Community Planner (Urban Design)
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Job ID: 13285
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Location: 1100 4th Street, SW
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Date Opened: 05/27/2021
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Area of Consideration: Open to Public
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Grade:11
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Type of Appointment: Career Service - Reg Appt - Union Position
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Date Closed: 06/06/2021
General Job Information
Job Summary
This position is located in the Office of Planning (OP), in the Urban Design Division (UD). The Office of Planning has the lead responsibility for land use planning in the District of Columbia. The Office of Planning provides vision, framework, and principles to guide public and private development and land use decisions. The office supports and coordinates efforts to encourage housing and neighborhood enhancement; to expand the employment base for District residents; to promote the local economy and to retain, expand and attract new businesses. The office is responsible for zoning analysis, historic preservation, neighborhood planning, urban design guidance, statistical services, and interagency coordination of economic development planning efforts and serves as the official Census State Data Center.
The Urban Design Division (UD) develops and reviews plans and projects for neighborhoods and development areas with a focus on urban design, design excellence, beautification, sustainability, and the enhancement of the District’s public spaces. UD manages the public space program and reviews streetscapes, parks and open space designs and develops plans, guidelines, and other tools to advance design quality and address safety, equity, environmental health, community image and aesthetics, and walkability. UD provides urban design guidance, public education, and Design Review, including the development of strategies and guidelines for specific areas and projects, renderings and visual depictions, as well as the review of federal and District buildings and projects, zoning cases, large tract review, landscapes, other installations, streetscape elements, public art, signage and commemorative works.
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will assist in preparation of research, technical, and analytical reports, including public life studies, based on data collected or fieldwork / site visits. Reports include graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, 3-D illustrations, narrative text, and graphically compelling presentations to support findings and recommendations. Develops design concepts for improvements and prepares illustrative drawings, plans and diagrams to guide policy recommendations, streetscape and design guidelines, and special projects. Proposes designs and guidelines for development that reflect the city’s history, culture, and contemporary goals and initiatives in a way that continues the urban design legacy of the District and its neighborhoods.
The incumbent will assist in Design Division review and coordination efforts with private actors and government agencies to enhance and beautify the District’s public realm within its park, environmental and transportation systems. Participates, as needed, with community members, local businesses, and other governmental agencies to determine priorities for planning and urban design strategies. Considers feedback from community members, businesses, and District of Columbia agencies, as well as the District’s goals and priorities when identifying project strategies and goals. Collaborates with agency and division staff to assist in formulating plans, design studies, guidelines, and the design review of new projects and development. Communicate and present major themes and design concepts effectively to diverse audiences with varying levels of skills and knowledge.
Qualifications and Education
A degree in 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.
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Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the above disciplines of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process, and socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work of the position and has equipped the applicant with the particular 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.
A degree in urban design, architecture, landscape architecture or related field is highly preferred.