Director of Technical Strategy

DISCLAIMER: Only candidates who are permanent Administrative City Planners, those reachable on the Administrative City Planner civil service list, or New York City Employees serving permanently in comparable civil service titles are invited to apply.

THE AGENCY
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the future of New York City, working to create thriving and dynamic neighborhoods with access to housing and jobs, resilient infrastructure, and a vibrant public realm. The Department engages communities to develop inclusive plans, expands housing access and economic opportunity, and plans for long-term sustainability.

DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of hundreds of land use applications. The Department also advises on citywide strategic and capital planning, analyzes data, conducts policy analysis, and creates open data and civic engagement tools.

The Department of City Planning offers staff meaningful opportunities to help shape the future of New York City and address some of its most pressing challenges. The Department values public service, collaboration, and creativity, and supports professional development. Learn more about DCP and view current job openings at www.nyc.gov/planning.

THE DIVISION
The Community Planning and Civic Engagement Team serves as the center for DCP’s coordinated community planning work and, through the newly established Civic Engagement Studio, a think tank for advancing and expanding increasingly inclusive civic engagement practices and policies. The Team is charged with ensuring a complete and coordinated internal decision-making process for all major initiatives through inter-divisional discussion and leading the Civic Engagement Studio.

THE ROLE
The Director of Technical Strategy will be responsible for supporting the agency’s neighborhood planning processes and agency initiated zoning text amendments. They will ensure coordination between relevant DCP divisions and provide guidance to project teams in the preparation of zoning proposals, urban design proposals, technical analysis, environmental review, and other materials related to neighborhood studies. The Director of Technical Strategy will serve as a conduit of information between the agency’s leadership, technical divisions, expert policy divisions, study teams and other partner agencies. In this capacity, the Director of Technical Strategy will be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of agency standards, current policies, preferred methodologies, best practices, as well as lessons learned for neighborhood studies and disseminating this knowledge.

This role will also ensure that the agency’s decision-making protocol is followed and that relevant divisions provide necessary input during the development of proposals and key policies and are provided advance notice to do so.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Process Management and Improvements
- Develop and maintain Internal process improvements to support neighborhood study teams and borough planner work - ie Dashboards, guides, templates
- Identify opportunities to continuously improve the process of developing and implementation Agency lead applications
- Identify inconsistencies in agency approaches to analyses, processes, and policies and develop standards and guidelines in support of increased efficiency and uniformity
- Provide senior leadership with bi-weekly updates on the progress of the agency’s neighborhood studies and major initiatives and identify where additional resources or support may be necessary.
- Propose timelines for Agency lead applications and ensure that they make steady progress towards their targeted timelines.
- Act as technical liaison to the Office of Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development for neighborhood plans and city initiatives.
- Manage the portfolio of requested or proposed neighborhood studies in coordination with the Deputy Executive Director, central divisions, and Borough offices
- Establish a standard methodology by which these neighborhoods are identified, and their development potential assessed.
- Make recommendations to the Executive Office, sister agencies, and City Hall as to which opportunity areas would be best to pursue.
- Develop metrics by which the Agency can assess initiatives (staff time, residential units or other uses created, city programs or infrastructure improvements that have been proposed and/or achieved, etc.)
- Support the development of relevant training modules for project managers and planners.
- Support in implementing agency effectiveness objectives related technical processes and analysis and project management.

Project Support
- Provide support and coordination for all neighborhood studies and major initiatives
- Serve as a repository of institutional knowledge for project managers regarding planning analyses, proposal development, and environmental and technical review as part of the broader pre-certification process
- Expedite the identification, negotiation, and resolution of issues affecting the success of studies and major initiatives including issues requiring interagency coordination
- Manage inter-divisional and inter-agency coordination, sharing of data, and resolution of policy issues in an organized and timely manner.
- Support planners in their use of agency decision making frameworks.
- Provide guidance and hands on support as needed in the development of zoning and urban design proposals.
- Manage the consistent approach to policy, technical analysis, and land-use mechanisms.
- Provide hands-on support for various technical analysis and processes.
- Support CEQR soft site selection and the creation of reasonable worst case development scenarios
- Support the efficient and accurate production of Environmental Impact Statements, including early identification of potential policy concerns and critical path issues.

Visit cityjobs.nyc.gov and follow the steps below:
1. Search for job ID number: 769939
2. Click on the job business title: Director of Technical Strategy
3. Click on “Apply” at the bottom of the posting

IMPORTANT: Only candidates who are permanent Administrative City Planners, those reachable on the Administrative City Planner civil service list, or New York City Employees serving permanently in comparable civil service titles are invited to apply.

Please include a copy of your Notice of Result card or indicate if you are already permanent in this title with your application.

Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position. The NYC Department of City Planning does not offer sponsorship, of any kind, for any type of employment opportunity. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all minimum qualifying requirements for this position at the time of application.

Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.

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.

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed to between the City and DC37.

NOTE: If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation during your visit or have questions regarding the accessibility of our facilities, please reach out to accessibilityinfo@planning.nyc.gov or call 212-720-3508 at least three business days prior to your arrival.

ADMINISTRATIVE CITY PLANNER - 10053