Supervision Required: The Energy & Land Use Planner works under the Director of Community Development & Planning.

Supervisory Responsibility: The Energy & Land Use Planner is not responsible for other staff but will work with fellow staff. May provide functional oversight to consultants contractors interns temporary project staff program volunteers and other project team members.

Responsibilities may include developing project scopes coordinating activities monitoring progress working with the Green Implementation Committee and Sustainable Marblehead and assessing performance in accordance with Town policies and applicable laws.

Essential Functions: The following duties are representative of the work performed in this classification. The incumbent may not perform all of the duties listed and may be assigned additional or different duties as necessary to address changing Town needs and priorities.

• Implements and advances the Towns Net Zero Implementation Plan and other municipal sustainability energy and climate action plans and initiatives.
• Develops and administers programs policies and initiatives related to energy efficiency renewable energy climate resilience greenhouse gas reduction electrification environmental sustainability sustainable municipal operations and related climate goals.
• Establishes benchmarks and performance measures and conducts inventories assessments and evaluations to track energy consumption greenhouse gas emissions sustainability performance and progress toward municipal goals.
• Researches emerging energy technologies infrastructure opportunities programs incentives and best practices and develops recommendations to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience.
• Advances energy and sustainability initiatives involving building electrification energy efficiency renewable energy electric vehicles electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other emerging technologies and practices.
• Works with Town departments and Facilities staff to evaluate municipal building energy performance and identify opportunities for energy efficiency renewable energy electrification sustainability improvements and related capital investments.
• Develops or assists with municipal policies and programs related to vehicle purchases fleet management sustainable procurement and other municipal operations consistent with the Towns energy and sustainability goals.
• Coordinates with Town departments boards and committees and community stakeholders to integrate sustainability energy efficiency and climate considerations into municipal operations policies projects programs and land use decisions.
• Staffs coordinates or provides technical assistance to Town committees working groups and advisory bodies responsible for sustainability energy climate environmental or related initiatives.
• Develops and manages public outreach education and community engagement programs related to sustainability renewable energy energy efficiency climate action electrification and environmental initiatives including responding to resident and business inquiries and providing information regarding available programs rebates and incentives.
• Performs professional land use and community planning work related to zoning housing environmental planning climate resilience open space and community development.
• Provides technical planning assistance to Town boards committees departments and elected and appointed officials on land use zoning housing sustainability environmental and related planning matters.
• Assists with the development and revision of bylaws ordinances regulations policies standards and procedures related to land use zoning housing environmental protection sustainability and climate resilience.
• Collaborates on short- and long-range planning initiatives including comprehensive planning land use plans housing plans sustainability and climate plans and related community planning efforts and integrates energy and climate objectives into land use and development policies.
• Conducts planning energy environmental and sustainability research and analysis; reviews applicable laws regulations policies plans maps and other technical information; and develops recommendations based on findings.
• Research and identifies funding opportunities and prepares grant applications requests for proposals and other funding requests to support energy sustainability climate environmental land use infrastructure and community development initiatives.
• Administers grant-funded projects and manage municipal projects including developing project scopes coordinating consultants and contractors monitoring budgets schedules and deliverables maintaining appropriate records and evaluating project outcomes.
• Collects organizes analyzes and maintains technical data and information using spreadsheets databases GIS mapping applications statistical tools modeling tools and other technology; prepares maps graphics tables reports and presentations.
• Prepares and presents reports recommendations testimony correspondence educational materials presentations and other communications and maintains effective working relationships with Town departments boards and committees officials consultants contractors residents businesses community organizations and regional state and federal agencies.
• Attends evening and weekend meetings and events as necessary.
• Performs other related duties special projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Education and Experience:
This position requires the following qualifications or any equivalent combination of education training and experience which provides the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies Energy or Environmental Policy or other related field plus a minimum of three years of experience in sustainability planning land use planning energy efficiency and/or renewable energy market; or equivalent combination of education training and experience.
• Experience working with local state and federal environmental sustainability climate resiliency land-use and/or land disturbance regulations is highly desired.
• Experience implementing the Massachusetts Green Community Program is highly desired.
• Previous experience in community engagement marketing and promotion. Experience in social media marketing and outreach.
• Valid Motor Vehicle Operators License and ability to travel throughout Marblehead for site visits field surveys public meetings and related duties;
• Demonstrated capacity to apply the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform this work.

Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the positions essential functions.

Physical Skills: The majority of work is performed under typical office conditions. Site inspections and field work require moderate physical effort and the ability to work safely in construction wetland shoreline and outdoor environments.

The majority of work is performed under typical office conditions with minimal physical effort. Moderate physical effort is required when conducting inspections. The employee must be able to access construction sites and may be required to walk sit climb or balance stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds. The employee must have sufficient peripheral vision and depth perception to perform site inspection duties with vision correctable to normal ranges.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may work both inside and outside in weather conditions. The employee will work near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.

Motor Skills: Duties may involve assignments requiring the application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination to stretch reach or retrieve department materials. Examples include but are not limited to operating a motor vehicle or a personal computer.

Visual Demands: Visual demands require the employee to routinely read documents for general understanding; the employee is routinely required to review non-written materials for analytical purposes; the employee is required to be able to determine color differences.

EOE/AA

Required Experience:

Manager