Sr. Director, WNY Policy & Planning

Empire State•Buffalo, NY

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position, reporting to the ESD VP/Sr. Counsel with a dotted line to the WNY Regional Director, is responsible for assisting in the formulation, development, and implementation of programs, activities, and projects that support the ESD's WNY subsidiaries' missions in place-based revitalization. The role involves leading and contributing to technical activities such as developing strategic mission statements, policy formulation, setting annual goals, budgets, and action items, and managing specific capital, organizational, or incentive assistance projects. Additionally, the position may provide technical support to ESD's Design and Construction Department in Upstate New York, focusing on city planning, economic development, environmental review, and historic resources management for capital projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in city planning with emphasis in urban redevelopment, capital facilities, and/or transportation.
Will consider degree in architecture or civil engineering, or equivalent professional degree in a related field.
5+ years’ progressively responsible experience in public administration, public agency consulting, or other positions related to economic development, urban redevelopment projects, capital facilities, urban transportation projects, project programming/planning and/or environmental documentation for capital projects.
Advanced concepts, practices and procedures related to development and redevelopment including city planning, urban design, development regulations, capital facilities planning, real estate finance, preliminary/final design and engineering, environmental review/documentation, historic/archaeological consultation, construction management and project oversight.
Ability to read, review, and comment on preliminary/final design drawings, construction documents, and specifications for public infrastructure, capital improvement, and building projects.
Strong written, graphic, and oral communication skills, including ability to prepare technical reports, summary briefings, and oral presentations to ESD Management, ESD/USAN/ECHDC/ECSC Boards, governing bodies, and regulatory agencies.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Masters in city planning preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and formulate mission statements, policy statements, and white papers for ESD's WNY subsidiaries.
Identify goals and objectives for each program year and formulate projects to advance ESD's WNY subsidiaries' mission.
Serve as the primary technical liaison with other City/State agencies involved in development projects.
Prepare strategic and project-based planning documents for ESD's WNY subsidiaries.
Assist the ESD-WNY Regional Office with strategic and project-based planning documents upon request.
Prepare applications for grants, federal aid, or other types of assistance for ESD-WNY and ESD Subsidiary projects.
Oversee and/or assist with responsibilities regarding the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
Oversee and/or assist with responsibilities under Section 14.09 of the New York State Historic Preservation Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Administer/oversee and/or participate in review activities related to compliance with Urban Design Standards.
Procure/oversee the work of consultants involved in planning, architecture/engineering, environmental review, construction management, and hazardous waste/materials investigations.
Serve as the primary liaison for any local, county, state, or federal permitting required for ESD-WNY and WNY Subsidiary capital projects.
Prepare technical scopes of work for RFQs and RFPs for professional services.
Prepare requests for expressions of interest, RFQs, and RFPs for development on ESD-WNY and WNY Subsidiary-owned or controlled land/properties.
Develop technical selection/evaluation criteria for procurement activities.
Assist in leading procurement processes in accordance with ESD Procurement Guidelines.
Provide oversight to CM and A/E consultants as 'owners representative' for WNY Subsidiary projects.
Ensure ESD-required statements, policies, and/or procedures are included in contract specifications.
Attend weekly progress meetings with contractors, CM, and A/E reps.
Responsible for effective scheduling, staging, and supervision of project team members.
Responsible for trouble-shooting minor problems throughout the design/construction process and promptly briefing appropriate higher-level personnel when necessary.
Provide technical assistance in areas of expertise to other ESD Regions/Subsidiaries and/or related local, county, or state agencies.