Senior Planning Specialist, Solar Adoption (Senior Planning Specialist, Grade 25)
About The Position
The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $83,556.00 per year to $134,086.00 per year, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Attention solar leaders!
Montgomery County has established bold climate goals, and accelerating the transition to low-carbon clean energy sources will be critical to achieving them. The County’s Climate Action Plan calls for increasing solar development through rooftop solar on residential and commercial properties, ground-mounted solar installations (e.g. parking lot canopies, landfills), community solar, and utility-scale solar projects.
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Planning Specialist to provide technical expertise in leading the development of strategies, policies, and programs to increase solar adoption in Montgomery County.
The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge of laws, policies, strategies, and technology related to promoting the use and advancing the development of solar energy, as well as experience with research, analysis, and development of programs, policies, and community engagement efforts.
The successful candidate must have the ability to work in a collaborative environment within a large organization with multiple priorities, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The ideal candidate must also be highly organized and detailed oriented, and have the ability to deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with people.
It is important that the candidate have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private sector representatives involved in energy-related programs and policies, as well as the ability to present, to explain, and to defend complex and controversial legislative policies, issues, and recommended courses of action.
Why Join Us? Montgomery County is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for its residents. As the Senior Planning Specialist for Solar, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact advancing solar adoption in Montgomery County. The position offers a collaborative work environment, a supportive team, and opportunities for professional growth.
What You'll Be Doing
This position will be responsible for providing technical expertise to lead the development of strategies, policies, and programs to increase solar adoption in Montgomery County. The individual will oversee the development and ongoing evolution of solar-related strategic planning to guide the County’s approach to solar policies, programs, community engagement, and project deployment. They will develop, manage, and implement efforts to support residents and businesses related to solar energy installations and community solar programs. They will also provide technical expertise regarding solar installation issues and to the County’s consideration of solar opportunities on County property, stakeholder outreach efforts, state and local policy advocacy, and efforts to secure funding to support solar projects in and benefitting Montgomery County.
Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings and engagement events, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County, and occasionally in nearby jurisdictions, including in remote areas that may not be readily assessable by public transportation (e.g., sites under consideration for new large-scale solar projects in rural areas). This may entail transporting outreach materials, displays, and presentation equipment.
Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required.
To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS – REQUIRED COVER LETTER
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete all application materials including:
To be considered for this position, you must 1) apply for the position at Montgomery County Government Careers , 2) upload your resume, and 3) upload your cover letter as indicated above. This must be completed no later than the Closing Date of the job announcement.
IMPORTANT: Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered for an interview.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Thorough (five (5) years) experience in energy-related programs or policies, preferably related to solar energy issues.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate planning specialization or related field such as energy, environmental policy, engineering, planning, sustainability, or public administration.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education or experience may be substituted.
License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence
Medical Exam : Medical History Review
Financial Disclosure : This position is designated as required to file a public Financial Disclosure Statement.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated “Qualified,” placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.
Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following. Please address this information in a separate section of the resume.
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete all application materials including:
To be considered for this position, you must 1) apply for the position at Montgomery County Government Careers , 2) upload your resume, and 3) upload your cover letter as indicated above. This must be completed no later than the Closing Date of the job announcement.
IMPORTANT: Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered for interview.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $83,556.00 per year to $134,086.00 per year, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Attention solar leaders!
Montgomery County has established bold climate goals, and accelerating the transition to low-carbon clean energy sources will be critical to achieving them. The County’s Climate Action Plan calls for increasing solar development through rooftop solar on residential and commercial properties, ground-mounted solar installations (e.g. parking lot canopies, landfills), community solar, and utility-scale solar projects.
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Planning Specialist to provide technical expertise in leading the development of strategies, policies, and programs to increase solar adoption in Montgomery County.
The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge of laws, policies, strategies, and technology related to promoting the use and advancing the development of solar energy, as well as experience with research, analysis, and development of programs, policies, and community engagement efforts.
