The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a City Planner IV for a position with the City Land Stewardship Section, Watershed Lands and Community Planning Division within in the Watershed Protection Programs Directorate, located in Arkville, New York. The City Land Stewardship (CLS) Section is responsible for the long-term management, stewardship and administration of water supply lands and conservation easements (CEs).

Under general direction, of the City Land Stewardship Section Chief, the City Planner IV will serve as Property Management Supervisor and will be responsible for overseeing activities related to the effective and efficient identification and resolution of encroachments occurring on City lands, including coordinating with DEP’s Bureau of Police Services, Bureau of Legal Affairs, Source Water Operations Directorate, and other CLS work units. The position will also be responsible for overseeing contracts that support the removal or demolition of improvements or structures on City lands, coordinating stewardship activities with other DEP work units, and managing other real property interests affecting City lands. Specific duties include:

- Supervising CLS Property Management staff, including prioritizing tasks, conducting annual evaluations, offering employee development and coaching, approving weekly timesheets, and ensuring compliance with health and safety policies.

- Planning and coordinating short and long-term activities of the Property Management Program. Developing the annual work plan and ensures its timely completion. Developing and manages annual budgets.

- Ensuring internal project bid specifications and program procurements are developed accurately and on time, and that City funds are spent effectively. Staying abreast of agency/city procurement rules and processes.

- Developing and managing contracts for watershed partners, vendors and site contractors.

- Participating in development of intergovernmental agreements or other real property-related instruments.

- Ensuring activities taking place on City land as well as the City’s use of other lands are in compliance with all applicable agreements; working to formalize uses of City land as needed. Overseeing the timely submission of procurements related to various City land maintenance agreements.

- Overseeing efforts to ensure the timely and efficient identification and resolution of encroachments occurring on City owned lands, including landowner correspondence and coordination with other DEP work units that issue revocable Land Use Permits necessary to resolve encroachments.

- Coordinating with DEP’s Source Water Operations, Bureau of Police and Security, and Bureau of Legal Affairs to resolve encroachments on City lands according to internal policies and workflows. Ensuring records and reports are developed and archived for tracking and resolving all encroachments on City lands. Monitoring data entry and reporting from the Watershed Lands Information System (WaLIS) database. Developing WaLIS workflow and reports as needed. Coordinating responses to landowner inquiries and issues.

- Coordinating the management of other real property interests occurring on City land, including administering terms and conditions of covenants or deed restrictions such as those required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on flood buyout properties.

- Serving as the project manager on important and high-profile property management projects and initiatives, and as a team member for large capital projects that involve use of City owned water supply lands.

- Helping to develop and implement land management policies pertaining to rights-of-way, encroachments, and fee land monitoring. Developing a system to track and manage rights-of-way on City land.


(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

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.

- Driver’s license valid in the State of New York - Ability to travel to meetings, work facilities, and field locations, utilizing a New York City vehicle - Knowledge and proficient use of Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint - Experience working with GIS - Database management skills - Ability to learn and use WaLIS on a daily basis - Experience working on land and/or property management-related projects - Knowledge of property management issues, laws and policies. - Experience in reading and understanding deeds or other property management documents. - Experience working with partners/stakeholders and leading interdisciplinary teams. - Ability to plan projects and see them through implementation until completion. - Knowledge of water supply protection and watershed management - Ability to understand, interpret legal documents, surveys, deeds, drawings and maps. - Understand and able to communicate DEP policies and regulations. - Ability to draft, articulate and provide guidance on DEP land use policies when communicating with individuals, local officials, and other stakeholder groups. - Ability to work well with others, and to function independently while leading a team of professional staff.

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 not required for this position

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.