Planning Coordinator

If you are committed to the wise use, protection and preservation of our natural resources, like to develop long-term plans, and are a good team leader, then a job as a planning coordinator may be of interest to you. A BLM planning coordinator leads a team of resource specialists in preparing land use plans for BLM resource areas. Teams include specialists who represent the full range of BLM programs, such as range, forestry, minerals, lands, wildlife, watershed, archaeology, and recreation. Since the plans are very technical, the planning coordinator must be a good writer. Strict procedures must be followed in order for a land use plan to become final. Public input is used throughout the planning process, and comments are often gathered at public meetings conducted by the planning coordinator. The final document is the land use plan for a BLM resource area and is the basis for future resource decisions in that area. Educational requirements for jobs in the planning field vary, depending upon the specific position. Usually, however, a bachelor's degree in a natural resource science, urban planning, political science, journalism, or economics will help you qualify for this field. High school courses in communications skills, such as English, writing, and speech, as well as science and computer courses, would be helpful in preparing for college.