Climate and Sustainability Planner

THIS POSITION IS FUNDED FOR ONE YEAR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER EXTENSION.

THE AGENCY

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the city through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide and sharing its perspectives on growth and community needs with sister agencies in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The New York City Department of City Planning is a great place to work – cultivating intellectual inspiration, professional development and creativity. Visit our website at www.nyc.gov/planning to access the full listing of job opportunities and to learn more about our great agency.

THE DIVISION

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing New York City. The Climate and Sustainability Planning (CSP) team at DCP works to prepare the city for a changing climate and advance initiatives to protect and enhance New York City’s waterfront. CSP works to promote an active, accessible and resilient waterfront, and climate ready, carbon neutral, and environmentally sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and residents. CSP works on planning, project review, and policy development in partnership with city, state, and federal agencies, neighborhood residents, and numerous stakeholders.

CSP staff play an integral role in supporting the City’s climate change and sustainable building priorities.

Staff Work On

• Preparing citywide reports and plans to address the challenges the city faces, including the ten-year Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, and the city’s sustainability plans
• Administering the Waterfront Revitalization Program, the city’s Coastal Zone Management program, through reviewing roughly 200 projects annually
• Advising the Chair and the City Planning Commission on issues related to climate change, resiliency, and sustainability
• Collaborating with other divisions in the agency to advance neighborhood and citywide planning initiatives
• Continuing to expand/improve New Yorkers’ access to the city’s waterfront
• Advancing planning for stormwater resiliency
• Coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies on the planning of coastal protection systems
• Developing DCP’s understanding of emerging topics including urban heat, clean energy and energy storage, and biodiversity
  
  

THE ROLE

Following Hurricane Ida, the City of New York released The New Normal: Combatting Storm-related Extreme Weather in New York City to identify critical next steps to ensure the city is more resilient to increased stormwater flooding from extreme weather events. CSP is seeking a Climate and Sustainability Planner to manage a one-year-long planning study to identify neighborhoods at risk of stormwater flooding, particularly where subgrade spaces are prevalent and potentially being used for habitation. The proposed project will generate maps and statistics to illustrate flood risk, built environment, socio-economic, and demographic characteristics of the areas of New York City most vulnerable to stormwater flooding. It is expected this information will help lay the groundwork for future adaption measures, including updates to New York City’s Building Code and Zoning Resolution to promote stormwater-resistant construction. In addition, analyzing vulnerabilities to stormwater flooding could aid New York City Emergency Management in developing and targeting future outreach and communication strategies to residents in vulnerable areas.

Under supervision, with some latitude for exercising independent judgment, the Climate and Sustainability Planner will:

• Utilize ArcGIS and other geospatial software, as needed, to perform analysis on a variety of climate resilience and land use data resources
• Summarize and communicate complex trends to colleagues at DCP, other City Agencies, and the public
• Produce written reports and presentations
• Work closely with other divisions within the Department, City Agencies, and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Enviromental Justice to review data and findings
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of climate planning and policies, including City-led land use and zoning studies and community-led initiatives
• Perform other related tasks
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning; or
• A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to “1"" above. Graduate
  
  

education in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Special Qualification Requirements

Assignment Level III

To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Assignment Level IV

To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Preferred Skills

• Excellent geospatial and data analysis skills, including knowledge and proficiency in ArcGIS - Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills - Strong organizational and project management skills - Familiarity with New York City’s zoning and land use policy - Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe Creative Suite to create and organize graphic and written materials - Ability to apply independent judgment to resolve complex problems - Ability to work well in teams with staff and a variety of agency stakeholders - Previous experience with climate resiliency projects or policy is welcome
  
  

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

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.

, $73,392.00 – $73,392.00