Environment & Development Planner III - Water Resources

The Environmental Planner III– Water Resources supports regional programs focused on surface water quality and water quantity planning across North Central Texas. This position works collaboratively with local governments, state and federal agencies, technical committees, and community stakeholders to advance coordinated regional water initiatives.

This position also supports TPDES compliance facilitation, regional water quality planning, floodplain management efforts, grant administration, and emerging water resource priorities. The role requires strong analytical skills, technical writing ability, and the capacity to translate complex regulatory and scientific information into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.

This position offers opportunities for increasing responsibility in program development, regional coordination, and leadership within the water resources planning framework.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support regional programs addressing surface water quality and quantity planning
• Facilitate coordination and technical assistance related to TPDES permit compliance
• Contribute to development and implementation of regional water quality and watershed plans
• Support floodplain management initiatives and long-range planning efforts
• Assist with grant management, reporting, and tracking deliverables
• Conduct research and analyze environmental and spatial data
• Prepare technical reports, planning documents, and briefing materials
• Present information to advisory committees, local governments, and the public
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and intergovernmental coordination
• Monitor regulatory and policy developments affecting regional water programs
• Provide limited supervision or task coordination for interns or junior staff as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, engineering, geography, public administration, or a related field preferred
• One to three years of professional experience in water resources, environmental planning, regulatory compliance, watershed planning, or related work preferred but not required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with TPDES or watershed-based planning programs
• Experience with state or federal grant administration
• Knowledge of Texas water quality regulations and floodplain management principles
• Experience with a government agency
• Experience facilitating multi-agency or stakeholder coordination
• Registration as a Professional Engineer, Professional Geologist, American Institute of Certified Planners, and/ or Certified Floodplain Manager is desired but not required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a regional planning environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Professional presence in committee and public settings
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team
• Interest in developing long-term regional solutions to complex water resource challenges
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills
• Experience conducting data analysis, including spatial or GIS-based analysis
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate it clearly to technical and non-technical audiences

Compensation:

• FLSA: Exempt
• Starting Salary: $65,000 - $75,000/year, depending on qualifications

Officing:

• This position is in-office 4 days per week.

Benefits:

We offer a highly competitive package of many desirable benefits to our full-time employees including:

• Health/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• We provide an outstanding package of health, dental, vision and life benefits for employees, with the monthly premium paid by NCTCOG 100%. Coverage available for their families and those monthly premiums are shared with NCTCOG. We provide employees with life insurance coverage that is employer paid with a benefit of 2 times the employee’s annual salary.
• Paid Leave
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and personal days are provided as part of the benefit plan, as well as specified holidays. This position also includes a phone allowance.
• Retirement
• NCTCOG participates in a defined contribution plan as an alternative to Social Security. The defined contribution retirement plan provides retirement benefits for all eligible employees. NCTCOG contributes twelve percent (12%) of permanent full-time employees' gross salaries. Participating employees contribute six percent (6%) of gross salary. An employee becomes forty percent (40%) vested in NCTCOG's contributions after three full years of employment. An additional fifteen percent (15%) is vested for each additional year of employment. An employee becomes fully vested after seven years of employment.
• Work/Life Balance Programs
• To help employees and their families meet personal and professional challenges, NCTCOG provides an employee assistance program, prepaid legal services, lunch and learn seminars, alternate work schedules, alternate commute programs, and an on-site gym.
• Professional Development
• NCTCOG is committed to professional development and provides a wide range of training opportunities-both online and traditional classroom sessions. It covers applicable professional development expenses, professional memberships, and licenses, as well as tuition reimbursement
  

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:

NCTCOG is an equal opportunity employer/program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other classifications covered under federal, state, or local laws. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Background Check & Drug Testing:

All selected candidates must undergo a pre-employment background check and drug screening. Background checks include national criminal background check, employment history, motor vehicle record check, social security verification, education verification, and other elements as needed. NCTCOG is committed to a safe and drug free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing. All new hires are required to undergo a drug test which detects the presence of illegal drugs for months prior to testing. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping NCTCOG safe and drug free. In order to receive an offer of employment from NCTCOG, selected candidates must successfully pass the pre-employment background check and drug screening.

E-Verify:

The North Central Texas Council of Governments participates in the federal E-Verify program in order to verify a new employee's authorization to work in the United States. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.

Statement Concerning Employment in a Job Not Covered by Social Security:

• NCTCOG participates in a defined contribution plan as an alternative to Social Security. NCTCOG offers mandatory and elective retirement plans that have been developed specifically for public-sector retirement plan participants.
• Be advised if you are hired by NCTCOG, your earnings from this job are not covered under Social Security (i.e., you will not pay Social Security taxes). This means that you will not earn credits for Social Security retirement or disability benefits in this job. If you retire or become disabled, and you are eligible for a Social Security benefit based on other work, your earnings from this job will not be used to compute your Social Security benefit. Your earnings from this job are subject to Medicare taxes and will count for purposes of the Medicare program. For more information on how you may qualify for Social Security benefits, visit .

Job postings are kept open for a minimum of 10 calendar days and may close anytime thereafter at the discretion of the hiring manager.