Borough Planner

Borough Planner

DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING

Full-time

Location: Manhattan

Exam may be required

Department: Manhattan Office

$75,777.00 – $87,144.00

Job Description

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. 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. 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 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 The Manhattan Borough Office seeks three 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 Inwood, Washington Heights, Morningside Heights, Gramercy, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, East Midtown, the United Nations, Hudson Square, SoHo, NoHo, Greenwich Village, and the Meatpacking District. The candidate should possess strong communication and project management skills and a desire to contribute and collaborate in an engaging teamwork environment. 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 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. Under Supervision of division management and a Team Leader, with latitude for independent judgment, the Borough Planner will perform work including – but not limited to – the following: - 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

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning; or 2. 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. Special Qualification Requirements Assignment Level III To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in "2" above. Assignment Level IV To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

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.

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

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.