Planning Manager

Employer

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, Boonton, New Jersey

When you work at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, you are joining a national leader in land preservation. As the first accredited land trust in the state, we have preserved 30,000 acres, and as the 2024 winner of the National Land Trust Excellence Award, we offer an environment where your planning expertise translates directly into preserved acres. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a recognized statewide leader in land conservation planning for more than 30 years. Our work extends from local communities to cities and counties throughout the state, where we have completed 230 land conservation and stewardship plans.

Job Description

Planning Manager (5+ Years)

The Land Conservancy seeks a Senior Land Use Planner with at least 5 years of experience who shares our passion for land preservation, creativity, and planning. The Planning Manager will oversee, manage, and collaborate on a variety of planning projects for municipalities, counties, and other public and private partners. Projects include Open Space and Recreation Plans, Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plans, Environmental Resource Inventories, and similar land conservation initiatives. Ideal candidates will have an interest in planning, education, land conservation, public policy, and public engagement.

The ideal candidate is both an educator and a writer. The Planning Manager will work closely with graduate students hired by The Land Conservancy through our one-year Planning Fellowship program, teaching them planning principles and carefully editing their work as part of our municipal planning services.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a hybrid remote work opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan Development, Writing, and Management
• Community Outreach and Public Engagement
• Research and Analysis
• Marketing and Project-Management
• Oversee Planning Fellows and Internship Program

Job Summary

This full-time position is 40 hours per week. General availability is from 9 am -5 pm Monday through Friday, or staff can work a compressed four-day work week. There is flexibility in the time of day for the work to be completed. Attendance at in-person meetings (including evening meetings) is required when requested by the towns and/or counties we work with and occasionally in The Conservancy’s Boonton office. Most of our work is in northern New Jersey.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Community, Regional, Urban or City Planning (Masters preferred).
• 5 years or more of relevant planning experience.
• Experience with the NJDEP Green Acres and NJDA SADC programs.
• Experience covering client and municipal meetings independently, including demonstrated proficiency in providing professional presentations and answering questions during meetings.
• AICP Certification / New Jersey Professional Planner License.

Skills Needed

• Excellent presentation and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Strong writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex planning projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and staff management.
• Ability to analyze, organize, and present data in a clear and understandable manner.
• Strong organizational skills and personal initiative.
• Knowledge of state and local land conservation programs and funding requirements.
• Programs: Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Knowledge of ArcGIS a plus.
• Ability to review and manage the work of other team members.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Marketing and public relations for planning program.
• Development and communication of:
  • Project scopes, schedules, and tasks.
  • Public outreach materials.
  • Plan outcomes and recommendations.
• Researching and analyzing documents and materials related to planning projects.
• Writing and assembling reports and documents using text and graphics accessible to the general public.
• Organizing, participating and leading meetings with clients, stakeholders, and the general public.
• Completion of grant applications related to planning, conservation, and land preservation.
• Management of the organization’s one-year planning fellowship program and overseeing seasonal interns. Work directly with the planning fellows and GIS staff.
• Work with the staff bookkeeper to manage the billing and contracts for the Conservancy’s municipal services program.
• Maintain and complete the Conservancy’s application for land trust accreditation.

Why Join Us?

We support our staff with a comprehensive benefits package—including a starting salary of $80,000, a 3% Simple IRA match, medical health, vision, and dental insurance, and generous paid time off—and a hybrid work environment with flexible scheduling to promote work-life balance. We invest in our people, including paid opportunities to attend the national Land Rally Conference. This is an opportunity to do work that matters for New Jersey families today and for generations to come.

How to Apply

This position is open immediately with a target start date of April 1. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in a single PDF document to hr@tlc-nj.org with the subject line: Planning Manager – [Your Name].

• 3% Simple IRA match
• medical health, vision, and dental insurance
• generous paid time off
• hybrid work environment
• flexible scheduling to promote work-life balance
• paid opportunities to attend the national Land Rally Conference