Senior Planner

Are you looking to make a meaningful impact on public health and the environment? Join the MWRA team! We deliver some of the nation's highest-quality drinking water to 3 million residents, restored Boston Harbor, and continue to invest in protecting vital public resources. Be part of a mission-driven organization where your work truly makes a difference-in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Summary:

Provides professional support to projects of the Planning Department. Provides support and analysis to develop and assemble information for the master plans, business plan, monthly and the quarterly key performance indicator reports, and climate adaptation and mitigation planning through coordination with staff throughout the agency. Assists with research, report design and production of other MWRA reports or official documents as necessary. Provides assistance as needed with research on planning topics.

Posting Period: 1/22/2026 to 2/4/2026
Location: Chelsea, MA
Salary: $90,183.55 - $125,614.66 Annually $1,734.30 - $2,415.67 Weekly
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Key Responsibilities

• Supports the development of key performance indicator reports. This includes reviewing the quality, appropriateness, and graphical presentation of the information.
• Prepares planning reports and analyses for senior management on waterworks and wastewater systems and facilities, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Assists Energy and Planning staff with energy efficiency project tracking and energy use reporting. Assists with regular updates to MWRA's greenhouse gas inventory.
• Supports the evaluation of the vulnerability of facilities to the impacts of climate change.
• Provides assistance as needed with research on technical planning or engineering topics and assembles and summarizes the information for review and use by others.
• Assists with the management of professional services contracts as requested, including preparing scopes of services, and participating in consultant selection procedures, and reviewing consultant performance.
• Participates in the updating and review of the Master Plan, the Business Plan, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory.
• Attends meetings with outside parties as requested as an MWRA representative with regulatory agencies or boards, community agency, staff, citizens and other public groups.
• Assists as requested with the reviews of environmental documents and plans for non-MWRA projects that may affect MWRA facilities and/or planned projects.
• Develops informational materials on regulations or permitting issues for other MWRA staff.
• Coordinates with other MWRA staff to comment on new or changing environmental regulations or policies.
• Supervises interns and junior staff performing planning projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in regional planning, environmental planning, environmental sciences, engineering or science or other related field; and
• At least three (3) years of experience in planning, water and/or wastewater operations or engineering; or
• Any equivalent combination of education or experience.
• A valid Class D Motor Vehicle license or driver's license from an adjacent state.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of MWRA operations related to water and wastewater projects is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects.
• Knowledge of GHG accounting protocols and climate vulnerabilities of a large water and wastewater system is preferred.
• Demonstrated data analysis skills and ability to coordinate complex reporting system.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with outside parties and to work effectively as part of an inter-disciplinary team.
• Familiarity with computers, including MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and other information systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Solid time management skills

Tools and Equipment Used

Office equipment as normally associated with the use of telephone, personal computer including word processing and other software, copy and fax machine.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects including office equipment or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste or smell.
There are no requirements that weight be lifted or force be exerted in performance of this job, although the employee may have the opportunity to participate in field activities that involve lifting weight (e.g. water, sediment or other environmental samples) or exerting force. Specific vision requirements required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment.
The noise level in the work environment is a moderately quiet office setting.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Works under the direct supervision of the Senior Program Manager, Master Planning. May receive supervision from Project Manager, Planning on certain assignments.
May provide guidance to lower level staff and interns

Other Position Information
PCR: 1510033
Division: Operations
Department: Planning
Union/Grade: MOSES (Unit 9)/ Grade 23

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.