Senior Urban Designer

Senior Lead Urban Designer

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide and sharing its perspectives on growth and community needs with sister agencies in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). DCP is a great place to work – cultivating intellectual inspiration, professional development, and creativity. The Bronx Office has a diverse and dynamic work program focused on ensuring the borough has great neighborhoods, affordable housing, vibrant commercial and institutional centers, rich transit opportunities, and high-quality open space and waterfronts.

The Bronx Office at the Department of City Planning is seeking an experienced urban design professional with strong technical design skills, a positive attitude toward community service, as well as a desire to contribute to an engaging work environment in roles that impact the growth and transformation of the borough. The urban design lead would be responsible for the development of borough-wide and local plans, collaborate with private applicants and staff to realize successful mixed-use, affordable and resilient developments (including on the waterfront), lead visioning sessions to engage diverse communities, mentor urban design team members, and visually communicate the agency's principles for sound urban design and a quality public realm. Under the supervision of the Borough Director and Deputy, the Senior Lead Urban Designer will manage a broad portfolio of projects and studies, collaborate across the Bronx teams, and oversee urban design staff. With great latitude for exercising independent judgement, the Senior Lead Urban Designer will:

• Manage Bronx urban design initiatives and contribute to larger planning efforts, while coordinating this work with other divisions of the Department, other city agencies, and Bronx communities
• Review and analyze site plans and development proposals to determine compliance with NYC zoning regulations and the City's land use planning and design policies, and make recommendations on applications submitted to the Department
• Strong urban design capabilities with knowledge of physical design practices including site planning and programming, building layout, zoning calculations, massing and architectural design. Knowledge of urban landscape and environmental design as well as familiarity with resiliency and sustainability measures and best practices
• Advise Director and Deputy Director on current design practices and standards in New York City and precedents from diverse urban contexts
• Create and organize illustrative, graphic and written materials for presentation and to provide visual recommendations and/or solutions to the City Planning Commission, other governmental agencies and the public in support of proposals, studies and other projects
• Manage Department initiatives, ULURP and other land use applications, contribute to planning and urban design studies, and coordinate this work with other divisions of the Department, other city agencies, community boards, elected officials and the public
• Mentor and supervise urban design staff and enhance the knowledge of urban design practices among planning staff
• Support neighborhood planning studies including design research and environmental analysis, and produce visual presentations and project identities
• Develop, maintain and utilize working knowledge of all on-going planning, land use, transportation, urban design and zoning studies, as well as community initiatives and studies, with specific and deep knowledge of these topics within all areas of responsibility with a focus on Coastal Resiliency and Waterfront development
• Areas of expertise may include affordable housing typologies, complex mixed-use development, waterfront zoning and open space planning, infill development, large-scale planning, and resilient and sustainable design strategies
• Perform other related tasks and projects

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree in architecture from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of full-time experience in planning, design, research, investigations and/or studies related to urban design development programs; or 2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. However, a baccalaureate degree in architecture is required of all candidates. Graduate work leading to an advanced degree in architecture, urban design or city planning maybe substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Skills

- Ability to work effectively in a team structure and independently to complete tasks in a timely fashion under minimal supervision manage multiple projects simultaneously

- Proficiency in using tools such as Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, GIS and MS Office, including the ability to identify new adaptations of such tools preferred

- Excellent presentation and communication skills experience speaking publicly and making effective presentations

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.