PLANNER III

Location:             DNREC- Division of Water                                                         

                             89 Kings Highway                                                               

                             Dover, DE 19901

Deadline:  Until Filled

Annual Salary:  $57,886.70

This is not a State of Delaware merit position.  It is a one-year contractual position with the opportunity to work long term.

The Kent Conservation District (KCD), a governmental subdivision of the State of Delaware, is seeking applicants for the contractual services position of Planner III with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water – Wetlands and Waterways Section.

JOB SUMMARY

The selected candidate will serve as a key technical, organizational, and policy leader during the establishment and execution of Delaware’s new Freshwater Wetland Program.  Authorized under the Wetlands Stewardship Act of 2026, the Planner III will provide critical support to Division leadership and statewide stakeholders. 

The position will focus on guiding regulatory development, resource modeling, and change management.  As the program is established, the position’s focus will transition to policy refinement, process optimization, and alignment with state economic and permitting initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties.

• Provide primary planning, research, and organizational support to the Environmental Program Administrator and Environmental Specialist Manager during the initial buildout of the statewide Freshwater Wetland Program.
• Deliver dedicated planning support to the statute-mandated Regulatory Advisory Committee throughout the initial regulation development process.
• Define and evaluate total resource needs for the new program, assessing associated operational costs, risks, and benefits.
• Provide policy and planning expertise to develop statute-required general permits, collaborating directly with the Division’s Principal Planner and the Environmental Specialist V.
• Coordinate with program management, the Principal Planner, and the LEAN Process Improvement Manager to establish policies, administrative processes, and tracking systems.
• Drive operational strategies that advance Governor Meyer’s JobsFirst initiative.

JOB REQUIREMENTS 

Applicants must have the following:

• At least two years’ experience as a planner OR at least two years’ experience in a planning function.
• Experience in designing, collecting data, analyzing and presenting results of a most complex planning project (complexity is to be determined based on variables such as discipline, population, fiscal impact, geographic area, social impact, planning horizon, public involvement, research and analysis, and the nature of the project team).
• Experience as a project manager/leader on a complex project (complexity is to be determined based on variables such as discipline, population, fiscal impact, geographic area, social impact, planning horizon, public involvement, research and analysis, and the nature of the project team).

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Conservation District participates in the Federal E-Verify system to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.  The Conservation District shall require verification of identity, validating you are lawfully permitted to work in the United States beyond a temporary period without employment-based sponsorship.
• The Conservation District does not provide sponsorship for holders of H-1B Visas.
• Direct Deposit of paychecks is required of all new employees.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required (not suspended, revoked, cancelled, or disqualified from driving.)

BENEFITS

The Kent Conservation District offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:  37.5-hour work week with flexible scheduling options, 9.5 hours per month of accrued vacation leave and 9.5 hours per month of accrued sick leave (prorated the first month of employment), and 12 paid holidays per year (holidays and floating holidays follow the State of Delaware schedule.)  Health insurance and pension are also included in the benefits package.