Housing Planner

Come join our team! The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, and experienced professional to become our newest Senior or Principal Housing Planner in our Regional Planning & Development department.

The ideal candidate has a passion for advancing housing choices for all residents and creating vibrant places for opportunity and belonging. The Senior or Principal Housing Planner will work on a wide range of housing related projects requiring skills in data collection and analysis, critical thinking, housing policy, zoning and land use, community engagement, plan creation and project support/management. Familiarity with state policy, programs, and/or local affordable housing initiatives is a plus.

The position will be largely responsible for helping CRCOG develop and maintain our regional housing growth plan and its related components. This includes supporting or managing (depending on level of experience) some aspects of the plan and contributing to others, including but not limited to working with municipalities and other stakeholders to: create and update developable land inventories, allocate and communicate affordable housing unit  goals for each of our municipalities, build consensus, develop the growth plan and strategies contained within, track regional and local implementation, and provide annual updates and plan updates every five years. This position reports to the Director of Regional Planning & Development or their designee.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Commensurate with Experience)

• Project support/management for various grants and/or contracts supporting housing initiatives and/or state requirements
• Conduct research and data analysis including reviews and assessments of studies by others such as housing market analysis, housing needs assessments, land use analysis, household demographics
• Provide technical assistance for municipalities to help them develop, revise, and implement housing strategies (e.g. local incentive programs, land trusts, rezoning, amendments to permitting processes)
• Support, design, and facilitate public engagement events and activities, staff and commissioner training workshops, including digital and in-person formats
• Develop content and materials to raise awareness of housing challenges for the region and/or municipality-specific issues
• Prepare memos, reports, presentations, and other materials to support housing planning in the region, including updates to OPM, CRCOG committees, and municipalities on progress of the regional housing growth plan
• Remain informed and help educate municipal staff and CRCOG/local boards and commissions about current planning issues, best practices, resources/opportunities, policies and programs related to housing
• Contribute to other interdisciplinary planning activities and initiatives as needed, particularly where there is a strong overlap with housing policy

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning/urban planning, affordable housing, real estate development, economic development, or similar focus.  A master’s degree and AICP certification are preferred. Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted at CRCOG’s discretion.

Senior Housing Planner should be supplemented by a minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional planning experience.

Principal Housing Planner should be supplemented by a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional planning experience.

Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate some or most of the following (commensurate with experience):

• Knowledge and/or experience with some mix of affordable housing development, affordable housing plan creation, development subsidy and financial programs, and/or financial pro formas
• Knowledge and understanding of current best practices related to housing planning, local zoning and permitting, housing policy at all levels of government and in various built environments (rural, suburban, and urban)
• Familiarity and experience with housing data sets necessary to conduct housing needs assessments and ability to manipulate, organize, and analyze large quantitative and qualitative data to draw data-driven conclusions
• Understanding of CT-specific housing statutes and laws is  preferred but not required (with proven track record / demonstrated ability to learn such laws)
• Strong research, writing, communication, and presentation skills

Graphic abilities to map or visually display data for purposes of creating boards, presentations, and infographics are beneficial but not required

• Excellent interpersonal skills to help facilitate community engagement, conversations, consensus building, and conflict resolution
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, community groups, government officials, financial institutions, non-profit organizations, advocates, and others
• Ability to mentor junior staff who may occasionally be tasked with assisting on housing planning/initiatives
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting with colleagues
• Ability to work independently and manage/prioritize various sized projects simultaneously

COMPENSATION

The current salary range is $69,051 – $89,767 for Senior Planner (Grade 4) and $81,136 – $105,476 for Principal Planner (Grade 5). CRCOG offers a competitive benefits package including a defined contribution retirement plan (currently 10% of salary with no match required); medical, vision, dental, life insurance; short-term and long-term disability; tuition assistance; and paid vacation and holidays.

This is a full-time position with a 35-hour work week. Occasional evening and weekend events as well as minimal amounts of local travel (mostly within the CRCOG region) are a responsibility for this position. We currently offer a hybrid office arrangement with an approximate 50% in-person requirement at CRCOG offices.

HOW TO APPLY

Please address your resume and a cover letter to Ms. Cheryl Assis, Hiring Coordinator. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent as a single PDF file to cassis@crcogct.gov, with the email subject of “Housing Planner.” The first review of resumes will be conducted on January 15, 2026, and the position will remain open until filled.