Senior Planner

Job Description

Our Vision : To make New York City the global model for inclusive innovation and economic growth, fueled by the City's diverse people and businesses. 

Our Mission : Creating a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. 

Position Overview: Situated within NYCEDC's Planning Division, the Land Use Department is a team of urban planners focused on making NYCEDC's planning priorities a reality. Land Use supports NYCEDC project teams with technical expertise to navigate complex regulatory processes, secure project approvals, and mitigate risk. Within the Land Use team, the Senior Planner leads projects through processes for discretionary approvals, including but not limited to analyzing zoning regulations, and managing environmental review and the City's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The Senior Planner's portfolio could include projects from anywhere in the 5 boroughs with diverse project goals such as providing quality job opportunities, building climate change resiliency, affordable housing, public open space or transportation improvements. Recent projects supported by Land Use include the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, Willets Point, the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the New York City Ferry system, and various initiatives and projects related to offshore wind, the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, and Brooklyn Army Terminal.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• With supervision, manage a portfolio of projects, preparing and reviewing technical applications and documents related to zoning, environmental review, waterfront permitting and other land use regulations, and contributing to problem solving and strategy.
• With supervision, support interdisciplinary NYCEDC project teams by defining land use issues and implementing approvals strategies for a range of projects involving local, state and federal actions including land use approvals, environmental reviews, waterfront and other required permits. Provide project teams with technical expertise from project formulation through public approvals to implementation.
• Proactively manage critical milestones of long-term timelines to ensure complex projects are delivered on-time, and anticipate and flag issues for senior staff.
• With supervision, create and deliver internal and external communications (including presentations, memos, etc.) to effectively communicate project recommendations, decision points, and/or findings to various audiences (e.g., senior NYCEDC staff, partner agencies, external stakeholders).
• With supervision, interface with development partners and public agencies, working to build consensus-based solutions to address land use issues and maintain working trust-based relationships with external agency regulators.
• Manage consultant work, ensuring quality products are delivered on-schedule and on budget.
• Attend public meetings and hearings on NYCEDC projects and report back to the team on status.
• Other projects and tasks as assigned. 

Requirements:

• 3 years of professional experience in urban planning, preferable including regulatory approvals, zoning, or environmental review.
• Master's degree in Planning or a related field, or 2 additional years of experience.
• Familiarity with New York City zoning and planning, as well as local, state, and federal environmental regulations and review procedures.
• Familiarity with waterfront permitting preferred.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates effective communication, including written and verbal, and experience creating and delivering presentations to internal and external stakeholders with a flexible and adaptable communication style.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates agile and results-focused approach, ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to travel as needed (across the five boroughs of New York City) and attend evening and occasional weekend meetings.
• Experience using spreadsheets and presentation applications such as Excel and PowerPoint; GIS/AutoCAD a plus.
• New York City residence is required within 180 days of hire

About Us : New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors, with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. 

NYCEDC is committed to offering competitive benefits to support employee health, happiness, and work-life balance. We offer comprehensive benefits and unique perks to ensure NYCEDC employees flourish in their professional and personal lives:

• Generous employer subsidized health insurance 
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Vision and hearing benefits
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Short term and long-term disability coverage
• 100% employer covered life insurance and supplemental life insurance coverage
• Up to 25 vacation days
• Floating Holidays and Summer Fridays
• Parental leave - up to 20 paid weeks
• Retirement savings programs
  • Company-paid 401(a) defined contribution plan
  • 457(b) tax-advantaged retirement savings plan
• Tuition Reimbursement program
• Continuing education and professional development
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
• College savings plan
• Backup childcare
• Gym membership discounts
• A Calm.com membership for mindfulness and mental health support
• Employee discounts through Plum Benefits and much more

Benefits listed above may vary based on the length and nature of your employment with New York City Economic Development Corporation. These benefits are subject to be modified at any time, at the discretion of the organization. 

The New York City Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Diversity, Equity, and Social Responsibility Mission is to create a People First strategy by attracting, retaining, and engaging a diverse and talented workforce. Like the city of New York, NYCEDC knows our strength comes from each of our connected parts, making the fabric of our organization better and stronger because of our unique employees' talents. 

At NYCEDC, all applications are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and hiring managers. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, evaluate, or make decisions regarding candidate resumes or applications. Each candidate is considered through a thoughtful, human-led review process to ensure equity, consistency, and alignment with the needs of the role. 

For more information, visit our website at edc.nyc.