Job Description

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal seeks an Urban Designer to be part of his collaborative, energetic, and innovative team. The prospective staff member must be committed to seeking out new and better ways for the office to connect with, and deliver for, Manhattan’s diverse neighborhoods, communities, and constituents. The Urban Designer will work under the supervision of the Director of Land Use and Planning.

Whether considering an individual development proposal, an infrastructure project, a neighborhood plan, or a citywide zoning policy change, the Borough President’s Land Use and Planning unit seeks to ensure that Manhattan grows in ways that strengthen neighborhoods, expand access to opportunity, and sustain the cultural and economic vitality that benefits the entire city. The team prepares recommendations, testimony, and scoping comments for applications in public review, provides Manhattan’s twelve Community Boards with technical assistance, and advances research on key issues and opportunities facing the borough, such as housing affordability, climate resiliency, and access to public open space.

The Role

The Urban Designer will draw from expertise in architecture, landscape architecture and/or urban design to advocate for excellence in urban design across the Borough President’s portfolio of projects and initiatives. The ideal candidate will be a curious and enthusiastic learner, an artful problem-solver, an excellent visual and verbal communicator, a critical and engaged user of design technology, and possess a positive attitude toward interdisciplinary work and community service.

Responsibilities

Under supervision, with latitude for independent judgment, the Urban Designer’s responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Tracking, evaluating, and developing urban design recommendations on proposals before the City Planning Commission, the Public Design Commission, the Landmark Preservation Commission, the Board of Standards and Appeals, Empire State Development, and other governmental entities on behalf of the Borough President;
• Contributing urban design expertise to the Borough President’s planning and policy initiatives by conducting research, monitoring urban design trends and best practices, analyzing conditions, and preparing graphic and written materials, including but not limited to hand drawings, physical and/or digital models, narrative text, data spreadsheets, and animation;
• Providing technical assistance to Community Boards and responding to inquiries from the public;
• Representing the Borough President in meetings with a wide variety of stakeholders, including community groups, advocates, students, elected officials, government agencies, and developers;
• Testifying on behalf of the Borough President at public hearings;
• Identify opportunities for future collaborations and strategic partnerships with other elected officials, agencies and institutions;
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff and interns;
• Mentor and supervise less experienced Land Use and Planning staff and enhance the knowledge of urban design practices among the Borough President’s team;
• Maintain a working knowledge of the NYC Zoning Resolution;
• Ability to navigate practical considerations for individual projects while sustaining a focus on big-picture goals and sound design principles.
• Perform other related tasks and projects

Email a cover letter and resume in a word or PDF document to: ***email_hidden*** with “Urban Designer” in the subject line and

WORK SAMPLE: Please provide a work sample of relevant projects (PDF, under 10mb)

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• A Master’s degree in urban design or a related discipline -Strong urban design capabilities with knowledge of physical design principles and practices including site planning and programming, building layout, zoning calculations, massing and architectural design -Knowledge of urban landscape and environmental design, infrastructure planning and design, and resiliency and sustainability measures -Understanding of New York City government, zoning, land use decision making processes (ULURP, CEQR, PDC, LPC, BSA etc.), and the Borough President’s functions and responsibilities -Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills and experience speaking publicly and making effective presentations -Competence in free-hand sketches, as well as computer-based drawing, mapping, and graphics -Strong research, analytical, and project management skills -Self-motivated, organized and able to work effectively both individually and collaboratively to advance simultaneous projects -Familiarity with Manhattan neighborhoods, New York City’s urban planning and land use issues, and urban design best practices from around the world -Positive attitude toward public service and experience engaging diverse communities in planning and visioning processes -Demonstrated leadership skills and interest in mentorship -Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

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.

, 75000 – 85000

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