Senior Community Planner

Scenic Hudson Published: December 5, 2019
Location
Poughkeepsie, New York
Skill Level
Senior Level
Job Type
Full-time
Categories
Natural Resources/ Restoration / Planning / Land Use / Program Management

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Description

~ Scenic Hudson preserves land and farms and creates parks that connect people with the inspirational power of the Hudson River, while fighting threats to the river and natural resources that are the foundation of the valley’s prosperity. ~

Our work is guided by our vision for the region:

  • The Hudson Valley is a community of informed and engaged citizens working to make the region a model of vibrant riverfront cities and towns linked by inviting parks and trails, beautiful and resilient landscapes, and productive farms.

Mission of Position

As a key part of Scenic Hudson’s strategic objective to Build Community, the Senior Community Planner takes a lead role in implementing two critical areas of our work: advancing our multi-faceted initiatives in several Hudson River cities (75%) and coordinating priority regional and community-based trail projects (25%). The goal is to create tangible outcomes that reflect the greatest intersection between our organization’s mission and community needs. This requires an ability to work with staff with a range of skills and expertise to effectively direct multiple projects at a high-level of detail.

This person will manage multiple consultants and work with our communications team to advance media and messaging for a range of audiences. Each project involves the coordination of both Scenic Hudson staff and multiple partner organizations and agencies and requires the ability to engage effectively with regulatory authorities. The Senior Community Planner also supports efforts to secure project funding in coordination with the development team and senior staff.

Principal Responsibilities

  • In conjunction with the Sr. Vice President, coordinate and conduct urban initiative team work in Hudson River cities.
  • Coordinator. Facilitate the team and working groups to define and implement work plans for the cities where Scenic Hudson is focusing its efforts. Organize and lead regular meetings with relevant staff to ensure projects are moving forward and outcomes are being met.
  • Build strong relationships. Build credibility of Scenic Hudson’s efforts in these communities, including developing strong relationships with project partners and new constituencies to support our work.
  • Create Actionable Plans. Lead project staff in the completion of all aspects of creating actionable, stakeholder-driven plans that maximize the intersection between Scenic Hudson’s mission and community needs, including staff, intern and volunteer management, data analysis, mapping, writing, outreach, and communications. Aspects of plans may be developed with the assistance of consultants. The project manager will need to simultaneously lead the procurement and management of those efforts and ensure they integrate with the larger plan at the end of the process.
  • Community Outreach and Coalition-Building. Craft and help implement community outreach strategies with a strong sensitivity to working in resource-scarce, high-poverty, highly diverse cities. Organize and manage local steering committees and topic-focused working groups to advance planning work and build coalitions to support implementation.
  • Grant writing, reporting and fundraising. Identify and write grants applications to support
  • emerging priorities in coordination with the development team and senior staff.
  • Manage all aspects of multiple high-profile transformative regional and community-based trail planning projects, including:
  • Project leadership. Chart the course for advancing projects while demonstrating ability to strategically adapt to changing conditions. Keep projects on track while meeting community, partner, funder, and internal organizational needs;
  • Coalition leader. Lead project coalitions, including coordinating and heading steering committees and any subcommittees or work groups. This means ensuring strong and sustained communications with all coalition members to ensure potential issues or needs are identified and addressed to keep the coalition functioning at its highest level and in a manner that will sustain momentum over time.
  • Grant writing, reporting and fundraising. Work with partners and senior management to identify and pursue grant and private funding to support project implementation. This means a lead role in grant writing, communication with agencies, state and federal delegation members, foundations and private donors. This includes the generation of project summaries and graphics as well as preparation for and attendance at meetings with donors and board members.
  • Media Communications: Given the high-profile of the projects, regular communication with the media and through various social and online media platforms is required. This means working with the communications team to create effective copy and graphics to meet the needs of different media formats. Messages must be framed and then vetted internally and with external partners in a collaborative way.

Other Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate or participate on external committees as needed to advance current and future work priorities.
  • Attend evening meetings as project needs or commitments dictate.
  • Participate in a collaborative team environment, including attendance and preparation for regular team and working group meetings.
  • Flexibility to integrate requests from other teams within the organization, which may have little lead time, while still achieving project outcomes.
  • Other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

  • The Senior Community Planner must be an experienced project manager able to think strategically and simultaneously manage multiple complex and high-profile projects.
  • Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with high degree of autonomy and self-direction.
  • It is essential that they communicate effectively with Scenic Hudson leadership to ensure that they are appropriately apprised of project dynamics and engaged in decision-making at key intervals.
  • The successful candidate will be a seasoned land use and community planner with a sound understanding of: the entire array of comprehensive long-range planning and urban design principles; community engagement strategies, including an understanding of equity planning and social and environmental justice principles; experience working in high-poverty, high-diversity urban communities, conflict negotiation and facilitation skills; state and municipal governance; grant writing and reporting; procurement; technical analysis; GIS mapping; strong verbal, written and graphic communication skills; and experience building and managing coalitions and stakeholder groups.
  • Familiarity with coastal resiliency strategies a plus.
  • Some evening and weekend days are required, as well as travel in your own vehicle to community meetings throughout the Hudson Valley.
  • Must be able to lift 30 pounds for transportation and setup of meetings and occasional walk long distances over uneven terrain for trail and community project review.
  • Verbal and written fluency in Spanish is desirable.

Compensation

  • Full Time, with competitive salary and benefits.

To Apply

  • Please click "Apply" below to email cover letter with salary requirements, resume and brief writing sample.
  • No phone calls please.

Scenic Hudson is an EOE promoting cultural diversity and excellence.

When you apply for this position, please say you saw this job on Green Dream Jobs!!

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