THE AGENCY:
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 by sharing its perspectives on growth and society needs with sister agencies in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The New York City Department of City Planning is a great place to work – cultivating intellectual inspiration, professional development, and creativity. Visit our website at www.nyc.gov/planning to access the full listing of job opportunities and learn more about our great agency.

THE DIVISION:
Queens is home to more than 2.4 million residents, a historic peak population. Queens’ extensive ethnic diversity leads the city and the country. Its growth has been fueled in large measure by an influx of persons arriving from abroad with nearly half the population foreign born, and its residents speak over 160 languages. Some of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in New York City are located in Queens, with the past decade seeing significant housing growth in areas such as Long Island City and Flushing. The borough fosters the most diverse economy in the region, as a center for industry, manufacturing, freight and distribution, primarily centered around Western Queens and the airports.

A DCP Borough Office is a dynamic work environment responsible for a wide range of planning and design activities, including developing borough-wide and local plans with a focus on affordable housing, resiliency, expanded economic opportunity, and transit-oriented development; reviewing and processing land use applications; leading community outreach; planning for resiliency and climate change; 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 borough’s recent growth is occurring within distinct neighborhood contexts, which vary widely across the borough. Currently, its efforts are focused on directing a range of new housing, economic recovery and equitable planning opportunities in to enliven and support the growth and vitality of Queens neighborhoods.

THE ROLE:
The Queens Borough Office is seeking an urban designer with a proven track record of professional achievement, strong visualization, design and communication skills to join their team. The ideal candidate will be a curious and enthusiastic learner, an artful problem-solver, a critical and engaged user of design technology, and possess a positive attitude toward interdisciplinary work and community service.

Under supervision, with latitude for independent judgment, the Associate Urban Designer will:

- Support zoning, land use and urban design studies, research data, analyze conditions, prepare technical and illustrative drawings, digital models and presentation materials, and reports for land use policy proposals;
- Prepare conceptual designs, develop design criteria and design guidelines for large-scale planning efforts, and coordinate with agency staff and other city agencies;
- Develop and maintain a working knowledge of the city’s urban design and planning trends through research and field experience;
- Review, analyze and make urban design related recommendations on applications and projects submitted to the Department subject to the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) and other administrative procedures;
- Organize and prepare graphic and written materials, to inform the City Planning Commission, department staff, community boards, elected officials and public agencies;
- Represent the division or agency in dealings with other City agencies, developers, consultants and the general public;
- Conduct additional research when inquiries from the general public and/or other divisions require further investigation to respond effectively;
- Demonstrates knowledge of the agency’s policy, functions, and responsibilities, and overall Urban Design principles and practice;
- Identify opportunities for future collaborations and strategic partnerships with other divisions, agencies and institutions to further DCP’s reach and knowledge base;
- Provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff and interns, both within the UDO and in other divisions;
- Maintain a working knowledge of the NYC Zoning Resolution;
- Perform other related tasks and projects.

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.

- Strong urban design capabilities with knowledge of physical design practices including site planning and programming, building layout, massing and architectural design. Knowledge of urban landscape, environmental design and infrastructure planning and design. - Strong research and analytical skills. - Competence in free-hand sketches. - Excellent visual and verbal communication skills - Self-motivated, organized and able to work effectively both individually and collaboratively. - Knowledge of New York City’s general urban planning and land use issues, policies and needs, as well as best practice examples from around the world. - Strong 3D modeling skills in Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD - Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) - Positive but not required: o Spatial data management and analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS) o Motion graphics, video and animation (AfterEffects, Premiere, 3Ds Max, Blender) o Scripting/software development experience (Python, Javascript, HTML, CSS) Please provide a work sample of relevant projects (PDF, under 10mb)

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.

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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

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.

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.