The Community Development Office (CDO) in the Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Local Government is building a brand new team of passionate planners, administrators, and analysts to work within the planning team implement new laws passed in the 2024 legislative session, including:
- SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing;
- HB24-1313 Transit Oriented Communities;
- HB24-1152 Accessory Dwelling Units;
- HB24-1304 Minimum Parking Requirements.
The CDO will be hiring new staff to serve as a highly collaborative and diverse team of professionals who are passionate about issues surrounding land use and housing to develop, launch, and implement these land use and housing laws. The CDO will create two new smaller teams, including:
(1) a Land Use Technical Assistance Unit dedicated to providing information, data, analysis, and assistance to help local governments successfully comply with the new laws, and
(2) a Planning Grants Unit to develop and administer three new grant programs (ADUs, housing planning, and transit oriented community infrastructure).
Both teams will work closely together.
Hiring Now!
Land Use Technical Assistance Data Analysts
The team is looking for two analysts who are knowledgeable about land use and housing planning and can help local governments find, analyze, and carefully consider data needed to complete a housing needs assessment and action plan, calculate their housing opportunity goal, and similar data needs to create outcome-oriented planning products. Candidates must have experience in data gathering, tracking, analysis, reporting, and technical assistance, preferably for local or regional governments.
- The Lead Research & Data Analyst (Analyst IV) will provide data development and analysis, research, compliance review, and technical assistance to help local governments successfully comply with the new laws and help DOLA meet its statutory requirements (especially around the statewide housing needs assessment). This person will need to have at least 7 years of relevant experience with data analysis, tracking, and reporting on housing data, extensive experience with housing needs assessment (HNA) data sources and knowledge of innovative ways to help the state take on this new role in HNA work. This position must have knowledge of database systems, especially online platforms, to advise on and develop the systems and processes CDO will use to manage data collection, provision, tracking, and reporting. This position will not supervise others but will serve as a work lead for two team members.
- The Research and Data Analyst (Analyst III) will also provide data development and analysis, research, compliance review, and technical assistance to help local governments successfully comply with the new laws and help DOLA meet its statutory requirements. They will help track significant amounts of data and also may assist the State Demography Office with GIS mapping assistance provided to local governments. This position is funding-dependent but DOLA expects to have funds through at least the end of June 2026. Position will need to have at least 6 years of relevant experience.
Planners
Three planner positions for the Land Use Technical Assistance Unit are open now through October 18, 2024. These positions will work directly with local governments to support their compliance with the new planning laws and will review submittals for compliance.
All three positions will possess significant local government technical land use planning experience, in particular, in local government land use regulations and programming around housing needs assessments, accessory dwelling units, and transit oriented development.
- Land Use Technical Assistance Planner (CED III) - will have at least 6 years of relevant experience (see bolded sentence above). This position will also review local government submittals, provide feedback, and assist with data and analysis needs.
- Land Use Technical Assistance Lead Planner (CED IV) - will have 7 years of relevant local government land use experience (see above) and significant technical knowledge of land use best practices and innovations informed by hard-won local government implementation experience. This position will review local government submittals, provide feedback, and contribute to DOLA’s implementation work. This position will not be a supervisor but will serve as a work lead for 2 teammates.
- Land Use Technical Assistance Unit Manager (CED V) - Along with at least 8 years of relevant local government land use experience (see above), this person will have management experience, will be able to think quickly on their feet, advise on policy, and be a strong project manager to help CDO meet all of the statutorily required deliverables in an ambitious timeline. This position will supervise 4 positions, including the other two planners listed here and two research and data analysts, but will also contribute to the work to review local submittals for compliance and offer feedback and assistance.
You must apply for each position in which you want to be considered. We will add more positions here as they become available, or keep an eye on the DOLA Careers page to access open positions and learn more about working at DOLA.