Senior Comprehensive Planner II - City of Boston

Under the supervision of a Planning & Zoning Division Deputy Director and in collaboration with planning team members, the Senior Planner II will conduct, manage, and lead multiple major planning initiatives to support the City's and communities' long-term goals. The planner will develop or direct a team to prepare and draft planning elements, such as land use, transportation, and housing, along with supporting documents.

As a critical component of any comprehensive planning or zoning effort, the Senior Planner II will engage the community, other constituencies, and public agency departments to solicit input and feedback for recommendations on the above-referenced tasks. This includes maintaining community relationships and advising City staff and the public regarding regulatory processes and procedures.

The general duties and responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the information listed below.

• Convey and interpret information about current planning initiatives to community members and help advance planning goals, achieve community consensus, and resolve issues.
• Lead comprehensive planning and land use-related planning and community engagement processes, including daytime, evening, and weekend public meetings. Create supporting materials for specific initiatives; guide others in the creation of supporting materials for specific initiatives.  
• Lead and conduct comprehensive and strategic planning, transportation, zoning, land use, and regulatory reform analyses for citywide and community-specific planning projects and special planning districts. Direct planning staff in completing land use planning, zoning, and transportation-related work.  
• Conduct planning, urban design, and site technical analyses, including analysis of case data, mapping, and zoning test fits. Oversee the work of other staff contributing to the analysis. 
• Draft or update new or existing plans, thoroughly evaluate proposed land use and policy recommendations with internal and external stakeholders and prepare planning documents for presentation to the BPDA Board, Zoning Commission, and other relevant boards for approval. Develop clear and engaging presentation materials to communicate planning recommendations and assess the potential impacts of proposed changes.
• Manage consultant selection team and subsequent consultant work and budgets for planning and zoning initiatives. This includes overseeing pre-planning activities such as drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for consultant services. Oversee consultant contract services.
• Research, formulate, and draft staff recommendations for the Zoning Board of Appeal regarding zoning appeal cases and zoning variances based on pertinent planning issues. 
• Prepare and present analyses of the planning context in support of the Planning Department's regulatory review of development proposals under Article 80 and other review processes. 
• Provide regular updates on workflow and progress on assigned projects to the Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning.
• Advise City staff and the public regarding comprehensive planning and related land use issues.  
• Prepare briefings for senior Agency staff or City officials.
• Assist in training, guiding, and supervising staff and interns.
• Perform related duties as required.

• Work requires completion of a Master's degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field; Juris Doctor or paralegal certification; and a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in long-range planning, zoning, transportation, or community development. Candidates holding a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in zoning and/or land use may also apply.
• Prior experience conducting and managing a land use or zoning process is required.
• Work requires the ability to solve land use and zoning problems, analyze and interpret planning issues, and effectively manage the contributions of other staff to a neighborhood planning initiative.
• Strong written and verbal communication and project management skills are an essential requirement; strong graphic skills are desired.
• Full command of Microsoft Office and Google Suite programs is required.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) to design and assemble graphically compelling (clear) presentations and/or experience drafting zoning text amendments is highly desirable.

Application Requirements:

Applicants are required to submit work samples that illustrate strong graphic and written communication skills or one graphic work sample and one written work sample. Work samples need to be combined as a single PDF with the applicant's cover letter and resume.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:
Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/($94,000 - $127,000)
Hours per week: 35