Planning Analyst/ Housing Forward Cities Coordinator

Planning Analyst/ Housing Forward Cities Coordinator

Salary

$95,804.80 - $155,396.80 Annually

Location

390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2026-00302

Division

Community Development

Department

Livable Comm Unit Management

Opening Date

07/31/2026

Closing Date

8/14/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

The Community Development Division is seeking a senior individual contributor to coordinate the overall implementation of Housing Forward Cities, a grant-funded program to change long-term market conditions and break down policy and practice barriers to affordable housing, while advancing the goals of the Imagine 2050 regional development guide.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development division is responsible for the Met Councils regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rent assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

About the division:

The Community Development division is responsible for the Met Councils regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rent assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

In Community Development, we have set the following goals to guide our work:

• Our division builds competency, takes meaningful actions, and creates the necessary infrastructure to advance racial equity.
• Our division's workplace culture is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

About the Team:

The Housing Policy and Livable Communities team is responsible for developing and implementing regional housing policies, working with local governments to identify and plan for their current and future housing needs, and delivering funding to help communities achieve development goals that create more housing choices, support living wage job creation, and connect jobs, housing, and regional amenities to create a more equitable region.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Planning Analyst is a senior-level individual contributor and project manager as part of a small, collaborative Housing Forward Cities project team, within the overall12-personHousing and Livable Communities work unit. The person in this position will serve as a team leader for the Housing Forward Cities project, managing the implementation of the project activities, budget, and timeline in coordination with collaborators across the Livable Communities and Housing team and Community Development division.

About Housing Forward Cities:

Housing Forward Cities is a grant-funded project to change long-term market conditions and break down policy and practice barriers to affordable housing, while advancing the goals of the Imagine 2050 regional development guide. The Twin Cities region is at a critical juncture for affordable housing, with the opportunity to build on recent successes that help to bridge the affordable housing gap. Housing Forward Cities is a set of grantmaking and planning assistance efforts to support collaboration among cities throughout the Twin Cities metro region, with the goal of supporting them in making policy changes that eliminate barriers to affordable housing and foster policy consistency across the region, simplifying the region's development processes.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework arrangement. The candidates telework location must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Note: Although the full salary range is displayed, the hiring salary will be determined based on the final candidates qualifications, the Councils internal pay structures, and our total compensation package for the position.

Note: This recruitment may establish a six (6) month eligibility list for current and future vacancies if we have multiple qualified candidates.

Placement on the eligible list does not guarantee you a job with the Council.

What you would do in this job

• Champion the overall Housing Forward Cities project and serve as team leader to manage the timely and effective implementation of all project activities, budgets, and timelines. Coordinate work planning and project assignments for colleagues.
• Serve as project manager for the implementation of the Housing Forward Cities Missing Middle project, managing relationships and deliverables with third-party contractors and subject matter experts to boost regional innovation and effective policy collaboration to support the goals of Imagine 2050 and the Housing Policy Plan.
• Serve as project manager to develop additional scopes of work and deploy funds and planning assistance resources via contracts and grants for grant-funded projects that build regional housing policy collaboration.
• Contribute to related efforts and serve as a liaison to related projects across the Met Council enterprise, including outcomes measurement and evaluation efforts.
• Lead funder reporting and compliance for Housing Forward Cities, working closely with the internal grants administration team.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of completed education (major coursework in city, urban, or environmental planning and policy, or a related field) and experience (in program administration, implementation, public sector planning, grant coordination, land use planning, housing policy, community development, economic development, or a related field), including two years of project management or team lead experience):

High school diploma/GED AND nine (9) years of experience.

Associate degree AND seven (7) years of experience.

Bachelors degree AND five (5) years of experience.

