Request for Qualifications

Senior Planner

Long‐term Planning and Recovery Efforts

Lafourche Parish Government (LPG), Louisiana, is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to individuals with long‐term planning and recovery efforts experience to work with a solicited consultant team to help develop the first Comprehensive Plan (also known as a “Master Plan” per Louisiana law, RS 33:106) for the Parish. The Senior Planner will work closely with the consultant team to develop a long‐term plan that will guide future land use, future land development and redevelopment, and public capital‐investment decisions with an eye toward resiliency and sustainability.

Lafourche Parish is located in the southeastern portion of Louisiana, approximately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 110 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. It is a low‐lying parish of marshes, bayous, sandy ridges, and natural levees with a total area of 1,472 square miles. The Parish is approximately 100 miles long and 20 miles

wide. Bayou Lafourche runs through the middle of the Parish and land development patters along Bayou Lafourche follow the Arpent system—long, narrow parcels of land—thereby constraining development patterns. The Parish and its communities are protected by a levee system that parallels Bayou Lafourche on either side.

Job Description

The Senior Planner will be responsible for facilitating long‐term land use and recovery planning efforts of Lafourche in coordination with the other offices/departments of Parish government such as Department of Public Works, Planning Office, Permit Office and Office of Emergency Preparedness. This individual must possess a demonstrated ability to collect and organize input from various disciplines and organizations; work independently and be self‐motivated; troubleshoot and multi‐task simultaneous on‐going projects; have strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to work with elected officials and the public; and have the ability to effectively facilitate meetings. This individual must have the ability to comprehend and apply sound planning principles and practices. He or she must display tact and exercise good judgment in working with

co‐workers, citizens, and community organizations.

Essential Job Functions

This job requires a Bachelor’s Degree plus five (5) years relevant experience or a Master’s Degree plus three (3) years relevant experience in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, or related fields. While not a requirement, previous experience in the administration of Community development Block Grant Programs (CDBG) will warrant special consideration in the selection process. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

This is a contract position with Lafourche Parish Government, ending in December 2013.

The selection of the successful applicant will be based upon his or her educational background, professional experience in the area of comprehensive planning  activities, and knowledge of the Parish/State’s particular needs regarding long‐term recovery.

Lafourche Parish hereby notifies all possible respondents that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied any benefits of, or otherwise discriminated against in connection with the award and performance of any contract on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, sex, age, ethnicity, or any other basis prohibited by law. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation to respond to this solicitation are requested to contact the Office

of the Parish Administrator at (985) 446‐8427 or (800) 834‐8832 to discuss their particular needs.

Interested persons should send a cover letter and resume to Crystal Chiasson, Parish Administrator, P.O. Box 5548, Thibodaux, LA 70302 or hand‐deliver to 402 Green Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301.

Response to this solicitation for request for qualifications must be hand‐delivered or mailed to the above named person in such a manner that it is received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

The Parish reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and/or to award the contract for services in the best interest of Lafourche Parish Government.