Employer: BERK Consulting
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 
Division:
Salary: $70,000 to $80,000, plus benefits, profit sharing, and merit-based bonuses
Location: Seattle, WA
Opening Date: 04/22/2021
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Job Description: We seek an Associate Planner with skills in at least one of the following: land use planning, outreach, housing, demographic/market analysis, or economic development. The Planner will work on a range of engaging and community-building public policy and management consulting projects.

Job Duties:

Experience/Qualifications/Knowledge/Skills: 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. The candidate must be knowledgeable about the principles and practices of planning and prepared to contribute in a fast-paced environment.

• Knowledge of planning principles and practices. 
• Ability to facilitate meetings and make presentations.
• Strong relationship-building and listening skills.
• Ability to engage diverse populations.
• Ability to engage with a variety of audiences about planning issues and communicate complex technical information and concepts to public and policy maker audiences.
• Excellent analytic, writing, and presentation skills.
• Contributing to comprehensive plans, subarea plans, and zoning or other development regulation amendments.
• Designing and conducting public outreach, including public meetings, small group discussions, and stakeholder interviews.
• Providing professional planning assistance to communities on varied land use, housing, transportation, or other policy-based projects.
• Conducting research and prepares reports on land use, physical, social, and economic issues.
• Presenting findings internally and to clients.
• Knowledge of the philosophies, principles, practices, and techniques of planning.
• Familiarity with one or more planning disciplines such as affordable housing, economic development, outreach, land use, urban design, environmental planning, or other topics.
• Knowledge of the principles, methodology, and practices of research and data collection.Knowledge of computer hardware and software programs, which may include Microsoft Office, Sketchup, InDesign, and GIS.

How to Apply: We encourage you to visit our website, www.berkconsulting.com, to better understand our practice and team, and the consulting disciplines in which we are actively engaged. No phone calls please. Applicants are asked to submit the following to [email protected]:

• A letter of introduction describing your interest in contributing to BERK’s practice.
• A resume.
• An approximately 200-word written response to the following: How can land use planning advance or hinder equity? How should equity be defined in community planning processes?

Supplemental Information: 

ABOUT BERK. We are a dynamic, 32-year old public policy consulting firm with an outstanding reputation for providing rigorous and integrated strategy, policy analysis, public finance, and planning services to help communities and organizations create their best futures and thrive. We take an interdisciplinary, whole systems approach to policy development and analysis, and to addressing community and organizational needs. Our clients are primarily state, regional, and local governments. We also work with educational institutions, non-profits, and foundations. Our work is guided by the values of curiosity, collaboration, agility, and equity. We encourage you to read more about our values on our website. To compensate our staff for their exceptional work, we offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, professional development, and a rewarding and fun work environment. Depending on experience, base salary for this position is $70,000 to $80,000, plus benefits, profit sharing, and merit-based bonuses.

OUR TEAM. Our 25-person team includes policy and financial analysts, economists, urban planners, strategic planners, and facilitators. We work on a collaborative basis in a team environment. During COVID-19 all staff have been working from home, however this position will be Washington-based in the future. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our region’s diversity is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status, or other status protected by law