Virginia Land Planner

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional non-profit conservation organization working solely to save the Bay. Established in 1967, CBF has a staff of approximately 170 employees working in offices in Annapolis and Salisbury, Maryland; Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C., and in 15 field education program locations. CBF's headquarters office is in the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, a “cutting edge,” environmentally responsible building located in Annapolis, Maryland.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $21 million and is supported by more than 194,000 members, volunteers, and other supporters. For more information on CBF please visit www.cbf.org.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Virginia Land Planner in its Virginia State office located in Richmond, Virginia.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The Virginia Land Planner serves as land use expert on a broad range of policy and on-the-ground issues and projects at the state and local levels. Functions as coordinator in land conservation efforts in Virginia.  Serves in an advisory capacity to regional and local land trusts to build their capacity and resources to solicit and monitor conservation easements. Counsels land owners, citizens, and decision-makers on land use, growth strategies, community development, sustainability, and conservation issues. Provides recommendations on CBF’s legislative and regulatory positions on land use and growth management matters. Lobbies legislators, agencies, and the public regarding land use, growth strategies, sustainability, and conservation issues with a special emphasis on connecting land-use decisions to water quality issues. 

Essential Functions include:

Serve as primary CBF expert on land use, growth, and sustainability-related issues in Virginia:

• Understand local, regional, and state government systems and laws pertaining to land use and growth management and effectively monitor and advocate with those entities.
• Provide technical expertise and policy analysis and recommendations on land use, growth, and sustainability issues and how it affects water quality through the implementation of state, regional, and local land use and transportation plans.
• Provide written comments, position papers, talking points and analyses on legislative and regulatory matters related to land use and growth management.
• Educate, advocate and lobby as a member of the Virginia legislative team. 
• Oversee state and local implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, Transportation Act, and land-use implications of energy use and production and global climate change.
• Provide technical assistance to citizens on land use, growth management, sustainability, and Preservation Act issues.
• Serve as primary point of contact on land-use, growth, and sustainability issues.
• Respond to requests for local land use assistance and citizen grassroots support.

Testify and represent CBF on related land use/growth, legislative, and regulatory changes:

• Represent CBF on land use/conservation issues at hearings and meetings with local/state/federal agencies and legislators.
• Prepare/present testimony on legislation, draft regulations, comprehensive plans, zoning proposals, and permit applications.
• Assist with educational forums for legislators and other community leaders to make the connection between land-use and water quality.

Conduct and facilitate land conservation activities in Virginia:

• Partner with local and regional land trusts to solicit, negotiate, and monitor conservation easements.  
• Provide technical assistance on watershed initiatives, land trusts, and other land use projects.
• Analyze and advocate for state and local Transfer or Purchase of Development Rights programs.
• Counsel land owners, local governments, and others on land conservation options and opportunities.
• Develop policies and partnerships (public and private) that provide affordable access to working waterfronts.
• Respond to inquiries from people interested in land conservation, particularly through gifts of land or easements, and provide them with information about conservation options.

Facilitate On-the-Ground Local Projects and Activities with Affected Communities:

• Identify key and/or precedent setting land-use, growth, or sustainability projects and activities that fulfill CBF’s mission.
• Assist in the development of goals, strategic plans, and implementation of key project and activities.
• Analyze and review new development or re-development proposals in terms of feasibility, alternatives, and environmental, social, economic, cultural impacts.
• Coordinate with policy advocacy efforts, community organizing work, legal support, and media relations.
• Conduct effective networking and ally with individuals, groups, organizations, and governmental entities to build coalitions much broader than the traditional environmental community.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate or professional degree in a related discipline such as urban/regional planning, natural resource planning, or landscape architecture preferred.  Three years minimum knowledge and demonstrated experience in environmentally-sound land use, growth strategies, and land conservation activities. Advocacy, public policy, and/or legal experience, including lobbying for environmental legislation, is desirable. Familiarity with Virginia land-use law, federal and state wetlands laws, growth management initiatives, conservation easement law, community development and land acquisition procedures. Possess strong interpersonal skills, be self-motivated, team-oriented, willing to travel, and committed to the Bay’s improvement and sound land use. Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, initiative, ability to work effectively with a broad range of persons including government officials, landowners, volunteers, the public, etc. Knowledge of computer and geographic information systems (GIS).

To apply, please send resume, cover letter, salary history and salary requirement by July 25, 2008 to:

Human Resources/VLP
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403
Cbf_employment@cbf.org

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred annuity plan.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.