Community Resilience Specialist

Position Summary

The Community Resilience Specialist is responsible for delivering technical assistance to municipal and regional entities to support efforts on climate and energy projects aligned with the State Climate Action Plan (Maine Won’t Wait). The Community Resilience Specialist will work as part of a team that focuses on communication, integration with other EMDC programs (planning, workforce development, lending, government contracting), and outcomes.

EMDC delivers high-quality and impactful economic, community, business and workforce development services to municipalities, employers and individuals throughout the northeastern region of Maine. Services include small business impact lending to support job retention and boost the region’s economic vitality, business technical assistance, land use and transportation planning, government contracting technical assistance, and climate resiliency services. Our work is framed by building partnership and collaboration.

Essential Functions

• Expand EMDC’s climate and energy technical assistance capacity through the Community Resilience Partnership programs and EMDC’s work identified in the regional CEDS plan.
• Support the Community Resilience Partnership by identifying and engaging communities that have not yet enrolled in the Partnership; assist communities to maintain active enrollment status.
• Provide technical assistance to communities in Aroostook, Penobscot, and Piscataquis counties working to reduce energy use and costs, transition to clean energy and become more resilient to climate change.
• Assist communities with the drafting, review, and revision of plans to prepare for future federal investments including new and sustainable funding strategies, disaster preparation, and clean energy initiatives. Provide grant administration support as needed by smaller communities lacking capacity.
• Provide technical assistance that adheres to State and Federal regulations and State-sanctioned plans to address climate change and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Develop and deliver training and peer learning opportunities, case studies, tools, and other resources.
• Correctly and efficiently utilize and analyze demographic, economic, environmental, tabular, and mapped sources of information for presentation in reports and to audiences in support of planning initiatives.
• Foster and support collaborative efforts among communities, service providers and cohorts that are enrolled in the Community Resilience Partnership.
• Collaborate and foster communication with the State of Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF), and with the three region coordinators working on the climate resiliency programs.
• Contribute to efforts related to climate resiliency action items of Eastern Maine’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and reinforce EMDC’s designation as an Economic Development District (EDD).
• Communicate and coordinate plans and projects with other EMDC staff, local and regional groups, and governmental agencies.
• Prepare and update reports, plans, ordinances, and other planning-related documents as directed. Assist with contract management and grants development as needed.
• Working knowledge of the principles, practices, and applications of community and regional planning, municipal land use planning, design, development and related field. Knowledge of climate resiliency planning is a plus.
• Ability to communicate, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with local, state, and federal officials, and colleagues in other public and private agencies and institutions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to present technical information and planning concepts clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
• Up-to-date working knowledge of federal and state legislation, programs, regulations, and procedures related to planning and the particular area of specialization.
• Ability to organize and facilitate group and community discussions leading to clear and identifiable outcomes.
• Experience and skills to be an effective public speaker and communicator.
• Ability to work a 40 hour work week with limited supervision.
• Ability to organize and execute work assignments in a thorough and timely manner, to work under frequent time pressures and be able to keep several projects in progress at the same time.
• Travel to attend frequent night meetings, using personal vehicle for business use (reimbursable).

Education/Experience

A minimum of a four-year college degree in environment, climate science, ecology or urban planning required. Previous significant and relevant work experience may also be considered in place of degree. Experience in climate resilience planning preferred. Knowledge of the concepts, theories, principles, and practices of business and economic development at the regional and local level. Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Working Conditions

General business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, though exempt positions will typically require minimal work to be performed outside general business hours. Work is generally performed in an indoor, professional office environment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit at a desk working on a computer. The employee is often required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel to various locations and must be able to provide their own transportation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $26.44 - $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $26 - $28