Michael Baker's full-service Community & Transportation Planning Practice provides expertise, creativity, and dedication to a wide range of projects. Our community-driven planning process shapes innovative and sustainable outcomes, while our well-established project management process delivers projects on time and within budget. We leverage the latest technology involving geospatial planning tools, public involvement, visualization, and communication tools to truly engage the community and produce successful projects that have public support. Our plans integrate policy, funding, and follow-through actions to support ongoing achievement of our clients' vision and goals.
DESCRIPTION
Michael Baker International is seeking an energetic early career planner to support hazard mitigation planning, resilience, and community engagement in the western United States. As a Planner III, you will provide direct technical assistance and support community engagements that help state, local, tribal, and territorial partners build their capacity to plan for and reduce their disaster risk. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a national network of risk communications, community outreach, partnership building, hazard mitigation, and environmental experts to tackle multiple hazards and build a safer, more prepared nation.
This position requires knowledge and enthusiasm for hazard mitigation, community outreach, mitigation and resilience planning. We are looking for a planner who thrives on a team but is comfortable taking ownership of tasks under supervision. Plain language writing, clear and consistent communication, and research and analysis skills are essential.
**This role is remote but will support FEMA Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska). Candidates must live in FEMA Region 10.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide direct technical assistance to drive engagement, integrate hazard mitigation into community planning decisions, and support implementation of mitigation activities.
Work with local and tribal governments to identify, get buy in, and implement hazard mitigation actions that reduce vulnerability to floods and other natural hazards.
Translate complex technical information about grants and mitigation projects into plain language, accessible resources for local/tribal officials and the public.
Provide planning and community engagement support in a variety of community meetings that advance a community's selected resilience vision.
Build state, local, tribal, and territorial capabilities to understand natural hazard risk and options to reduce that risk.
Act as a task manager with project management responsibilities (under supervision). This includes both project initiation, including working with peers and clients to develop scopes of work, budgets, and schedules, and project execution and monitoring, including tracking, resourcing, reporting, quality management, and risk and issue identification.
Ability to occasionally travel throughout Regions 8, 9, and 10 is required (estimated at under 8 trips per year).
Collect and analyze data to support the delivery of community planning efforts related to any of the following efforts, including hazard mitigation planning, climate adaptation planning, risk assessments, disaster resilience and recovery, floodplain management, and urban and regional planning.
Support stakeholder outreach and engagement efforts to promote inclusive engagement.
Research and advise on community planning best practice standards and guidelines.
Participate in client meetings and follow through on assigned action items directly with clients and communities.
Support FEMA Regions in hazard mitigation, risk reduction, resiliency planning, natural/water resources planning, community development, hazard mitigation plans.
Participate in meetings working with state, local, tribal, and federal officials, elected officials, residents, business leaders and technical experts.
Evaluate existing mitigation "capabilities" through research of local plans, regulations, policies, and review of programs and documents.
Proactive communicator with clear and effective communication, using both oral and written communication skills.
PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Due to contract requirements, the ability to obtain a Public Trust Clearance is required.
Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Public Policy, Environmental Management, Geography or related discipline.
5 years of experience in community resilience, hazard mitigation or environmental planning, or community outreach and engagement. A master's degree may substitute for up to two years of professional experience.
Passionate about climate resilience and hazard mitigation with the ability to work in a time-sensitive, fast-paced team environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to a technical and non-technical audience.
Strong public speaking skills.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
A commitment to superior customer service.
Knowledge of the intersection of Local Hazard Mitigation Plans or adaptation plans or climate action plans.
Proven and demonstrated ability to communicate (orally and written) technical and scientific information to non-experts in a manner that is clear and compelling.
Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ownership and accountability for work.
Capability to work in a dynamic environment, including a demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills.
Preferred:
Relevant professional licenses and certifications, such as Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Ability to travel periodically, as needed (less than 20% and once travel restrictions are lifted)
Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency are desirable.
Master's degree in Planning, Public Policy, Environmental Management or related discipline.
Experience with FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, especially the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.
Understanding of conflict resolution and consensus-building techniques.
Experience working with tribal nations.
Previous experience in client services or a consulting environment is highly desirable.
COMPENSATION The approximate compensation range for this position is $82,326 to $129,667. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world's most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 80 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.
Based in Pittsburgh and with nearly 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.
We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.
We Make a Difference.
Michael Baker International is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.
EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.Michael Baker International is seeking an energetic early career planner to support hazard mitigation planning, resilience, and community engagement in the western United States.
