The Office of Planning is hiring an experienced Community Planner to join our Neighborhood Planning team. Come shape the future of DC!

JOB SUMMARY

This position is located within the Office of Planning (OP), Office of the Director. OP has the lead responsibility for planning the long-term growth of the District of Columbia (D.C.) and provides the vision, framework and principles that guide land use change, growth, and development of an equitable and vibrant city. OP undertakes citywide and neighborhood planning and engagement; urban design and development review; historic preservation; mapping and data analysis; and serves as the official Census State Data Center. OP is the steward of the District’s Comprehensive Plan, which advances housing, economic recovery, racial equity, resilience, and coordination of public resources and civic infrastructure.
The Neighborhood Planning Division has six main areas of responsibilities which shape the future development and revitalization of the District’s neighborhoods namely, developing small area plans and planning studies; conducting stakeholder engagement, coordinating and tracking plan implementation; participating in citywide planning initiatives that have a neighborhood impact; monitoring and reviewing development projects; and acting as a liaison to elected officials and community stakeholders on land use, development, and planning issues. This position is at an advanced professional level within the division and has corresponding technical expertise and administrative responsibilities in all six of these areas. The Neighborhood Planning Division includes planners assigned to each ward of the District to work in collaboration with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, citizen associations, residents, businesses, elected officials, and District agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION

Degree: community planning; or related field such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration that included at least 12 semester hours in the planning process, socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, urban and regional economic analysis, and development finance.
or
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in an urban design-related discipline, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in any combination of urban design-related disciplines of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process and physical elements of planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
And
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position and has equipped the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, the incumbent must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

The incumbent in this position performs advanced professional planning activities for major multi-phased projects, which include: Identifying critical neighborhood-level planning issues, conducting data research and analysis, leading a participatory public engagement process, managing a team of internal planners or external consultants, and formulating policy recommendations to advance development and revitalization opportunities. Serving as the project manager for advanced planning activities with responsibilities that include developing scopes of work, project work plans, and schedules; coordinating all phases of the assigned project’s procurement process; and serving as the contracting officer’s technical representative. Coordinating and reviewing project team analysis, field work, research, and reports related to the assigned study/project for consistency with District planning objectives, policy, and office standards.
Participating in the legislative approval process by drafting key documents and participating in the Council hearing process. Developing community engagement strategies to ensure an inclusive, multi-stakeholder process; evaluating public support for project plans; and serving as principal liaison between public and private sectors. Assisting the Associate Director with specific managerial and administrative tasks and providing general guidance and leadership to Division members in order to accomplish key tasks. Facilitating implementation of neighborhood plans and studies by developing and executing work plans, materials, and reports to assist in stakeholder communication. The incumbent shall have expert proficiency in planning principles and theories, including land use, economic development, transit/transportation, sustainable development, housing development, urban design, and research techniques; the ability to lead and work effectively as part of a team or independently to complete work assignments; and superior communication skills, both orally and in writing. Additionally, the incumbent shall be highly skilled in interacting with a wide variety of people ranging from neighborhood residents to high level agency officials.