Borough Planner

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,777 - 87,144; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York is seeking a City Planner to manage land use applications, analyze proposals, and develop neighborhood plans.

This role requires a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in city planning, with a strong emphasis on communication and project management. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with various stakeholders and be proficient in tools such as ArcGIS and Adobe Creative Suite.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 2 years of experience in city planning.
• Graduate education can substitute for experience.
• Excellent communication skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage neighborhood plans and land use applications.
• Analyze site plans for compliance with zoning policies.
• Prepare and present technical documents and materials.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Proficiency with ArcGIS

Education

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college

Graduate education in city planning or related fields

Tools

ArcGIS

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Job description

Overview

CANDIDATE MUST BE SERVING PERMANENTLY IN THE TITLE OF CITY PLANNER OR REACHABLE ON THE CITY PLANNER CIVIL SERVICE LIST.

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.

The 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

Manhattan is home to over 1.6 million residents and serves as the economic engine of the regional economy with well over 2 million workers commuting to and within the borough daily. The landscape of Manhattan is highly varied and ranges from very high-density office and residential districts to low scale rowhouses, stretching the full 13.4 miles of the island. The borough includes the sources of some of the most iconic images of the global imagination – Times Square, Wall Street, Central Park, Harlem, the United Nations – as well as countless hidden gems around every corner.

The Manhattan Borough Office, located in the Department of City Planning’s headquarters building in the heart of Manhattan’s Financial District, is responsible for developing borough-wide and local area plans, reviewing and processing land use applications pursuant to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), 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 Manhattan Office emphasizes planning and urban design that create a more equitable city, with rich opportunities for and access to housing, employment, recreation, and transit. The approximately 20-person Office is comprised of professional planners working in teams arranged by community district as well as urban designers that work borough-wide across a wide range of projects.

The role involves project management of land use applications as they move through the charter mandated land use review process, including cross-divisional coordination of projects and application of agency and administration policy. The position includes regular attendance at community board meetings, presentation of agency initiatives to the board and its committees, and regular communication with board leadership regarding projects in the land use review process as well as broader planning and land use issues.

The Manhattan Borough Office consistently manages between 100-150 active land use applications and requires a full complement of planning staff to ensure projects are advanced on reasonable timelines consistent with the agency’s Charter-mandated role in the land use approval process. The ideal candidate will have exceptional technical planning skills and a strong grasp of land use and public policy issues of primary importance to the department, including zoning, urban design, affordable housing, and economic development. The candidates should also have a positive attitude toward public service, as well as a desire to contribute to an engaging, team-based work environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management and other support for division’s neighborhood plans and private and agency/city land use applications.
• Review, analyze, and make recommendations on 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.
• Analyze site plans and development proposals to determine compliance with the City’s land use planning policies and NYC Zoning Resolution.
• Organize and prepare graphic and written materials, and present to the City Planning Commission, department staff, community boards, elected officials, and public agencies.
• Develop technical documents and presentation materials including reports, maps, graphics, memos, and other forms of correspondence.
• Support neighborhood planning studies (including research analysis) and produce written technical reports and presentations.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the NYC Zoning Resolution.
• Serve as Department liaison to one or more Manhattan community boards.
• Represent the department at meetings of civic, business and community groups, community boards, and public agencies to gather information and convey the Department’s positions on neighborhood planning initiatives, land use policy, and design issues and proposals. Candidate should be able to attend some evening and weekend meetings.
• Coordinate with other agency representatives on Department studies and projects.
• Perform other related tasks and projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning; or
• 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 for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Preferred Skills

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with ability to interact with a diverse range of individuals both in person and over the phone, applying tact and discretion as situations demand.
• Ability to self-manage, as well as project management skills, including the ability to complete tasks in a timely fashion with minimal supervision and managing several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work well in teams with a diverse mix of community stakeholders, staff, elected and appointed officials.
• Ability to lead meetings effectively and inclusively.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS mapping and analysis is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with specialized software including Adobe Creative Suite and SketchUp is preferred.
• Familiarity with zoning practices and principles.
• Must have excellent organizational, time management, and follow-up skills.

Salary

$75,777.00 – $87,144.00