Job Listing
 🔗Associate Preservation Planner

  • Full Time
  • Portland, ME
  • $58,617 - $78,799.76/- USD / Year
  • Department: Planning & Urban Development
  • Job Qualifications:

    Required Skills & Experience:

    Experience of a technical nature in the field of historic preservation, and a Bachelor’s degree in historic preservation, planning, architecture, or a related field; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the following knowledge, abilities and skills:

    • Knowledge of the principles and practices of historic preservation planning and their application, in particular knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and related regulatory and design principles and practices.
    • Considerable knowledge of historic building construction and building products.
    • Technical knowledge of historic building methods, technology, and architecture.
    • Experience in design review of new construction, particularly within historic contexts.
    • Experience leading and conducting meetings and site visits with property owners, design professionals, contractors, and members of the public discussing complex problems and sensitive topics such as violations.
    • Organizational skills to manage a demanding work load and the ability to complete work products on schedule and accurately.
    • Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
    • Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
    • Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive relationships with the public, property owners, design professionals, contractors, City officials, and other city staff.
    • Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
    • Ability to problem solve and think creatively.
      Basic computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, file management, electronic plan review).

    Preferred Skills & Experience:

    • Master’s degree in historic preservation, planning, architecture, history, architectural history, or a related field.
    • Prior related historic preservation experience with a municipal historic preservation program or organization with similar functions.
    • Ability to use existing and emerging technologies in planning, such as GIS, Adobe Creative Suite, database management, and project management software.
  • How to Apply:

    Interested candidates should review the portal. Please include a cover letter, resume, and two brief relevant professional writing samples.

    Interested candidates should review the complete job description and apply through the City of Portland’s Employment Opportunities portal. Please include a cover letter, resume, and two brief relevant professional writing samples.

    Start date negotiable, no sooner than June 15, 2026.

  • Job benefits: Free employee health insurance with the completion of wellness incentives; Thirteen paid holidays; Sick, vacation, and personal leave; Life, dental, vision and income protection insurances; Choice of retirement plans, including a pension plan; Use of City recreation facilities; Fitness Reimbursement; Discount on professional development programs through USM and Thomas College
  • Application URL: https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=126&sreq=5&form=5000&desc=ASSOCIATEPRESERVATIONPLANNER

Website City of Portland, ME

About the City of Portland Planning and Urban Development Department: The Planning and Urban Development Department plans for the vitality, livability, and prosperity of one of the most dynamic cities in the northeast. The Department’s work involves comprehensive planning; implementing and amending the City’s zoning and land use policies; site plan, subdivision, and historic preservation review; design review; managing the City’s Public Art program; and leading transportation planning and other long-range planning projects. Learn more about the Department. The Historic Preservation program, which is a part of the Department of Planning & Urban Development, is responsible for design review for compliance with the historic preservation ordinance; long range planning to document, assess, and protect Portland's historic resources; participation in related planning initiatives; and management of consultants and grants for historic preservation projects.

This is professional and technical planning work with a focus on Historic Preservation. It involves applying specialized knowledge and skills to review development proposals affecting properties within Portland’s historic designations, ensuring compliance with the historic preservation ordinance. The Associate Preservation Planner is one of two preservation positions in the department, and requires professional expertise in historic preservation principles. The role involves making technical determinations, exercising independent judgment, problem solving with property owners and their designers or contractors, and preparing written documents and public presentations to the Historic Preservation Board.

Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Reviews applications for both administrative/staff review and Historic Preservation Board review, including coordination with planners, permit reviewers, and other City departments.
  • Prepares reports with supporting documentation for and makes public presentations regarding Planning Board or Historic Preservation Board reviews.
  • Prepares letters of staff and Board decisions and maintains Historic Preservation Program records and files.
  • Responds to public inquiries, requests for pre-application meetings, and reports of violations.
  • Conducts regular field inspections, pre-construction meetings, and site visits to review work in progress, identify potential violations, and ensure compliance with approved plans for over 2300 historically designated properties.
  • Reports and pursues identified violations of the Historic Preservation ordinance in conjunction with Corporation Counsel’s office.
  • Performs related work as required.

Start date negotiable, no sooner than June 15, 2026.

Benefits

All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.

Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.

The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.

The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.

Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.

How to Apply

You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.

Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.

Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.

Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!



Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.