Sr. Director, WNY Policy & Planning

Empire State•Buffalo, NY

15h•$120,000 - $125,000•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 further the missions of ESD's WNY subsidiaries, particularly in 'place-based' revitalization. The role also involves assisting with project development and implementation in the broader WNY Region as directed by the WNY Regional Director. The individual will lead and/or contribute to technical activities such as developing strategic mission statements, policy formulation, annual goals, budgets, and action items, as well as specific capital, organizational, incentive assistance, or other site-specific projects. Additionally, at the discretion of ESD leadership, this person may augment ESD’s Design and Construction Department capabilities in Upstate New York by providing technical support related to city planning, place-based 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.
Applicants MUST submit a cover letter with resume to be considered.

Nice To Haves

Masters in city planning preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and formulate with staff and serve as primary author for ESD’s WNY subsidiaries mission statements, policy statements, white papers on critical issues, etc.
Identify goals/objectives for each program year and formulate/refine projects to progressively advance ESD’s WNY subsidiaries mission and coordinate with Subsidiary Presidents and Regional Directors (“RDs”) to assist in annual budgeting and programming of such efforts.
Serve as primary technical liaison with other City/State agencies associated with development projects, e.g. various NYS Parks capital/management personnel, NYSDOT, NYSDEC, county/municipal planning and public works, etc.
Serve as principal author of ESD’s WNY subsidiaries strategic and project-based planning documents (e.g., strategic plans, master plans, general project plans). Assist ESD-WNY Regional Office with strategic and project-based planning documents (e.g., strategic plans, master plans, general project plans) upon request of the WNY Regional Director.
Prepare various types of applications for grants, federal aid, or other types of assistance for ESD-WNY and ESD Subsidiary projects.
Oversee and/or assist in all ESD-WNY & WNY Subsidiary responsibilities regarding the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), including but limited to assessment of agency actions; preparation of all required notices, findings, and determinations; preparation of environmental assessments for non-complex projects; and procurement/oversight of consultants for complex environmental reviews (e.g., environmental impact statements).
Oversee and/or assist in all ESD-WNY & Subsidiary responsibilities under Section 14.09 of the New York State Historic Preservation Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, including but not limited to: consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer on all applicable agency actions; preparation of letters of resolution, programmatic agreements, and memoranda of understanding; and procurement/oversight of consultants for complex cultural resources work (e.g. detailed archaeological investigations, detailed historic building assessments).
Administer/oversee and/or participate in all review activities related to compliance with Urban Design Standards for projects involving USAN or ESD-WNY grant assistance for projects in Niagara Falls and East Buffalo, ECHDC’s Canalside Project, and make periodic refinements of such standards to address issues experienced in their application.
As necessary, procure/oversee work of consultants involved in planning, architecture/engineering (“A/E”), environmental review, construction management (“CM”), hazardous waste/materials investigations and asbestos surveys/abatement actions as they relate to ESD-WNY and WNY subsidiaries capital projects.
As necessary, serve as 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 requests for qualifications (“RFQs”), Requests for proposals (“RFPs”) for term and project-specific professional services.
Prepare requests for expressions of interest (“RFEIs”), RFQs, and RFPs for development on ESD-WNY and WNY Subsidiary-owned or controlled land/properties.
Develop technical selection/evaluation criteria for procurement activities.
In conjunction with ESD’s Procurement office, assist in leading procurement processes in accordance with ESD Procurement Guidelines, including documentation, required screenings, responsibility determinations, interview sessions, de-briefings, etc.
Provide oversight to CM and A/E consultants as "owners representative" for WNY Subsidiary projects and as requested by WNY Regional Director.
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 to avoid escalation.
Travel throughout WNY may be required.
At the discretion of the ESD COO, provide technical assistance in the above-listed fields of expertise to other ESD Regions/Subsidiaries and /or related local, county, or state agencies engaged in joint or complementary efforts with ESD.