Senior Vice President, Neighborhood Strategies

Position Overview: 

The Senior Vice President (SVP) and Department Head of Neighborhood Strategies will oversee a team of urban planners, urban designers, and planners with transportation and resilience project experience who conceive and implement complex place-based multiagency initiatives in all five boroughs. Projects led by Neighborhood Strategies aim to strengthen neighborhoods and commercial districts by planning for mixed-income housing, public open space, and community facility and commercial spaces that support neighborhood stability, economic mobility, and business growth across New York City.  Recent projects include planning mixed-income housing in Coney Island; public realm and TOD planning around the Broadway Junction transit hub; planning for supporting quality job growth in the East New York IBZ; and planning for the transformation of Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a modern maritime and mixed-use community.   

The SVP will be responsible for providing strategic direction in the definition of feasible development programs, the design and implementation of community engagement, and the coordination of environmental review, public approvals and entitlement processes.  The SVP will report directly to the Executive Vice President of Planning.   

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction and management to project leads and multi-disciplinary teams managing large-scale planning, public realm, coastal resilience, and transportation mobility projects.
• Oversee the administration of Neighborhood Strategies department, including the recruitment, professional development, performance management, and retention of staff.
• Articulate visions for and evaluate the feasibility of new, place-based planning projects based on sound planning principles, strategic priorities, community needs, and market realities.
• Work closely with the Executive Vice President of Planning, the President’s Office, and City Hall to ensure clear communications, establish priorities, and develop and execute strategies.
• Provide thought leadership in the design and implementation of community outreach and engagement processes and play a leading role in stakeholder engagement, handling media communications and representing NYCEDC in professional and public forums.
• Collaborate with senior leaders in other divisions and departments to establish roles and responsibilities on inter-disciplinary projects, problem solve and achieve alignment between project staff.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior leadership in city, state, and federal government agencies; real estate, urban planning, and business groups; civic and community organizations; cultural and professional organizations; and advocacy groups.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in urban planning, real estate development, public policy, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of related experience in urban planning, real estate and/or community economic development, with significant people management experience
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, large-scale initiatives involving multiple public and private stakeholders; experience working with NYC government preferred
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, including executive leadership, government partners, community stakeholders, and the public
• Agile and results-focused creative thinker who possesses both economic and political acumen
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to create partnerships internally and externally
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing competing priorities, and driving projects from strategy through execution
• Demonstrated experience coaching and managing staff, including performance management, conflict resolution, and supporting professional growth and advancement
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to urgent issues by mobilizing and directing appropriate resources.
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex economic, political, and community considerations.
• NYC residency is required within 180 days of hire.