This posting will be used to fill two Principal Planner positions. 

These Principal Planner positions, as part of a new team focused on coordinating long-range planning across state government, will lead the development of statewide long-range plans on high-priority issues impacting the future of Minnesota, with an intentional focus on elevating the perspectives and participation of historically excluded and marginalized communities throughout the planning process. Issue areas could include, but are not limited to, climate resiliency and weather adaptation, rural economic development, economic mobility, workforce development, housing, and artificial intelligence.

The Principal Planners, each reporting up to a Planning Program Manager, are responsible for coordinating planning efforts on two (2) to three (3) inter-agency long-range planning efforts at a time. Responsibilities include: 

• Coordinate the state’s long-range planning efforts, overseeing the development of multiple, concurrent long-range plans. Serve as the project management lead for each long-range planning effort, including setting and adjusting strategy (i.e., goals and direction) as well as operations (i.e., ways of working and organizational routines for collaboration).
• Develop the vision for the technical and analytical work needed to advance long-range planning efforts (e.g., scenario-planning, demographic modeling, economic analysis, and others) and garner the technical and analytical capacity needed including by direct contribution and by working with experts within and outside of state government.
• Coordinate and contribute to the development of products and outputs from the long-range planning process (e.g., working with internal staff and vendors to produce long-range plans), and communication of those products and outputs (e.g., writing reports or hosting talks).
• Develop and maintain relationships with key individuals and groups in order to move long-range planning initiatives forward, including technical experts and policy area experts within and outside of state government. Assemble and coordinate working groups of state leaders and staff (e.g., steering committees, advisory councils) to advance long-range planning efforts.
• Provide ongoing input & feedback on the Long-Range Planning team’s goals, structure, and operations.