Senior Architect/Urban Designer III

City of Boston • Boston, MA

74d • $106,000 - $144,000

About The Position

Under the direction of the Deputy Director for Design Review, the Senior Architect will lead the design review for development projects of all scales. The Senior Architect will be a critical member of project review teams, facilitating internal and interdepartmental conversations and communicating clear and actionable feedback, guided by City goals and policies, to project proponents. The Senior Architect will also serve as a mentor to other design review staff and play a key role in ensuring that proposed development projects advance the City’s design vision and planning goals. In addition, the Senior Architect may prepare or guide urban design studies and provide urban design guidance to planning study teams.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in architecture, urban design, or a closely related field, plus fifteen (15) - seventeen (17) years of related professional experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban design, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a closely related field with a minimum of 17 years of experience is also acceptable.
• Massachusetts Architecture License is strongly preferred.
• Ability to carry out design reviews in a professional and collaborative manner.
• Understanding of technical details and constraints of both buildings and public realm projects.
• Ability to solve complex urban design, planning, and zoning problems across a wide range of scales.
• Effective communication with a range of stakeholders graphically and verbally.
• Ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Experience in conducting public design/development review is highly desirable.
• Prior experience designing complex architectural or urban design projects is also highly desirable.
• Supervisory or management skills are strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with design and office software, including AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp, PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, and/or equivalent programs.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro or equivalent software is a plus.
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
• Basic computer knowledge such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on details as required by the job.
• Demonstrated initiative and appropriate independent decision-making skills.
• Boston residency required.

Responsibilities

• Lead review of a wide range of large- and small-scale development projects, including signage and master plan developments.
• Analyze project documents (plans, sections, elevations, etc.) and understand the project context.
• Incorporate and apply urban design guidelines, planning goals, and applicable zoning regulations to evaluate a project.
• Provide timely and concise comments on urban design, infrastructure, daylight analysis, resilience, and environmental performance of a project.
• Lead conversations with the project proponent or their representative, and other City staff, including sustainability and resilience staff.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from other City departments to review projects, identifying key City priorities and building consensus.
• Communicate design feedback in a professional and collaborative manner to external and internal stakeholders.
• Analyze and evaluate planning and design proposals, zoning initiatives, and design-related environmental impacts.
• Solicit and consider input from community and civic groups, abutters, and other interested parties.
• Engage in all aspects of planning and urban design processes, including site and existing conditions analysis, conceptual ideas, and scenario development.
• Create or direct the creation of 2D and 3D analytical and conceptual drawings, graphics, digital and physical models.
• Mentor and direct staff in the development of urban design and planning concepts, guidelines, graphics, and other content.
• Initiate urban design concepts and visual graphics driven by the City’s design vision.
• Develop and write urban design guidelines, feasibility studies, and impact analyses.
• Lead conversations with and/or collaborate with other City departments on design problems and planning projects.
• Manage internal staff and/or consultants for urban design projects.
• Advise Planning senior staff of politically sensitive or controversial project-related issues.
• Represent the City of Boston at public meetings and meetings with other city, state, and federal agencies.
• Dispense public information about specific projects and overall design and planning initiatives.
• Participate in the development of Requests for Proposals (RFP) and the selection of engineering, planning, and/or design consultants.
• Prepare regular status reports of projects under review for supervisor and other senior staff.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• Salary range: $106,000 - $144,000
• Hours per week: 35

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Master's degree