JOB DESCRIPTION

About

The Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG, pronounced 'sim-cog') serves 10 counties and 88 local governments across Southwest Missouri, providing regional planning, transportation coordination, economic development support, and grant assistance to communities of all sizes. SMCOG operates through a unique partnership with Missouri State University within the University's Center for Resource Planning and Management (CRPM). In this model, Missouri State provides the administrative home and employee benefits, while SMCOG carries out regional programs that help communities plan, fund, and implement important projects to guide development and protect natural resources. Our office brings together professional planners, grant specialists, researchers, and students in a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and practical solutions. SMCOG's work has earned national recognition, including an Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and multiple Excellence in Regional Transportation awards.

The position is based in Springfield, the center of a metropolitan area of more than 500,000 people and the hub of Southwest Missouri. The region offers vibrant urban amenities alongside welcoming small towns and rural communities, with outstanding outdoor recreation throughout the Ozarks, including lakes, rivers, trails, and conservation areas. Nearby destinations such as Branson draw millions of visitors each year, and convenient air travel is available through the growing Springfield-Branson National Airport. Together with the excellent benefits provided through Missouri State University, this creates an exceptional place to live, work, and build a career in planning.

General Function

The Planner assists with community and regional planning programs and long-range planning for rural/small town communities by providing technical and advisory assistance regarding transportation planning, economic development, disaster recovery planning, hazard mitigation planning, comprehensive and land use planning, and land development regulations. The Planner conducts plan preparation, related research for assigned projects, and coordinates planning activities with elected officials and citizen advisory committees and the general public. The Planner also assists in the analysis of census and other statistical data and in the preparation of reports for local governments and community organizations. The Planner helps to prepare grant applications and administer awarded grants.

Primary Duties

The Planner will:

• Coordinate regional transpiration planning activities
• Facilitate a Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and Multi-Modal TAC to identify and prioritize rural transportation needs
• Develop local transportation plans and recommend transportation policies for local governments
• Assist with the development of local comprehensive plans
• Assist with the development of land use regulations and policies
• Assist with the development of grant proposals for community and transportation projects
• Assist with scoping new planning projects and service contracts
• Present transportation needs, project overviews, and funding proposals to a variety of audiences
• Provide administrative services to the APA Missouri Chapter

Who Thrives in This Role

We're looking for someone who enjoys working with people as much as they enjoy working on plans. The ideal candidate is energetic, approachable, and comfortable introducing themselves to new partners — from city administrators and elected officials to engineers, community leaders, and state agency staff. Building relationships and expanding professional networks across the region is an important part of the job.

This position reports to senior staff but carries significant autonomy. The right person will be confident facilitating meetings, gathering input, and representing the organization in communities across the region. At the same time, they must be able to transition from conversations and collaboration to the focused work of turning those ideas into clear planning documents, maps, data analysis, and project recommendations.

In short, we're looking for a planner who is equally comfortable in a room full of stakeholders as they are at their desk translating those discussions into thoughtful, well-crafted plans. Someone who is curious, proactive, and not afraid to pick up the phone, introduce themselves, and help move good ideas forward.

Benefits

SMCOG staff are employees of Missouri State University. MSU offers highly competitive benefits including health, life, vision, and dental insurance; retirement pension; generous vacation and paid time off; tuition credit fee waiver for employees and dependents; employee discounts; wellness programs An overview of the 2026 Employee Benefits can be downloaded here.

SMCOG strongly supports professional growth and continuing education. The organization invests in staff by covering costs for professional conferences, trainings, and workshops, and actively encourages planners to pursue professional credentials such as the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and other relevant certifications. In return, staff are encouraged to give back to the profession and community - mentoring undergraduate planning students, supporting internships, and participating in professional organizations such as APA, NADO, and others. This culture of learning, mentorship, and professional engagement reflects SMCOG's commitment to investing in its people and the next generation of planners and helps establish our organization as the premier planning agency in the State of Missouri.

Benefits (The Less Official Ones)

Yes, you'll receive excellent benefits through Missouri State University like health insurance, retirement, generous leave, tuition waivers, and all the responsible adult things. But you'll also gain the less formal perks: working with a collaborative, slightly quirky group of planners and grant writers who genuinely enjoy what they do, a supportive office culture that values creativity and humor, and occasional dad-level jokes from the Executive Director. You'll get to help great communities across the Ozarks while living in the vibrant Springfield region. Learn more about the area here!

Apply Online

Read the full job description and minimum qualifications on the official job posting linked below.

This posting is Open Until Filled. First date of consideration is May 11, 2026.
https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/85736