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 Town's energy, climate action, and land use goals.

The position has primary responsibility for advancing the Town's sustainability and energy initiatives, including implementation of the Town's 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 Town's 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 Town's 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.

• Bachelor’s 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 Operator's 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 position’s 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