Job Description

Urban Designer

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 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 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;
• Identifying opportunities for future collaborations and strategic partnerships with other elected officials, agencies and institutions;
• Providing guidance and mentoring to junior staff and interns;
• Mentoring and supervising less experienced Land Use and Planning staff and enhancing the knowledge of urban design practices among the Borough President's team;
• Maintaining 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.

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