The Town of Dedham is seeking a Senior Planner to join a vibrant team in the Planning, Zoning & Natural Resources Department. The Senior Planner will lead planning efforts to further community goals for this town of 26,000 residents and will perform project management, public engagement, and analytical work related to land use, zoning, and other community development matters.

A master's degree in Planning, Urban Studies, or related field is required and three years of experience in private or public sector planning or any equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Senior Planner Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Designs, leads, and implements strategic public engagement and event planning activities to promote greater transparency and public interaction, including digital media and traditional communications channels for long range planning and other Planning & Zoning Department projects. Works with other Town staff on the design and facilitation of inclusionary community engagement processes and events.
• Performs responsible duties requiring the exercise of independent judgement and initiative, particularly in situations not clearly defined by precedent or established procedures.
• Manages the land use application process in accordance with statutory and procedural requirements, including filing, notice of public meetings/hearings, open meeting law, actions and decisions, and record retention. Reviews and assesses the completeness of applications, interacts with applicants, tracks document distribution, and manages case schedules in consultation with pertinent Departments and Boards.
• Reviews proposed plans and prepares staff reports and recommendations, and motions, actions, and legal decisions for review by the Planning Director for land use planning applications, including subdivision/ANR plans, special permits, variances, site plan review, design review, signage, and zoning amendments. Drafts legal advertisements.
• Provides professional and technical assistance to three regulatory Town Boards (Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Design Review Advisory Board), Commissions and Committees on a range of community development issues. Responds to land use and zoning inquiries from the general public as needed.
• Serves as a custodian of department records and files respecting the application of regulations and policies of confidentiality, privacy, and public records.
• Prepares requests for proposals/quotes for consulting services and manages consultant contracts for planning projects under the supervision of the Planning Director. Administers bidding process, monitors expenditures and ensuring contractual compliance.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with attorney's, engineers, surveyors, contractors, community groups, and other applicable organizations. May include working with newspaper, radio, internet, and television media, the holding of frequent public meetings and hearings, and regular speaking engagements before community groups.
• Serves as a project manager on various planning related projects under the supervision of the Planning Director.
• Consults with and provides information and technical expertise to Town departments, officials, private developers, community groups, and the general public regarding land use regulations and municipal planning issues.
• Represents the Planning & Zoning Department in performing field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans as they relate to land use developments and constructions sites.
• Collects, organizes, analyzes, and maintains data for use in technical studies and reports related to Planning & Zoning Department activities.
• Research Federal and Massachusetts laws and statutes that relate to Planning & Zoning Department activities.
• Presents reports and other findings to staff, planning and zoning boards and commissions, and elected officials and serves as a liaison.
• In consultation with the Planning Director, provides guidance, support, and training for planning interns.
• The employee is required to attend evening meetings, two-three planned meetings per month and may be requested to work extra hours to meet deadlines and work unplanned meetings
• Performs other similar or related duties as required, or as situation dictates within the Department.