Conservation & Resiliency Planner II

Are you passionate about protecting natural resources, planning for the future, and making a meaningful impact in your community? We’re looking for a motivated and forward-thinking professional to join our growing county.

This is more than just a job—it’s your chance to:

*Drive positive change by developing and executing forward-thinking environmental and resiliency policies.
*Collaborate with passionate professionals—from community members and local officials to regional stakeholders—on impactful projects.
*Engage with the public and leadership through boards, commissions, and community planning efforts.
*Stay organized and empowered, maintaining key records while growing your skills in a supportive, semi-independent environment.

Why Work With Us?
**Excellent Benefits – Competitive salary, generous health and retirement packages, paid leave, and more.
**Be Part of a Growing County – We’re expanding thoughtfully and sustainably, and your work will help shape that future.
**Great Work-Life Balance – We value your well-being just as much as your contributions.
**Amazing Team Culture – Join a collaborative, energetic, and purpose-driven group of professionals who genuinely enjoy what they do.

If you’re ready to put your planning expertise to work for a cause that matters—while enjoying real opportunities for professional growth—we’d love to hear from you.

Performs professional work developing or assisting with the development, evaluation, and implementation of conservation and resiliency policies and goals within the county’s comprehensive plan. This position plays a key role in creating, updating, and executing strategies aimed at protecting natural resources and ensuring community resilience in the face of environmental challenges. In addition to conservation and resiliency planning, this role supports various planning activities, including current, long-range, and transportation planning initiatives. This position is responsible for providing information and guidance to the public, offering staff support to boards and commissions, and maintaining accurate files and records. The position requires a collaborative approach, working closely with local government officials, community stakeholders, and regional partners. Work is performed under limited supervision, including independent work and professional growth. The individual in this role is expected to contribute to the advancement of the county’s planning efforts, providing strategic input and ensuring alignment with the County’s Comprehensive Plan, environmental, conservation, and resiliency goals.

• Identifies opportunities to promote land conservation efforts that protect natural areas and supports existing land conservation efforts focused on recreation and agricultural preservation;
• Utilizes the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency “Resilient Communities Planning Guide” and “Central Pines Regional Resilience Portfolio” to bolster Chatham County’s resilience to hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, and extreme temperatures;
• Manages all administrative functions of the Conservation Working Group, an internal coalition of staff who meet monthly to collaborate on Chatham County’s environmental efforts. These functions include reserving meeting rooms, compiling agenda items, facilitating meeting discussions, and submitting required materials for presentations to the Board of Commissioners;
• Oversees and manages conservation and resiliency projects from initiation to completion, including developing project plans, timelines, and budgets, coordinating with internal teams, external stakeholders, and contractors, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget;
• Provides support to appointed boards and committees, offering input and recommendations on goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and related long-range strategies;
• Assists with Chatham County’s involvement in the Natural Heritage Program including but not limited to outreach, applications and selection, funding disbursement, and coordination between landowners and the NC Natural Heritage Program;
• Serves as the liaison between the Central Pines Regional Council Grant Assistance Program and the Conservation Working Group and coordinates meetings and grant application timelines for county staff utilizing the Grant Assistance Program; 
• Represents the Planning Department at relevant collaborations from other county departments, jurisdictions in the region, and community organizations (Past examples have included the Eno-New Hope Strategic Action Plan, the Haw River Trail Feasibility Study, the Chatham County Farmland Protection Plan Update, and Jordan Lake One Water.);
• Prepares updates on conservation and resiliency projects for staff, boards, and external agencies;
• Utilizes advanced GIS skills to analyze spatial data and develop custom mapping solutions for conservation, resiliency, and land use planning;
• Maintains relationships with local and state agencies, land trusts, conservation groups, and funding partners to support conservation and resiliency efforts;
• Monitors the effectiveness of policies and recommends adjustments to improve conservation and resiliency outcomes;
• Stays informed on state and federal policies, regulations, and funding opportunities related to conservation, resiliency, and sustainability;
• Provides community outreach, engages with residents and environmental groups, and addresses issues, questions, and suggestions;
• Facilitates cross-departmental collaboration on conservation and resiliency efforts within the county;
• Prepares and presents written reports and presentations to elected officials, advisory boards, and other stakeholders;  
• Reviews and evaluates land use policies to address and prepare for climate-related threats, ensuring alignment with state statutes and regulations;
• Attends night meetings as required;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Bachelor's degree with coursework in urban planning, regional planning, public policy, geography, environment or natural resources, or related field, and 2-4 years of experience in planning or an equivalent combination of education and experience. AICP or the ability to obtain AICP preferred. 

• Thorough knowledge of conservation, resiliency, and long-range and current planning; 
• Thorough knowledge of state and federal regulations related to environmental conservation, resiliency, and land use and planning; 
• Demonstrated experience in land conservation planning and resiliency efforts;
• Experience with long-range planning processes, including public engagement, policy development, project management, and data analysis;
• Ability to assimilate and manipulate information and data, along with a working knowledge of geographic information systems;
• Ability to draft grant applications and ensure accurate budgeting, compliance, and reporting are monitored if the grant is awarded; 
• Ability to read and interpret policies, ordinances, environmental assessments, and site plans; 
• Ability to gather and interpret technical and statistical information and prepare technical reports;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, contractors, land developers, federal and state agencies, associates, and the public.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing, use of hands and fingers, handling, feeling, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing and walking and occasionally requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; work requires vocal communication to express or exchange ideas orally; work requires hearing to perceive information at normal spoken levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements
Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Salary : $66,444 - $84,716