Zoning Administrator

JOB DESCRIPTION

Positions Available: 

• Assistant Zoning Administrator/Land Use Planner
• Senior Zoning Administrator/Land Use Planner

Salary: $35-48/hour depending on qualifications, hiring track and experience with increases for excellent job performance or increased responsibilities. 

Job Responsibilities: Because our client base is growing and needs can evolve over time, we are accepting applications for candidates fitting either of the two pathways below:

• Assistant Zoning Administrator ($35-38/hour) – Focuses on core administrative zoning support, reviewing permit applications for completeness and compliance, conducting ordinance research, drafting staff reports, responding to questions from the public, conducting site visits to properties, assisting in the writing of new ordinances or comprehensive plans and assisting in ordinance enforcement. Position is designed as an entry point with opportunities to advance as you gain comfort with our client communities and ordinance frameworks – or as client leadership needs arise. Occasional attendance at evening public meetings in a support role may be required to help you advance into more advanced roles.
• Senior Zoning Administrator/Planner ($38-48/hour) – Immediately takes a lead role as designated Zoning Administrator for a portfolio of client communities. Performs all tasks of an Assistant Zoning Administrator but in a more self-reliant manner and/or in a supervisory role. Attends and presents at public hearings, manages client relationships, guides applicants through complex application reviews and drafts ordinance amendments and facilitates planning processes to develop or update Comprehensive Plans. Regular attendance at evening public meetings is required.

Hours: Flexible, 20 to 40 hours per week (tailored to candidate preference and client needs).

Benefits: Negotiable for full-time employees as part of an overall compensation package.

Location: Hybrid work setting with occasional regional fieldwork and evening meeting attendance or in-person meetings with other staff.

About Hometown Planning: Hometown Planning provides dedicated contract zoning administration and land-use planning services to rural cities, townships, and counties across Central, West-Central, and Northern Minnesota. We take pride in helping local elected officials, planning commissions, and city staff navigate land-use decisions, manage growth, protect lakes and natural resources, and preserve rural community character. The level of service we provide to each community ranges from complete administration of zoning ordinances to supplementing existing staff depending on the needs of each community.

Desirable Candidate: We are explicitly seeking a professional who wants to build or continue a long-term career in rural Minnesota. Our current service area is primarily located in and around cities such as St. Cloud, Morris, Wheaton, Alexandria, and Park Rapids but could expand into other areas depending on client demand and staff location. We are looking for a practical, community-minded team member who understands small-town dynamics and takes pride in serving rural local governments as opposed to someone looking for a career primarily serving metropolitan and more urban communities.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, skilled at simplifying complex concepts through verbal and written communications, effective in balancing accuracy and efficiency in their time management, comfortable with working through conflict in a professional manner, able to navigate multiple and layered sets of regulations, and willing to adapt as necessary to meet the unique needs of each client community. Experience with regulatory enforcement, customer service, writing technical documents and/or a working knowledge of construction or landscaping practices is beneficial, but not required. A desire to live and work long-term in rural Minnesota is strongly preferred.

Application Instructions: Apply at: www.hometownplanning.com/employment or send resume, 2-3 references and cover letter explaining interest, qualifications and desired number of hours per week to: Hometown Planning, 203 Broadway Street, Alexandria, MN 56308. Interviews will begin September 23, 2026 and continue until filled. Employment can begin as soon as October 1, 2026 but later start dates can be negotiated.

Detailed Responsibilities:

(The following list of responsibilities applies generally to both the Assistant and Senior positions with the primary difference being that the Assistant position will play more of a support role while the Senior position will take a lead role)

1. Perform various zoning administration tasks, including review of permit applications, background work related to enforcement of regulations, site inspections, organization and analysis of historical permit data and other tasks as needed.
2. Develop meeting agendas, public notices, staff reports and legal documents related to permit applications requiring public hearings.
3. Perform research, analysis and writing related to the development of Comprehensive Plans.
4. Conduct research and writing related to the development or amendment of zoning, subdivision and other land use related ordinances.
5. Perform administrative office tasks as necessary and typical of a small office setting.
6. Build relationships and coordinate with staff and public officials in various communities to provide needed zoning administration and land use planning services.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Detail-oriented, self-motivated in a remote work setting, and able to balance thoroughness with efficient time management.
2. Willingness and desire to develop and make use of a wide variety of skills – from writing and research to public speaking to working with the public.
3. Experience or background in living in or working with small rural communities (populations 100-10,000 or more).
4. Knowledge and ability to research, assemble and analyze data from a variety of sources.
5. Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills.
6. Ability to work with community staff, permit applicants, development professionals and the general public in a friendly, positive and helpful manner.
7. Experience with regulatory enforcement, customer service, writing technical documents and/or a working knowledge of construction or landscaping practices.
8. Comfortable navigating high-stakes or contentious land-use discussions professionally and diplomatically.
9. Willingness and desire to go beyond expectations.
10. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel or similar applications, navigating online databases and GIS software, and conducting data research.
11. Ability to manage time and work effectively and efficiently.
12. Willingness and ability to provide thoughtful, pragmatic and professional assistance to communities tailored to their unique social, economic and political characteristics.

Job details:

1. Minimum 20 hours per week with possibility for additional time as available, desired and needed. 
2. Starting salary - $35-48/hour depending on experience, number of hours worked and overall compensation package.
3. Specific work schedule can be flexible to accommodate the individual although some work will involve specific deadlines and all tasks will need to be performed within reasonable periods of time.
4. Some work may involve day travel to communities primarily throughout Central, West Central and North Central Minnesota or as otherwise needed to serve client community needs. Valid drivers license and your own dependable vehicle required (mileage is reimbursed at IRS standard rates). Overnight travel is very rare.
5. Opportunity to build excellent real-world skills applicable to a wide variety of public, not-for-profit or for-profit positions – including public administration, land use planning, political science, regulatory administration and natural resource management.
6. Opportunity to build relationships with a variety of city, county and township officials as well as other state and local government organizations (i.e. League of MN Cities, Association of MN Counties, MN Association of Townships, MN Department of Natural Resources, MN Pollution Control Agency, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, etc…).
7. Depending on need of company, excellent growth opportunities for the right individual.

Hometown Planning is an equal opportunity employer.