Borough Planner

About the position The Manhattan Borough Office seeks two talented Borough Planners to support and manage current and future land use applications and neighborhood planning initiatives. These positions are a unique opportunity to work closely with a team of planners, led by a Planning Team Leader, focusing on projects located throughout multiple community districts in Manhattan including neighborhoods like Gramercy, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, East Midtown, the United Nations, Hudson Square, SoHo, NoHo, Greenwich Village, and the Meatpacking District. The position 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 candidate should possess strong communication and project management skills and a desire to contribute and collaborate in an engaging teamwork environment. 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. • Coordinate with other agency representatives on Department studies and projects. • Perform other related tasks and projects. Requirements • 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. Nice-to-haves • 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. Benefits • 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 DC37. • Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility. Apply tot his job Apply tot his job