Director of Planning and Design

About the Waterfront Alliance

The Waterfront Alliance is a civic organization that brings together a diverse alliance of more than 1,100 Partners with ties to the New York–New Jersey waterways. Founded in 2007, our mission is to lead the way for thriving and resilient waterfronts, shorelines, and coastlines, together. Key programs and advocacy areas include climate resilience, public access to the waterfront, the working waterfront, and climate education.

About the Position

The Director of Planning and Design will lead and grow the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) program, and resilience and design planning projects for the organization.

Developed by the Waterfront Alliance and a cross-cutting field of experts, WEDG is an award-winning rating system and platform for resilient, sustainable, and accessible waterfront development. WEDG is a flagship program of Waterfront Alliance and has established Waterfront Alliance’s presence nationally. WEDG has graduated more than 1,500 individuals trained as WEDG Professionals and created a robust network of sites that have earned WEDG Verification or are doing so in eleven states. WEDG is used by communities as a guide for waterfront planning, a regulatory and compliance tool for municipalities and agencies, and a best practice toolkit by the design community.

Waterfront Alliance seeks an experienced professional with deep expertise in resilient, sustainable, and equitable waterfront design, along with strong business development acumen to lead the WEDG program. This is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurially minded resilient design expert with a passion for coastal and waterfront design, environmental science, land use policy, business development, client services, and strategy implementation.

Reports to: President and CEO

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Salary and Benefits: The salary is $90,000 to $110,000. Waterfront Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurances; life insurance; 401K retirement plan with employer match; commuter and FSA benefits, paid time off, paid sabbatical after five years, professional development opportunities, and more. 

Location: New York, NY (Hybrid)

Required Travel: Up to 25%

Responsibilities

The Director of Planning and Design will be responsible for leading the growth and execution of the WEDG program and oversee current and future design projects in Waterfront Alliance’s portfolio. The Director is a member of the organization’s leadership team and will work closely with fellow directors of communications, events, programs, and policy. This role will serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on matters of waterfront design and construction, infrastructure, and planning initiatives.

This is a highly public-facing role. The Director will serve as a primary point of contact and manage relationships with WEDG Associates nationwide, as well as key agency, municipal, and corporate partners.

The Director of Planning and Design is responsible for overseeing, managing, executing, and growing core WEDG services and the various administrative tasks associated with them:

• WEDG Verification: The review and certification of waterfront projects against the WEDG guidelines
• WEDG Professionals: The professional education and credentialing program
• WEDG Policy & Finance: Development of local and state policy in various geographies, ESG finance, and insurance engagement
• WEDG Community Action: Direct engagement with local advocacy organizations to support neighborhood activism around WEDG and connect WEDG to community-driven priorities that expand and improve access to waterfronts.
• Manage staff (mix of part-time, temporary, and full-time), program budget, and strategic planning.
• Collaborate across Waterfront Alliance’s program teams to integrate WEDG principles into program strategy and implementation.

The Director of Planning and Design will drive WEDG’s business development strategy through a multi-pronged approach:

• Build relationships with municipal agencies, design firms, environmental partners, philanthropic funders, and private developers nationally to secure project verifications, and expand philanthropic investment in community-driven and resilience-focused waterfront initiatives
• Lead the WEDG Professionals Network, creating opportunities for engagement and expansion.
• Pursue strategic project, leadership, and partnership opportunities that advance WEDG and strengthen Waterfront Alliance’s local, regional, and national profile.
• Promote WEDG through thought leadership on resilient design and strategic growth projects.
• Develop strategies to promote WEDG through systems-level change (e.g., seeking WEDG’s use in Requests for Proposals, by the insurance community, in policy, and others).
• Periodically revise the WEDG standards, course, and materials to reflect advances in the field.

The Director of Planning and Design will manage resilience and design projects and other programmatic priorities for Waterfront Alliance, such as ongoing work in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Coney Island Creek, maritime infrastructure, Blue Highways and equitable public access:

• Identify opportunities for Waterfront Alliance to lead resilience, planning and maritime/Blue Highways initiatives, in partnership with program and development leadership.
• Manage strategic direction of projects and relationships with key partners
• Develop RFPs and proposals for project opportunities
• Manage consultants, contracts, and stakeholder relationships
• Oversee reports, advocacy, and communications that result from technical work to position the project for implementation.

Additionally, the Director of Planning and Design will support the President & CEO with other organization-wide initiatives, fundraising, policy initiatives, and other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Eight or more years of relevant experience
• Bachelor or Master’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, environmental studies, engineering, real estate, public administration, or a related field
• Business development experience, with a penchant for entrepreneurialism
• Experience in design and capital projects, with a strong preference for those with experience on either project consulting teams or as a project developer/agency owner
• Experience in community engagement and working with a diverse range of stakeholders on projects, with experience and a focus on inclusive practices
• Experience reviewing technical design material, including site plans, CAD files, environmental impact statements, engineering reports, stormwater calculations, and other documentation as part of the WEDG Verification process
• Experience managing, executing, and developing complex programs, with a passion for strategy implementation, project management, and marketing
• Familiarity with and passion for climate change and sustainability, and command of local (New York City and New Jersey) waterfront or maritime urban planning, design, and land use regulations, policy, and programs
• Experience with design rating systems (WEDG, Green Globes, LEED, Envision, SITES, WELL, etc.) preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, presentation, and public speaking skills, including pitching WEDG to high-level executives and clients, as well as community audiences
• Familiarity with professional education best practices in the resilience, environmental, and sustainable design space
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once, as well as internal teams for marketing and program development, and external consultants who assist with project reviews and the WEDG Professionals course
• Nonprofit fundraising experience a plus
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach with the ability to build trust across disciplines, contribute to a positive and inclusive organizational culture, and thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven environment

How to Apply

Submit your resume and the answers to the prompted questions here. Applicants must be legally authorized to work fulltime in the U.S. and should not require employment sponsorship now or in the future. Only complete applications will be considered. Position open until filled. No phone calls please.

As an equal opportunity employer, Waterfront Alliance encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability or any other legally protected basis.