Category: 
Job


Location: Nashville, TN

Design Implementation – Planner 2

Salary: $80,810.37

Closing: August 18, 2023

About
The Metro Nashville/Davidson County Planning Department is seeking an individual with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, and/or urban design to join its Design Studio. It is an exciting time to be a part of a team that is shaping Nashville’s future! We are looking for a qualified candidate to join our team as a mid-level urban designer and planner.

Metro’s Design Studio is comprised of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design professionals working to elevate urban design in Nashville. They lend their creative and technical expertise on a wide variety of projects, in urban, suburban, and rural contexts, through collaboration with design and development teams, community leaders, stakeholders, and other Metro departments.

The Design Studio administers the Planning Department’s form-based codes including the Downtown Code, and several Urban Design Overlays. The Design Studio also supports other teams and stakeholders with design analysis, community engagement and facilitations, development of planning studies and plan amendments, design of innovative zoning tools, design research, and the creation of graphically compelling documents, publications, and web-tools.

Job Description
A successful candidate will have experience in urban design and planning, including community participation and facilitation. The candidate will contribute to implementation of design overlays and the Downtown Code. To do so, the candidate should have the ability to read and comprehend site plans, architectural drawings, civil drawings, and landscape drawings, and provide critical comments and feedback on these drawings. Occasionally, this position will lead planning and design initiatives in a team atmosphere with supervision by senior planners and/or management staff. The position may entail drafting text amendments, urban design policy documents, and/or design guidelines or supporting other staff members in these activities. The candidate will have the ability to participate in complex planning efforts, and effectively communicate planning and design ideas verbally and graphically to a variety of stakeholders.

Qualifications
Competency in design & design criticism

  • Education or professional experience in architecture, landscape architecture, and/or urban design.
  • Familiarity with best practices in architectural design, landscape architectural design, urban design, urban planning, and sustainability.
  • Ability to review and analyze proposals for design quality and compliance with planning policy and zoning regulations.
  • Strong eye for compelling graphic and layout design.

Technical Proficiency

  • Competency reading technical drawings and construction documents.
  • Competency understanding and analyzing ordinances and planning and zoning documents.
  • Ability to translate and clearly communicate architectural and design ideas verbally and graphically, with standard design software (and/or hand drawing).
  • Ability to clearly write, prepare, and present concise and accurate staff reports and presentations.

Organizational and Collaborative Skills

  • Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team setting, including in-person and/or virtually
  • Strong capacity to effectively multi-task on a variety of project types, and across time sensitive deadlines
  • Professional self-awareness and an ability to ask for and receive support from peers, management, and executive staff
  • Capable of working with applicants, design/development professionals, fellow Metro staff, and community members in a respectful and professional manner

Technical Requirements

  • Proficiency in GIS – ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro
  • Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative suite – Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
  • Familiarity with 3D modelling (SketchUp, Rhino, or Revit) preferred
  • Familiarity with 3D rendering (V-Ray, Lumion, Maxwell) preferred
  • Familiarity with AutoCAD preferred

Key Attributes
Must have the ability to accurately process, review, analyze, and critique complex development projects with an emphasis on good urban design principles. Must be able to communicate with other Metro Departments, development professionals, elected officials, and citizens. Attention to detail; compliance with time-sensitive deadlines; clear and timely communication with a variety of stakeholders; to establish and maintain effective working relationships; support peers in collaborative work; support a friendly and productive work environment whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid.

Responsibilities

  • Provide urban design guidance for development proposals within the form-based code areas and for community planning processes – working with applicants, citizens, and elected officials.
  • Collaborate in a team setting, and effectively communicate to produce high quality urban design, planning, and regulatory tools.
  • Conduct compliance review for development proposals within the DTC and UDO areas, including writing staff reports and making public presentations for both small groups and large audiences.
  • Create and/or oversee the creation of graphics and illustrative materials for a variety of planning documents and reports.
  • Contribute to the creation of design scenarios and planning studies.
  • Contribute to Design Review Committee meetings, and stakeholder community meetings.

Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a similar field, from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of related experience, or Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a similar field from an accredited college or university, and two (2) years of related experience. Experience working for or with a local government is preferred.

How to Apply
Qualified applicants should send (preferably via email) a letter of interest, resume, and a portfolio of work samples to: Randi Semrick at randi.semrick@nashville.gov or

Randi Semrick
Metro Planning Department
800 Second Avenue South
P.O. Box 196300
Nashville, TN 37219-6300
(No Phone Calls Please)