Borough Planner

Department-of-City-Planning; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work 2 days/wk

55-a Program

Job summary

The Queens Office of the Department of City Planning seeks a Borough Planner focused on affordable housing, economic development, and community engagement in Queens. Work with the Queens team and interdivisional colleagues on major growth while balancing existing neighborhood needs.

Ideal candidates will communicate clearly, facilitate public outreach, and translate research into policy and presentations for the City Planning Commission and local boards.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in city planning or related field, or 1 year of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree.
• Graduate education can substitute for experience if applicable; all candidates must have a bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Review ULURP applications and coordinate with City agencies, boards, and the public.
• Research area land use and transportation factors to identify trends and policy priorities.
• Support neighborhood planning, produce technical reports and presentations.

Skills

Excellent communication

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in city planning

Bachelor's degree + 1 year experience

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

THE AGENCY

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the future of New York City, working to create thriving and dynamic neighborhoods with access to housing and jobs, resilient infrastructure, and a vibrant public realm. The Department engages communities to develop inclusive plans, expands housing access and economic opportunity, and plans for long-term sustainability.

DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of hundreds of land use applications. The Department also advises on citywide strategic and capital planning, analyzes data, conducts policy analysis, and creates open data and civic engagement tools. DCP is also the custodian of the official City Map, which designates streets, parks and other public places.

Department of City Planning offers staff meaningful opportunities to help shape the future of New York City and address some of its most pressing challenges. The Department values public service, collaboration, and creativity, and supports professional development. Learn more about DCP and view current job openings at www.nyc.gov/planning.

THE DIVISION:

Queens is home to more than 2.4 million residents, a historic peak population. Queens’ extensive ethnic diversity leads the city and the country. Its growth has been fueled in large measure by an influx of persons arriving from abroad with nearly half the population foreign born, and its residents speak over 160 languages. Some of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in New York City are located in Queens, with the past decade seeing significant housing growth in areas such as Long Island City and Flushing. The borough fosters the most diverse economy in the region, as a center for industry, manufacturing, freight and distribution, primarily centered around Western Queens and the airports.

The Queens Office is a dynamic work environment responsible for a wide range of planning and design activities, including developing borough-wide and local plans with a focus on affordable housing, resiliency, expanded economic opportunity, and transit-oriented development; reviewing and processing land use applications; leading community outreach; planning for resiliency and climate change; and providing technical and policy guidance and direction on all land use and zoning related matters to the City Planning Commission, local Community Boards, elected officials, and the public at large. The borough’s recent growth is occurring within distinct neighborhood contexts, which vary widely across the borough. Currently, its efforts are focused on directing a range of new housing, economic recovery and equitable planning opportunities in to enliven and support the growth and vitality of Queens neighborhoods.

THE ROLE

The Queens Office of the Department of City Planning seeks a Borough Planner with a demonstrated background in affordable housing, economic development and community engagement to assist in the implementation of its robust work program focused in the Borough of Queens, one of the busiest planning landscapes in NYC. The position is a unique opportunity to work closely with the Queens team, Department experts and interdivisional teams on planning efforts for significant growth while balancing the existing needs of our diverse borough. The candidate should possess strong communication and facilitation skills to reach a broad range of audiences; an ability to grasp complex policy and disseminate research and data practically; and a desire to contribute to and create an engaging teamwork environment.

Under supervision, with some latitude for independent judgment, the candidates may:

• Review and analyze applications submitted to the Department pursuant to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and coordinate this work with technical divisions of the Department, other City agencies, community boards, elected officials, and the public;
• Research and analyze area land use, economic sector and transportation factors to identify trends and contribute to agency/city planning priorities;
• Support neighborhood planning studies and produce written technical reports and presentations;
• Assist in the management of the Queens Office’s application pipeline, including helping schedule and manage projects as part of the pre-certification process and ULURP;
• Assist in the management of files, applications, and data associated with the e-filing system Zoning Application Portal (ZAP) as well as distribution and management of hard-copy files as needed;
• Present land use and zoning proposals to the City Planning Commission, as well as Community Boards, neighborhood groups, and elected officials, and provide expert opinions and recommendations as needed;
• Develop technical documents and presentation materials including reports, maps, graphics, memos, and other forms of correspondence;
• Provide information to the public and the City Planning Commission through speaking, writing, and graphics;
• Play an active role in developing and engaging in comprehensive public outreach campaigns for Queens Office or Department planning initiatives;
• Represent the Department and the City at meetings of civic, business and community groups, Community Boards, and public agencies;
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of all on-going land use and zoning studies and community initiatives;
• Understand and respond to socioeconomic and development trends at the neighborhood, citywide, and regional scales;
• Perform other related tasks and projects.

Preferred Skills:

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with proven ability to interact with a diverse range of individuals both in person and over the phone, applying tact and discretion as situations demand.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and other specialized design software.
• Must have excellent organizational, time management, and follow-up skills.

IMPORTANT:

Only candidates with permanent Civil Service status in the City Planner civil service title, those reachable on the City Planner active civil service list (exam #5045), or those serving in a comparable civil service title can be considered for this position.

Please include a copy of your Notice of Result card or indicate if you are already permanent in this title with your application.

Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position.

Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or pregnancy.

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed to between the City and labor unions.

NOTE: If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation during your visit or have questions regarding the accessibility of our facilities, please reach out to [e-mail] or call 212-720-3508 at least three business days prior to your arrival.

CITY PLANNER - 22122

Minimum Qualifications

1. 1. A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or a related field; or
2. 2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and one year of satisfactory full‑time experience in city planning such as in the review and
   development of housing, transportation, environmental, and city‑owned land planning projects; or
3. 3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate education in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college or university for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.
4. 4. To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.