Livable Communities Program Associate - Associate Planner

Please include a cover letter with your application. Resumes will NOT be reviewed so please provide complete, detailed information on your application form.

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.

• Our division builds competency, takes meaningful actions, and creates the necessary infrastructure to advance racial equity.
• Our division's workplace culture is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

The Livable Communities Act (LCA) team delivers funding to help communities achieve development goals that create more housing choices, support living wage job creation, and connect jobs, housing, and regional amenities to create a more equitable region. The work unit also includes regional housing policy planning, which works with local governments to identify and plan for their future housing needs.

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

The entry-level Livable Communities Program Associate (Associate Planner-AFS) will join a collaborative Livable Communities and Housing team of 11 people from planning, policy, and related backgrounds with values centered on equity, service, relationships, innovation, and accountability.

The person in this position will:

• Assist with the implementation of the annual Livable Communities Act grant solicitation rounds.
• Assist with outreach, technical assistance, public engagement, and program evaluation projects to improve the delivery and impact of grant programs.
• Provide a high level of customer service to local governments, development team partners, and other relevant parties.
• Assist with delivering a consistent, fair, accurate, and equitable grantmaking process.

• Process grant proposals using the Fluxx grant management platform, including data entry, providing eligibility review, coordinating expert review, and assisting with creating reports and recommendations.
• Provide technical assistance to a diverse group of potential and current grantees/project teams, including city staff and emerging developers, such as providing assistance in navigating the online grant portal and directing inquiries to technical experts.
• Assist with Livable Communities program management, including documenting processes, organizing documents, and maintaining contacts.
• Assist in implementing the Livable Communities communications plan, including updating the website and sending informational emails.
• Assist with outreach to promote the Livable Communities program, including providing logistical support for events.
• Assist with the Livable Communities program evaluation, including conducting surveys and focus groups.
• Ensure and improve data quality in grants management and reporting systems.
• Work with finance and grants administration colleagues to ensure a seamless, integrated process for grant recipients.
• Contribute to intra-division and cross-Council working teams to advance regional policy goals and promote an equitable, positive, and respectful professional environment that values culture and diversity among all stakeholders and colleagues.

Any of the following combinations in completed education (degree with coursework in geography, urban planning, political science, public policy, sociology, economics, or related field) and experience (in grantmaking, real estate development, lending, affordable housing, transportation, environmental services or cleanup, public policy, community engagement, planning, or related field):

• High school diploma/GED with four years of experience
• Associate degree with two years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with no experience requirement

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

• Work or internship experience implementing grantmaking or lending programs
• Work or internship experience conducting community engagement
• Work or internship experience planning events or managing logistics
• Coursework, internship, or work experience generating, interpreting, and communicating qualitative and/or quantitative data.
• Work, internship, or lived experience with at least one racial or cultural community that is historically or currently underserved or harmed by government entities in the seven-county Twin Cities region, with attention to power dynamics and the importance of emerging leaders
• Basic experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Basic experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Basic knowledge of the governmental environment in which the Metropolitan Council works as it applies to the Livable Communities programs and local and regional housing policy.
• Extensive knowledge of the purposes, objectives, guidelines, criteria, and processes of the Livable Communities Act grant processes.
• Ability to articulate the impacts of systemic racism on development in a variety of settings.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with local governments and their development partners, even when delivering unwelcome news.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the Metropolitan Council's values of Equity, Leadership, Accountability, and Stewardship.
• Ability to identify challenges or opportunities and create solutions to meet those challenges or opportunities.
• Ability to operate collaboratively and facilitate outcomes through cross-functional teams.
• Ability to meet deadlines and uphold role on the team through bi-annual grant-making cycles.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with diverse internal and external audiences from policy makers to staff to community members and others.
• Active listening skills and the willingness to respectfully give and receive feedback from colleagues and external partners.

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 encourage and support staff in bringing the full range of experiences and identities that define them to the workplace.
• We encourage and support staff in contributing to a dynamic work culture that improves the Council's ability to serve the region and strives to effectively support all employees.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade E
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. 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 check 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 HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.