Hester Street is seeking an experienced urban planner, designer and/or community development professional to plan, manage and implement community-driven planning and development projects in New York City and nationwide. We are looking for someone with 7-to-10 years of work experience who demonstrates strong analytical and strategic thinking at both a micro and macro level. The right candidate will take on a leadership role in a mission-driven social justice organization.

Hester Street is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce that reflects the populations with whom we partner and serve. Our organization is women-led and our staff is majority people of color. We seek to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability or veteran status.

ABOUT HESTER STREET

Hester Street deploys urban planning, design and development expertise to support community-led change, so cities are shaped by the people from the neighborhood-level up. We are a mission- driven non-profit and we work closely with both community-based organizations, public and  private agencies to advance community-driven planning and policymaking and equitable community development. We focus on low-income communities and communities of color – people and places that historically and systematically have been left out of decision making. Our vision is a racially, socially, and economically just, vibrant and resilient world fueled by the values and vision of the many.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Senior Project Managers (SPMs) are creative problem solvers with excellent project management skills and experience running project teams. SPMs develop the vision, design and plan for our project work and work with their teams to implement. Overall, SPMs are responsibile for the successful development, execution, monitoring and closure of multiple projects. They play a key role as organization leaders and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). SPMs help Co- Executive Directors shape the organization’s priorities and ambitious goals and translate those into high-impact, innovative, collaborative project work to advance Hester Street’s mission.

Qualified candidates will have experience working on three or more mid-to-large-scale city, neighborhood or community planning, design and/or development projects, creating and executing complex work plans and building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including: community residents, neighborhood institutions, government agencies, and elected officials, among others. They will also have experience managing and collaborating with diverse project teams. This is a great opportunity for a highly motivated planning, community development or design professional who welcomes work in a collaborative environment to join a growing, high- energy team.

Responsibilities -- Projects (70%)

• Supervise all aspects of community planning projects inside and outside NYC;
• Develop overall project approach that leverages opportunities for innovation and equity while also achieving project goals;
• Guide planning, design and development technical work (such as conducting planning studies, developing surveys, creating maps, gathering data and conducting site-specific and neighborhood-level analyses, developing innovative and actionable recommendations);
•   Develop strong working relationships with community-based organizations and government agencies;
•   Manage complex project teams made up of HST staff and outside consultants -- regularly connect project work with HST mission and vision;
•   Effectively prioritize, delegate, execute and track tasks across multiple projects, adhering to rigorous timelines;
•   Center inclusive, accessible community engagement in every project and look for opportunities for innovation;
•   Draw from research on innovative community development best practices to inform project work.

Leadership and Organizational Development (30%)

• Supervise 1-3 Project Managers and/or Project Associates;
• Raise and address opportunities at the intersection of vision and program/projects to drive innovation
• Inform annual goal-setting with knowledge and insights of project/team-based vision/priorities Identify new research questions and research/technical skills gaps to meet project and organizational development goals
• Research and identify national and international best practices of innovative community design and development
• Identify and seek out new lines of work and pitch in on grant writing, project reporting, public speaking and other business development tasks
• Communicate Hester Street’s approach and project experiences with a wide range of partners,
• contributing to the broader field/discourse.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who take a creative approach to their work, are pro-active, deadline- oriented and expert at juggling multiple projects. In addition to having highly developed technical, project management and relationship building skills, top candidates will have:

• Background in relevant field and strong interest in community-driven planning and equitable development;
• 7-to-10 years of full-time planning, architecture and/or community development experience with increasing levels of responsibility;
• Experience working with low-income communities and communities of color;
• Community engagement and/or facilitation experience;
• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Architecture or a related field;
• Proficiency with the programs we use is a plus – InDesign and other Adobe Creative Suite programs, and/or ArcGIS;
• Fluency in a language other than English is also a

Salary

This position is competitive and depends on multiple factors, including prior experience. In addition, Hester Street offers a comprehensive benefits package. Salary range will be shared in the interview process.

To Apply

Please upload cover letter, résumé and two work samples here.

Hester Street is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization incorporated as Hester Street Collaborative