The successful candidate must have the ability to work in a collaborative environment within a large organization with multiple priorities, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The ideal candidate must also be highly organized and detailed oriented, and have the ability to deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with people.
It is important that the candidate have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private sector representatives involved in energy-related programs and policies, as well as the ability to present, to explain, and to defend complex and controversial legislative policies, issues, and recommended courses of action.
Why Join Us? Montgomery County is committed to sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for its residents. As the Senior Planning Specialist for Solar, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact advancing solar adoption in Montgomery County. The position offers a collaborative work environment, a supportive team, and opportunities for professional growth.
What You'll Be Doing
This position will be responsible for providing technical expertise to lead the development of strategies, policies, and programs to increase solar adoption in Montgomery County. The individual will oversee the development and ongoing evolution of solar-related strategic planning to guide the County’s approach to solar policies, programs, community engagement, and project deployment. They will develop, manage, and implement efforts to support residents and businesses related to solar energy installations and community solar programs. They will also provide technical expertise regarding solar installation issues and to the County’s consideration of solar opportunities on County property, stakeholder outreach efforts, state and local policy advocacy, and efforts to secure funding to support solar projects in and benefitting Montgomery County.
Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Developing strategic plans to guide the County’s approach to solar policies, programs, community engagement, and project deployment.
- Researching and analyzing barriers and opportunities for solar implementation at various scales.
- Leading the planning and implementation of outreach to residents, property owners, and other stakeholders to encourage the installation of solar energy systems and participation with community solar programs.
- Developing and managing programs and other activities to encourage solar adoption.
- Advising on state and local policy priorities to support solar adoption.
- Developing and maintaining partnerships with public and private entities and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders in the process of identifying barriers and opportunities, designing and implementing programs and activities, and advancing aligned policy change.
- Identifying appropriate metrics for measuring progress on solar issues.
- Ensuring integration of racial equity and social justice considerations and developing strategies to ensure that programs supporting solar adoption in the County are accessible and valuable to a broad segment of the County’s residents and businesses.
- Maintaining a knowledge base on laws, regulations, and other processes affecting solar energy policy and programs in Montgomery County and the state of Maryland (e.g., the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, net energy metering, community solar, interconnection, renewable energy credits).
- Providing technical expertise to residents, businesses, property owners and other stakeholders related to various solar installation issues in Montgomery County.
- Managing contractor support and related budget.
- Supporting efforts to secure funding to support solar energy projects and programs in and benefitting Montgomery County.
This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend meetings and engagement events, and perform other work at locations throughout Montgomery County, and occasionally in nearby jurisdictions, including in remote areas that may not be readily assessable by public transportation (e.g., sites under consideration for new large-scale solar projects in rural areas). This may entail transporting outreach materials, displays, and presentation equipment.
Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required.
To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS – REQUIRED COVER LETTER
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete all application materials including:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
To be considered for this position, you must 1) apply for the position at Montgomery County Government Careers , 2) upload your resume, and 3) upload your cover letter as indicated above. This must be completed no later than the Closing Date of the job announcement.
IMPORTANT: Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered for an interview.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Thorough (five (5) years) experience in energy-related programs or policies, preferably related to solar energy issues.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate planning specialization or related field such as energy, environmental policy, engineering, planning, sustainability, or public administration.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education or experience may be substituted.
License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence
Medical Exam : Medical History Review
Financial Disclosure : This position is designated as required to file a public Financial Disclosure Statement.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated “Qualified,” placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.
Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following. Please address this information in a separate section of the resume.
- Three or more years of experience specifically related to solar issues.
- Experience developing or implementing solar-related programs or projects.
- Experience developing, analyzing, or advising on solar-related policy.
- North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) credential or equivalent.
- Experience advising businesses or property owners on energy-related building improvements.
- Content of the cover letter provided.
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete all application materials including:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
To be considered for this position, you must 1) apply for the position at Montgomery County Government Careers , 2) upload your resume, and 3) upload your cover letter as indicated above. This must be completed no later than the Closing Date of the job announcement.
IMPORTANT: Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered for interview.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.