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Urban Design Planner (Long-Term Temporary)

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Urban Design Planner (Long-Term Temporary)

Salary

$79,580.80 - $129,064.00 Annually

Location

390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Temporary Long Term (up to 2 years)

Job Number

2025-00092

Division

Community Development

Department

Research

Opening Date

05/30/2025

Closing Date

6/15/2025 11:59 PM Central

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

WHO WE ARE

The Metropolitan Council has oneLong-Term Temporary (up to two years) Planner vacancy.

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.More information about us on our website. (https://metrocouncil.org/About-Us/The-Council-Who-We-Are.aspx)

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

TheCommunity Development Division is responsible for the Council's regional growth strategy, planning and technical assistance to local communities, parks and open space, Livable Communities grants to local governments, and the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA).

The Research work unit within the Regional Planning Department manages large regional policy initiatives undertaken by the Council and collects and disseminates data and analysis about the demographics and development patterns of the metropolitan area.

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

TheUrban Design Planner will join a collaborative team of planners and researchers from various planning, research, and policy areas to create and implement frameworks for people-centered design and placemaking in urban, suburban, and rural locations.

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

This application will require the attachment of work samples. Please see supplemental question #9.

What you would do in this job

Coordinate with policy and program staff to incorporate design and placemaking principles into Council policies and investments:

+ Convene and facilitate a cross-department working group to develop and implement vocabulary and best practices on placemaking and urban design

+ Facilitate the creation of guidelines for implementing regional development goals through design and placemaking

+ Incorporate design and placemaking principles within the requirements of Council policy, procedures, and authorities

+ Collaborate with staff on engagement efforts related to urban design and placemaking, including logistics and content delivery

+ Implement best practices in design and placemaking through written and spoken communication

+ ImplementImagine 2050goals through design and placemaking practices

Research placemaking and design outcomes in Council investments, policy, and program implementation:

+ Develop and conduct site-based research to inform high quality placemaking and design

+ Identify and apply national and international best practices in design research, program investments, and placemaking

+ Conduct interviews and focus groups to understand needs in accomplishing placemaking

Assist qualitative researchers in data collection and research design:

+ Support data collection in workshops, interviews, focus groups, and observational research

+ Participate in research design, including literature reviews and project review

+ Support data management and analysis, including project planning, logistics, data storage organization, and data coding

+ Prepare high-quality written and visual materials and collaborate with presentation of results

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of education (in city, urban, or environmental planning, human geography, architecture, urban design, or related field) and planning experience:

+ High school diploma or GED and 7 years of experience

+ Associate's degree and 5 years of experience

+ Bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience

+ Master's degree and 1 year of experience

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

+ Experience in successfully leading/managing projects, coordinating the work of the project team, and completing deliverables within allotted timeframes

+ Racial and social equity experience and/or training and a demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to integrate equity initiatives meaningfully into the work

+ Demonstrated experience advancing equity and/or environmental justice within your work, and experience integrating equity principles into work products or processes

+ Knowledge of urban design tools, techniques, and principles in creating high-quality placemaking outcomes

+ Excellent written and speaking communication skills

+ Research skills related to placemaking, such as site analysis, interviews, reviewing statistical and survey data and participant action research

+ Ability to read, synthesize, and convey academic research, government reports, and other specialized information sources

+ Ability to identify and present multiple future outcomes to inform decision-making

+ Ability to listen to and treat with respect multiple stakeholders while incorporating multiple perspectives into work outputs

+ Advanced skills in MS Word and Excel, ability to perform technical analysis using spreadsheet, R or database programs

+ Ability to use visual communication practices to convey information through tools such as Adobe CS, Sketchup, Revit, Urban Footprint, or open-source tools

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

+ Research skills to analyze existing built environment

+ Ability to project outcomes from investments and placemaking design while aligning current activities with future desired outcomes

+ Basic knowledge of the governmental environment in which the Metropolitan Council works

+ Knowledge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and the regional planning role the Metropolitan Council plays in relationship to local governments

+ Clear understanding of the historical context of the Council and the people it serves and how the Council can work to acknowledge, repair, and reduce regional disparities

+ Extensive knowledge of Council policies, practices, and operational procedures

+ Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the policy guidelines of the Council

+ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders

+ Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply Council policy effectively in the policy analysis or development process

What you can expect from us:

+ 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.

More about why you should join us! (http://metrocouncil.org/Employment/Making-A-Difference.aspx)

Additional information

Union/Grade: AFSCME Grade G

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

Work is performed in a standard office setting. Position is required to work at outdoor events in various weather conditions. Travel between primary worksite and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

+ We review your minimum qualifications.

+ We rate your education and experience.

+ We conduct a structured panel interview.

+ We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety-sensitive position) and criminal background checks if the job you're applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email [email protected].

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

+ Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund

+ Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan

+ Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%

+ Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

+ Well@Work clinic

+ bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year

+ parking at many job locations

+ fitness centers at many job locations

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important thatyour application shows all relevant education and experienceyou possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume" otherwise your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

+ Yes

+ No

02

How did youfirsthear about this job opening?

+ CareerForce Center

+ Community Event/Organization

+ Employee Referral

+ Facebook

+ Glassdoor

+ Indeed

+ Job Fair

+ LinkedIn

+ Metro Transit Bus Advertisement

+ Twitter

+ Website: governmentjobs.com

+ Website: metrocouncil.org

+ Website: metrotransit.org

+ Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com

+ Other

03

If you selected 'Other', please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected 'Employee Referral' please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option that best reflects your highest level of relevant education and experience.

+ High school diploma/GED and at least 7 years of planning, placemaking, or design experience

+ Associate's degree in city, urban, or environmental planning or a related field AND at least 5 years of planning, placemaking, or design experience

+ Bachelor's degree city, urban, or environmental planning or a related field AND at least 3 years of planning, placemaking, or design experience

+ Master's degree or higher in city, urban, or environmental planning or a related field AND at least 1 year of planning, placemaking, or design experience

05

Please describe your urban design planning experience, including key projects. Describe the role you played in the projects, and the location and duration of this experience.

06

Please describe one specific example of how you integrated racial equity into the planning, implementation or outcome of a project you worked on.

07

Please describe your experience listening to and working with multiple stakeholders and building consensus around a shared vocabulary, process, grant funding, or similar action (local government or similar).

08

Please describe how you used qualitative data to understand people’s experiences with the built environment. How did you design your approach? What kind of data and analysis did you use? How did you share the results?

09

This application requires the attachment of work samples. Please provide work samples as Word for PDF documents attached to your application. If you need to include a link to the work sample, please provide the link in the Word or PDF rather than including the link in the space below. Please submit: 1) An example of writing in the form of a memo, white paper, or a similar short, professional writing sample, AND 2) An example of a slide deck presentation created to inform and/or create consensus Please provide some context for your attachments: who is the intended audience? What was the objective of the writing sample/slide deck?

10

This position is required to be in the office 2-3 days a week with occasional off-site meetings. Are you able and willing to meet this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

https://metrocouncil.org

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