Masters degree AND three (3) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Project management skills relevant to managing contracts and grant-funded projects as a team or project leader.
• Local government experience.
• Grantmaking and grant administration as a funder.
• Experience with affordable housing policy topics, including strong interest in missing middle (2-25 unit) housing development and preservation, local land use policies, affordable multifamily or single-family development and preservation.
• Urban and regional planning, land use planning.
• Technical assistance and training tools.
• HUD Community Planning and Development programs (e.g., CDBG, HOME, NSP) and/or related federal funding programs, including grant management practices and compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.
• Demonstrated skills in facilitating collaborative approaches to policy development, peer learning, and technical assistance delivery with local governments.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers, and with outreach to cross-cultural communities.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft suite and knowledge of project management tools.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of the connections between housing policy and opportunities to reduce climate impact, plan effectively in transit and commercial corridors, support wealth-building, and sustain cultural and community connections within existing neighborhoods.
• Knowledge of institutional racism and the historically different impact of public investments on communities of color.
• Skill in persuasive communication including the ability to influence, instruct, and negotiate with others to gain their understanding, cooperation, and action.
• Skill in interpersonal communications; effectively working with a wide variety of internal and external partners to address regional goals, navigating ambiguity and identifying creative approaches.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with local governments and their development partners even when delivering unwelcome news.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and clearly to a diverse audience of stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to successfully lead and manage projects, coordinate the work of project teams, ensure compliance with funder requirements, and complete deliverables within allotted timeframes.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret funding applications, funder requirements, pro formas, site plans, and legal documents.
• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills.
• Ability to demonstrate experience in applying equity principles in project management, processes, and decision-making.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

• We encourage employees to develop skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.

• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work-life balance

• More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Classification Level: Planning Analyst

Union/Grade: AFSCME Grade I

FLSA Status: Exempt

Full Salary Range: $46.06- $ 74.71 hourly / $95, 805- $155,397 annually

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $53.55 hourly - $60.80 /$ 111,384.00 - $12645.18 annually

What your work environment would be:

You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only) and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety-sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job youre applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or

management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

https://metrocouncil.org

We believe our employees are a key to our agencys success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. Resumes will not be accepted for this recruitment. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

03

If you selected Other, please describe where you first heard about this job. If you selected Employee Referral please enter the employees first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option that best indicates your education:

• Masters or higher
• Bachelors or higher
• Associates Degree
• High School Diploma or GED

05

Please select the option that best describes your relevant work experience:

• Less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years but less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years but less than six (6) years of experience
• Six (6) years but less than eight (8) years of experience
• Eight (8) years or more of experience

06

Please indicate whether or not you have at least two years of professional experience in each of the following:

• Project management
• HUD Community Planning and Development programs (e.g., CDBG, HOME, NSP) and/or related federal funding programs, including grant management practices and regulations
• Local government
• Grantmaking and grant administration as a funder (not as a grant writer or implementer of grant-funded projects)
• Urban and regional planning and land use planning
• Affordable housing development/finance and policy
• Technical assistance and training tools

07

Please describe your professional experience in more detail in at least three of the following areas. Be sure to include context for each, including your role, the type of work, and the location and duration of your experience. If you type, "see resume," you will not be given credit for your response. If you do not have experience in these areas, write N/A. •Project management •HUD Community Planning and Development programs (e.g., CDBG, HOME, NSP) and/or related federal funding programs, including grant management practices and regulations •Local government •Grantmaking and grant administration as a funder •Urban and regional planning and land use planning •Affordable housing development/finance and policy •Technical assistance and training tools

08

Please describe your experience in successfully leading/managing contracts and grant-funded projects as a team or project leader, coordinating the work of the project team, and delivering work within identified time frames. Provide context for your experience, including your role, the work that you were responsible for, and the location and duration of your experience.

09

Please describe your experience related to affordable housing policy, missing middle (2-25 unit) housing development and preservation, and local land use policies, affordable multifamily or single-family development and preservation. How have you worked to break down barriers to development and preservation of affordable housing through your lived and/or professional experience? Include your role(s), the type of work/experience, and the location and duration of your experience in your answer.

10

Please describe your experience in assessing, implementing, or advocating for racial equity policies or programs in a housing-related, community development, or grant program context. Please provide context for your experience including your role, your approach, the issue(s) you addressed, how you brought others along with you, where the experience took place, and for how long.

11

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify the following statement:]

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI. I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars, external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

Required Question

Employer Metropolitan Council

Address 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website https://metrocouncil.org