Urban Designer I

The Urban Design division is responsible for crafting and executing a beautiful humanscale and inclusive vision for the design of the built environment across Boston. We champion the transformative power of beautiful sustainable walkable communities for everyone that support social mental and physical health while improving resiliency and promoting equity.

Under the direction of the Assistant Deputy Director for Urban Design the Urban Designer will contribute to new and ongoing planning and interdepartmental efforts focused on resilience affordability and equity. The Urban Designer will be a key contributor to a wide range of urban design and planning projects producing analysis conceptual ideas and planning and urban design scenarios. The Urban Designer may also conduct design reviews of projects of varying scales sometimes in collaboration with other urban design and planning staff.

URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING:

• Work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams consisting of planners architects landscape architects policymakers and urban designers.
• Engage in all aspects of planning and urban design processes including analysis of site and existing conditions conceptual ideas and scenario development.
• Work across multiple scales and contexts including urban districts and neighborhoods research and innovation clusters campuses etc.
• Create 2d and 3d analytical and conceptual drawings graphics digital and physical models and other content that reflects City goals and community priorities.
• Develop urban design guidelines feasibility studies and impact analyses for a range of scales from individual parcels to citywide planning and zoning initiatives.
• Collaborate with other City departments on design problems and planning projects regarding urban design and the Citys public realm.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Citys digital 3D model.

DESIGN REVIEW:

• Review a wide range of large and smallscale development projects including signage by analyzing project documents (plans sections elevations etc. and understanding the project context.
• Prepare urban design analyses for large and smallscale development projects.

GENERAL:

• Support the Boston Civic Design Commission by organizing logistics updating the website preparing minutes and reports and facilitating meetings.
• Communicate design and planning ideas and critiques verbally and graphically to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent the City at public meetings and meetings with other City state and federal agencies.
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Masters degree in architecture urban design urban planning landscape architecture or a closely related field plus zero to three 03 years of related professional experience.
• Candidates holding a bachelors degree in architecture urban design urban planning landscape architecture or a closely related field with a minimum of two 2 years of experience may also apply.

The work requires the ability to:

• Solve complex urban design planning and zoning problems across a wide range of scales.
• Understand and interpret urban design and architectural drawings such as plans sections and elevations.
• Effectively and clearly communicate with a range of stakeholders graphically and verbally.
• Collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in design and office software including AutoCAD Rhino SketchUp PowerPoint Adobe Creative Suite and/or equivalent programs is required.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro or equivalent software is a plus.

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 should be combined as a single PDF with the applicants cover letter.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Normal office environment. Local travel for site visits and meetings.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Little or no exertion. Occasional handling of fullscale drawing sets presentation boards/easels/equipment or models.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:
NonUnion EXM

Salary Range: $66000 $78500

Hours per week: 35