The Rockingham Planning Commission is one of nine regional planning commissions in New Hampshire.
The RPC’s region includes 27 of the 36 Rockingham County communities. Operating as a political subdivision of the State of New Hampshire, the Commission serves in an advisory role to local governments to promote coordinated planning, orderly growth, efficient land use, and environmental protection.
Commission staff provides professional planning assistance to the communities which are active members.
Additional information on RPC’s work program, services, and funding sources are available here:
If your community has a planning question, project, or challenge, RPC staff can help identify the right level of support.
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The RPC consists of a volunteer Board of Directors (Commissioners), and a paid professional staff. Each member municipality appoints at least two representatives to the Board.
The Commissioners meets monthly to adopt and oversee the annual work program and budget, establish Commission policies on a variety of land use and planning issues important to the region, and discuss current planning topics.
Membership, which is optional, is retained through annual dues assessed to each community on a per capita basis.
In addition to local membership dues, the Commission contracts with individual municipalities for the preparation of special documents and projects. Funding is also obtained through state and federal grants aimed at strengthening local and regional planning.
The Rockingham Planning Commission is a voluntary local public organization created and sustained by its member communities and their appointed representatives. Its purpose is to foster sound planning, wise use and careful stewardship of the region’s natural and man-made resources. This is accomplished, first, by providing professional planning assistance and advice to member communities concerning local and regional planning and second, by actively promoting and facilitating cooperation and coordination among the communities. To fulfill the first aspect of this mission, the Commission will endeavor to maintain professional expertise and support in the following areas: municipal and regional land use planning, natural resources and conservation, regional transportation planning, coastal resources management, economic development and geographic information systems development. To fulfill the second aspect of the mission the Commission will rely upon the efforts of the appointment commissioners to facilitate inter-community cooperation and communication. Adopted January 18, 1996
The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) was established in 1982 through the merger of two regional commissions created after the state designated regional planning districts in 1969. The Southern Rockingham Planning Commission, based in Salem, served nine communities in the county’s southern and central areas, while the Southeastern New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission, based in Exeter, served 18 eastern and coastal communities. The merged organization consolidated operations in Exeter, where RPC remains headquartered.
Formed under New Hampshire state law (RSA 36), membership in the regional commissions has always been voluntary. Initially, a handful of communities joined each commission as founders. Today there are 27 municipalities in the region.
Originally, the RPC focused on helping member communities manage rapid growth and development throughout southern New Hampshire from the 1970s through the 1990s. Early planning efforts centered on land use, water quality, transportation, historic preservation, and solid waste management. Over time, RPC’s role has expanded to include community development, hazard mitigation, and fostering regional collaboration.
Executive Director
Dave has been with the RPC since 2000, becoming the Assistant Director in 2018, and Executive Director in 2025. In addition to his role as Director, Dave has served as the Transportation Program Manager since 2010. Dave primarily works on the development and management of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), agency transportation planning documents such as the Long Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). He also oversees strategic documents such as the Congestion Management Process (CMP) and corridor studies and provides technical assistance to communities in the region. Dave earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii. Dave lives in Exeter with his wife and three children
Business Manager
Annette has been with the RPC for many years and is responsible for maintaining and monitoring the Commission’s financial, accounting, payroll, personnel and benefits, and grants and contracts. In addition, she provides administrative support to the Executive and Assistant Directors and commissioners. Annette has an ABS in Travel & Tourism/Secretarial Management and also has her NH Real Estate license. Annette grew up in the region and currently resides in Newfields.
Senior Transportation Planner
Scott is a Senior Transportation Planner with the Rockingham Planning Commission, where he works with municipalities, transit agencies, human service transportation providers, and other partners at the local, regional and state level to expand access to community transportation, and safe accommodation for bicycling and walking. Prior to joining the staff at RPC in 2001, he worked for the City of Eugene, Oregon, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service and the National Park Service. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, and a Masters of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon. He lives in Durham, and outside of work can be found volunteering, bicycling, hiking or otherwise spending time with family.
GIS Manager
Robert has been at the RPC since 2002 and serves at the GIS Manager and IT person. He obtained his B.S. from Skidmore College in Environmental Planning and studied Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts. He earned his professional GIS certification (GISP) in 2009. Robert has served on several public boards in Newmarket including the CIP, Conservation Commission, Open Space Commission, and chaired the Planning Board. Additionally, Robert has served on the Board of Directors for Lamprey River Watershed Assoc. (LRWA), the New England Chapter of URISA (NEURISA) and Cornerstone Montessori School in Stratham. Robert is a RYT-200 yoga teacher in his spare time. He lives in Newmarket with his spouse and child and big dumb golden retriever ‘Ted’.
