Principal Urban Designer - Community Planning and Development
This posting will accept applications until January 18th, 2023. Please apply as soon as possible!
Are you a passionate and creative urban design or planning professional seeking to build community and shape the future of one of the country’s fastest-growing cities? Do you have experience with urban design and community planning? The City of Denver is seeking a Principal Urban Designer to join a tight-knit team of professionals who create the visions and design tools that move our city forward. This position provides an opportunity to manage and participate in meaningful efforts to promote equitable development in Denver within a fun and supportive workplace. If this sounds like a fit, we invite you to apply today by clicking here!
Working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) is so much more than a job. It’s a chance to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of people around you. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for the city that you love!
BUILDING COMMUNITY: Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD regulates planning, zoning, development, and maintenance of private property in Denver. We're working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Visit www.denvergov.org/cpd and www.DenverGov.org/DS to learn more.
The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is seeking a highly motivated and creative individual with a proven track record of professional achievement, strong visualization, design, and communication skills to fill a Principal Urban Designer position to work directly with the Chief Urban Designer. The ideal candidate will offer experience in project management, development of long term visions, and implementing plans through regulatory tools. Additionally the candidate will posses a positive attitude toward community service, with a strong commitment to advancing equity and advancing the City’s adopted plans, including Comprehensive Plan 2040 and Blueprint Denver, as well as a desire to contribute to an engaging, fast-paced work environment in roles that impact the growth and development of the City.
Key responsibilities for the Principal Urban Designer positions include:
· Plan, organize and conduct zoning, land use and urban design studies, research data, analyze conditions, prepare technical and illustrative drawings, digital models and presentation materials, and write reports for land use policy proposals;
· Review, analyze and make urban design related recommendations on applications and projects submitted to the Department
· Coordinate and contribute to complex planning projects, which may include multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional efforts and may include overseeing the work of consultants and staff. This entails developing scopes of work, timelines, and budgets
· Lead regulatory projects to implement planning and urban design goals, prepare conceptual designs, develop design criteria and design guidelines for large-scale planning efforts, and coordinate with CPD staff and other Departments
· May lead rezoning's (map amendments), including preparation of staff reports and presentations to the Denver City Council and Planning Board
· May conduct staff review of projects located in design review districts using adopted urban design standards and guidelines
· Assist with negotiation of improved design outcomes, equity outcomes, and other community benefits in new development that is shaping Denver’s future
· Proactively engage the public in planning including facilitating meetings, making effective presentations, and bringing together stakeholders to discuss proposed planning initiatives, assess obstacles, evaluate opposing views and interests, and determine areas of support
About You
Our ideal candidate has:
- Five or more years of professional experience in urban design and community planning, with direct experience solving urban design issues
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, City or Regional Planning, Historic Preservation, Engineering or related
- Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and engaging with a wide range of staff and departments
- Experience with negotiating positive outcomes and navigating complex political contexts
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Problem solving skills to effectively engage internal and external partners and mitigate risky outcomes
- Strong self-motivation and motivation to help others
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team to support both internal and external customers; Ability to maintain confidentiality; The ability to multitask and work well under pressure
- Familiarity with software used in Denver’s planning and regulatory implementation efforts, including Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign); Proficiency with Rhino, Sketchup or other similar design visualization/evaluation software. Proficiency in GIS a plus
- Proficient in the Spanish language a plus- speaking, reading and writing
- Government experience a plus
We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:
· Education: Bachelor’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Engineering, or a related degree
· Experience: Six (6) years of professional planning experience
· Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education
· Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements
To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Three work samples that demonstrate your urban design and graphic skills. If submitting samples from group projects, please specify which task(s) you performed