Senior Urban Designer

Join us in shaping Seattles streets and public spaces!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) we dont just move people we connect communities build safer streets and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future were tackling big challenges: making travel safer cutting carbon emissions creating welcoming public spaces and ensuring reliable affordable transportation for everyone no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast and were growing with it. Thanks to a historic voterapproved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024 were building sidewalks bike lanes plazas fixing bridges and improving transit connections to keep our city moving safely.

Were a team of problem solvers planners engineers communicators and field crewsbringing purposedriven work to life. Now we need passionate innovative talent like you. Lets build a Seattle that works for everyone together!

SDOTs Policy & Planning Division is thrilled to announce two exciting opportunities for Senior Urban Designers under the citys classification title of (Senior Transportation Planner) to join its Urban Design Section. These newly created positions will play a pivotal role in advancing two transformative levyfunded initiatives: the LowPollution Neighborhoods Program and the People Streets and Public Spaces (PSPS) Capital Program.

As project managers for either the LowPollution Neighborhoods Program or the PSPS Capital Program these roles offer the chance to shape Seattles urban landscape and deliver impactful communityfocused projects. The Senior Urban Designers will lead a variety of design coordination data analysis and community engagement activities to support SDOTs mission and goals. The selected candidates will dedicate 40% of their time to developing transportation and urban design plans and projects another 40% of their time to project review and coordination and the remaining 20% of their time will be committed to community engagement activities.

The LowPollution Neighborhoods Program a mayoral priority requires a thoughtful approach to navigating complex and sensitive issues. Representative projects include neighborhood assessments public realm design and program coordination across SDOT and the City. The People Streets and Public Spaces Program defined in the Seattle Transportation Plan focuses on creating vibrant accessible public spaces that enhance the citys livability. Representative projects include public realm design street design concept development and guidance and project development in partnership with community groups and organizations.

Ideal candidates will bring a wealth of experience in urban design and transportation planning along with a commitment to embedding Seattles Race and Social Justice priorities into every aspect of their work. They will also be wellversed in the design and delivery of peopleoriented streets and public spaces through both tactical urbanism and longterm improvement projects. These positions are opportunities to make a lasting difference in the lives of Seattles residents.

• Manage and support the identification and development of Urban Design projects and programs.
• Participate in consultant selection scope negotiation and management of consultant teams.

• Identify and recommend transportation and land use policies code amendments and design guidance needed to implement people streets and public spaces and/or lowpollution neighborhoods.

• Identify opportunities for spot improvements pilot and tactical redesign projects transformational placemaking projects and locations to reallocate street space to support peopleoriented uses.
• Develop work plans schedules and budgets for program implementation.
• Coordinate with project developers designers and engineers to support project implementation.
• Lead and support cocreation with the community and partner with other city departments and agencies local businesses landowners residents and community groups.
• Respond to citizen inquiries that arise through community conversations or direct communications by explaining policies or investigating an issue further.
• Serve as subject matter expert and provide review of private and public projects.
• Participate in Policy & Planning Division operations including weekly team meetings monthly AllStaff meetings etc.
• Conduct general administrative work including filing training and responding to general communications.
• Support departmental goals in promoting diversity and social justice in keeping with the Citys Race and Social Justice Initiative.

• Develop updates to Streets Illustrated Seattles RightofWay Improvements Manual that align with the People Streets and Public Spaces (PSPS) element of the Seattle Transportation Plan including interagency coordination and review and development of standards and guidelines to advance implementation of PSPS in alignment with City goals.
• Coordination with Office of Planning & Community Development Seattle Design Commission Office of Arts & Culture and other various departments agencies and commissions.
• Lead and support the development of People Streets and Public Spaces projects from concept design through project development and delivery.

• Coordination with the Office of Sustainability & Environment Office of Planning & Community Development Seattle Public Utilities Seattle Parks Department and other various departments agencies and commissions.
• Lead and support the development of pilots projects and programs associated with LowPollution Neighborhoods.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:Bachelors degree in Transportation Planning Urban Planning Urban Design Landscape Architecture Civil Engineering or related field.

Experience: Three (3) years of fulltime experience with urban design architecture landscape architecture civil engineering transportation planning or public realm design and delivery projects.

OR:An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the positions duties.

Though not requirements strong candidates will have some of the following experience or can describe comparable experience:

• Masters degree in Urban Design Architecture Landscape Architecture Civil Engineering Transportation Planning Urban Planning or relevant subject area.
• Three (3) years of experience leading urban design and/or transportation projects. This could include corridor designs or studies peopleoriented street and public space design and delivery for public rightsofway transit station access plans or urban design studies or neighborhood plans.
• Three (3) years of experience briefing and making recommendations to senior management elected officials and representatives of other public agencies; communication skills (written and oral) that are effective and persuasive with a wide diversity of people; superior writing skills including grant writing experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently set workload priorities; plan direct coordinate and review the work of assigned team members; and work with demanding and competing deadlines.
• Experience working with elected officials and coordinating and working on matrixed and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate complex issues with a broad range of audiences.
• Experience serving as a representative of the agency on multiagency committees and leading staff teams.
• Experience building relationships with the community and conducting community engagement activities.
• Ability to use word processing spreadsheet presentation database and analysis software to prepare plans reports track and administer grants and develop briefing materials.
• Proficient with ESRI ArcGIS SketchUp Bluebeam and the Adobe Creative Suite (including Illustrator Photoshop and InDesign). Comfortable in developing hand sketches and drawings and/or computer softwaregenerated 3dimensional models to support design discussions.

Work Environment / Physical Demands:

• Work is typically performed in a hybrid work environment in which a minimum of 3 days of the work is completed in a City office and 2 days of the work is completed remotely in a regular 40hour work week.

Licenses:

• Current Washington State drivers license or alternative transportation.

Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Hiring Process:

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.

1. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.

1. Current rsum indicating relevant experience and education.

1. Supplemental questionnaire responses.

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process including a potential background check.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Citys full salary range for this position is $ 58.45 $ 67.95 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation holiday and sick leave as well as medical dental vision life and longterm disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the Citys website at: MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:

Job #

If you are unable to apply online you may submit a paper application by the closing date to our office.

OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED AT:

Seattle Municipal Tower

700 5th Avenue Suite 5500

Seattle WA 98104

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race color creed national origin ancestry sex marital status disability religious or political affiliation age sexual orientation or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply including people of color immigrants refugees women LGBTQ people people with disabilities veterans and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.

The City is a Drug Free Workplace.