Senior Economic Development Planner

Boston, MA, United States

DESCRIPTION:

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks candidates for the position of Senior Economic Development Planner , who will work on a wide variety of local and regional projects to advance sustainable and equitable economic development, covering such topics as workforce development, commercial and industrial real estate development, and job creation and retention. This includes helping cities and towns to develop plans, zoning, and other policies to facilitate economic development. The planner will also play a key role in advancing partnerships with workforce development providers to increase equitable access to employment opportunities for the residents of Metro Boston.

The p lanner will also help to evaluate and recommend improvements in state laws, regulations, policies, and programs consistent with the values described in MetroCommon2050 : Shaping the Region Together , the regional land use and policy plan.

About MAPC

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities involve sustainable development, advancing equity, regional collaboration, and creating a climate-friendly region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050 . MAPC’s staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.

MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office.

MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.

This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

· Assist cities and towns in evaluating options and actions to undertake economic development that advances the goals of MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together , our regional plan;

· Help cities and towns to develop plans, policies, zoning, permitting procedures, and programs to achieve economic development that is sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient;

· Support municipal, local and regional entities to design and implement strategies to advance workforce development, with a focus on quality employment, living wage career pathways, financial inclusion, and wealth creation for BIPOC and lower income individuals.

· Collaborate with the City of Boston’s Office of Workforce Development to facilitate , as well as provide coordination and capacity building for, the Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition , which seeks to expand equitable employment opportunities in childcare, healthcare, and clean energy. The Coalition is an awardee of a $23 million, 3-year federal grant, which provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Metro Boston's communities and local economy;

· Assist municipal and institutional partners to conceptualize and initiate industry-specific workforce development programs; research local and national labor market trends to launch or reorient workforce programs to respond to growing labor market demand in specific sectors;

· Conduct market and feasibility analyses to understand the potential for new commercial, industrial, retail, and mixed-use development;

· Help build the capacity of local stakeholders – including local governments, chambers of commerce, and businesses – to pursue such opportunities where they will advance sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient activities ;

· Assist in the development of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, issued every five years and updated annually by MAPC in its capacity as lead agency of the federal Economic Development District for Greater Boston;

· Participate in developing and implementing interdisciplinary projects to advance equitable economic development, through partnerships with other MAPC departments (e.g., Housing, Arts & Culture, and Public Health), as well as state agencies and external advocates and stakeholders;

· Take a lead role on more complex planning and recovery projects, some of which may be interdisciplinary, at times overseeing other economic development staff, data services staff, public engagement specialists, or other MAPC divisions or other specialized staff;

· Develop new ideas and concepts in response to a changing context and to increase the relevance, impact, and sustainability of MAPC’s planning and policy work, innovating and developing actionable concepts that take into account the region’s opportunities and challenges;

· Speak in public about MAPC programs and its economic development efforts; and,

· Conduct other planning activities as assigned to assist in the implementation of our new regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together .

Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are a responsibility for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account, and BlueBikes membership.

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