Mike joined the RPC in October 2024. He has B.S.’s in both Environmental GIS and Marine Ecology from the University of Maine at Machias, where he performed studies on mudflat ecosystems, coastal flood impacts, and residential development suitability analyses. Before coming to the RPC, Mike worked as a municipal GIS Specialist, where he provided GIS analyses to help support decision-making, as well as data visualizations. He also had a career as an environmental scientist, examining the environmental impact of energy and transportation infrastructure projects. Mike is a lifelong resident of Rockingham County, having grown up in Stratham. He has always loved the natural beauty of the region and is an avid amateur photographer.
Land Use Program Manager
Jenn has been a land use planner at RPC since 2013. Currently, Jenn serves as the circuit rider planner for North Hampton and Newton and is involved in multiple land use projects at the RPC, including municipal master planning, hazard mitigation plan, coastal resiliency efforts, and land use regulation development. Previously, Jenn worked at NHDES for five years on a variety of watershed and drinking water protection efforts. At NHDES, she served as staff to the N.H. Rivers and Lakes Management Advisory Committees, N.H. Flood Commission and N.H. Water Sustainability Commission. She completed her undergraduate work in Political Science and graduate work in Natural Resources at UNH. Jenn lives with her husband and daughter in Exeter.
Senior Planner (AICP, CFM)
Maddie joined the RPC in January 2021. Maddie is involved with several land use projects at RPC including climate adaptation and coastal resiliency initiatives, municipal master planning, source water protection and hazard mitigation planning as well as zoning and land use regulation development. Previously, Maddie worked as an associate planner for the Southern NH Planning Commission where she was responsible for local hazard mitigation planning, master plan writing, and transportation data collection and analysis. Maddie earned a B.S. in Community & Environmental Planning (2017) and a M.A. in Community Development, Policy and Practice (2020) from the University of New Hampshire.
Regional Planner
Nicole joined the RPC in October of 2025. She is involved with several land use projects at the RPC, including land use regulation development, coastal adaptation initiatives, climate resiliency efforts, circuit planning, and municipal master plan preparation. Previously, Nicole was an assistant planner intern at Southern NH Planning Commission, where she was responsible for hazard mitigation and master plan preparation, transportation data collection and analysis, and transportation demand management outreach. Nicole earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and a M.S. in Sustainability, with a focus on urban planning, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Position summary: The Rockingham Planning Commission is seeking a Transportation Planner to join its tight-knit, award-winning team. The individual in this position will serve as a key member of the team conducting short and long-range transportation planning for the MPO region. The ideal candidate will have a background in transportation planning as well as experience working with municipal and agency officials, boards, and staff.
Transportation Planner (02/17/2026)
The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) is seeking a Transportation Planner to join its tight-knit, award-winning team. The RPC region is a vibrant landscape of rural, suburban and urban communities located in southeast New Hampshire just an hour north of Boston, minutes from the New Hampshire beaches and a short trip from the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The RPC enjoys a close relationship with its member communities and federal, state and regional partner organizations in the fields of transportation, land use, environmental planning, housing, and economic development. The RPC is one of nine state-designated regional planning commissions in New Hampshire and is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization serving the New Hampshire portions of the Portsmouth and Boston Urbanized Areas.
The individual in this position will serve as a key member of the team conducting short and long-range transportation planning for the MPO region. The ideal candidate will have a background in transportation planning as well as experience working with municipal and agency officials, boards, and staff. The Transportation Planner will be involved in many aspects of the RPC’s transportation planning program including development and maintenance of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Long Range Transportation Plan, project and performance monitoring, bicycle and pedestrian planning, transit planning, resilience planning, public engagement, as well as providing technical assistance to communities and partner agencies. Additionally, the transportation planner may work with other RPC staff on related land use, economic development, and environmental planning projects.
Requirements
Applicants should possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in urban planning or a related discipline and one to five years of relevant professional work experience; OR any combination of education and experience which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are necessary, and attendance at evening meetings is required. Applicants must have superior presentation and written communication skills. The RPC offers a flexible work environment that encourages continued professional development in an atmosphere that promotes a healthy work-life balance, with flexible, remote work options. The RPC offers a competitive benefits package with health and dental insurance, paid sick leave and vacation, as well as New Hampshire State Retirement benefits. This is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week position. Salary range $50,000 – $65,000; starting salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Position is open until filled with flexibility on starting date.
This position will remain open until filled or the recruitment is cancelled. The RPC is an equal opportunity employer.
To apply, submit a succinct cover letter stating which job you are applying for and why you are the right candidate for this job along with your resumé listing relevant experience to:
Annette Pettengill, Business Manager
There are currently no RFPs posted.
