Location: all cities,MD, USA
Introduction
The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is seeking talented, energetic, and motivated design professionals to join its Planning Best Practices Division to promote placemaking, sustainable urban design practices, and scenario planning in Maryland that value and preserve cultural resources, celebrate diversity, and activate underutilized public spaces within communities. This position will be responsible for providing key support to the advancement of Maryland's 12 visions and/or sustainable growth principles through the utilization of place-based approaches that assist communities explore alternative land use scenarios of their community and cultivate context-sensitive design elements considering the needs of Marylanders of all ages, abilities, and background.MDP is the only cabinet-level state planning department in the United States. The planning and urban design work program presents an unparalleled variety of projects for the proper candidate, spanning the spectrum from municipal community development and grant administration to statewide policy review, mapping/data dashboard development, and comprehensive growth management.
GRADE
18
LOCATION OF POSITION
120 E. Baltimore StreetSuite 2000Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Main Purpose of Job
The Placemaking/Urban Design Specialist will develop and coordinate the Department's new placemaking initiative to shape the work program and advance best practices throughout Maryland. This position serves in the Department's Planning Best Practices Division and works closely with the Director and Planning Supervisor, the division's Regional Planners, other Department divisions, state agencies, and community partnership organizations to promote placemaking, scenario planning, and sustainable urban design practices in Maryland that value and preserve cultural resources, celebrate diversity, and activate underutilized public spaces within communities. This position is responsible for providing key support to the advancement of Maryland's 12 Visions and/or sustainable growth principles through the utilization of placebased approaches that assist communities, explore alternative land use scenarios of their community, and cultivate context-sensitive design elements that consider the needs of Marylanders of all ages, abilities, and background. The education and training duties require coordinating with other Department staff, state agency staff, and other providers of placemaking education and training in the state, as well as collaborating on the analytical assessments of community alternatives. This position also reviews and comments on a variety of planning documents related to community programming and space activation, advises on scenario planning data analyses and visualization techniques, and occasionally will serve as a liaison to financial assistance agencies to help secure additional resources and investment to implement place making projects.
POSITION DUTIES
Best Practices Coordination and Project Management - Advance bestplanning practices in the art of placemaking and scenario planning for urban,suburban, and rural jurisdictions. This position develops and promotes soundlocal planning by considering sustainable best practices, customized to meetthe needs of the community. This position leads the development of MDP'splacemaking and scenario planning data sets and visualization tools for useby local governments during the comprehensive and neighborhood planningprocess. The position reviews and comments on local plans and programs tocompile best practices and offer suggestions for placemaking that leads toeconomic development. Technical assistance includes helping local and stateplanning staff and officials visualize land use alternatives, placemaking andurban design. In this role, this position coordinates with the Department'sRegional Planners, state agencies, other planning stakeholder organizations,and community organizations.This position promotes and measures the success of placemaking, scenarioplanning, and urban design integration in plans and plan implementationtools by developing and deploying methods leading to conclusions at thelocal level of best practices being implemented. This includes curriculumcontent project management, research, lesson design, assessment and metrics(to measure the short- and long-term success of departmental and othergovernment placemaking and urban design planning efforts), online learningproduct design, and coordinating and conducting training seminars,workshops, and other educational events, both regionally and statewide. Thisrequires coordination with Planning Best Practices staff, the PlannerSupervisor and Planning Best Practices Director, state agency staff similarlyengaged in placemaking and economic development, and partnerorganizations such as institutions of higher learning, to craft curriculum thatenhances placemaking, scenario planning, and urban design tools for local,regional, and state planning documents and programs. ThePlacemaking/Urban Design Lead will help communities understand assetsand opportunities, explore plan alternatives, leverage cultural resources,enhance community organizing and capacity building, craft planning andregulatory documents as needed, and promote place-based economicdevelopment by delivering measurable results.Regional Planning/Liaison- Aid jurisdictions as requested to help meet stateplanning requirements, build local capacity, promote best planning andzoning practices, gain desired local designations, access grant funding,enhance economic and community development, and ensure effective localand regional collaboration, among other needs.Regional Planning/Plan Review and Implementation - Review andconstructively comment on the draft plans of assigned jurisdictions;collaboratively work with jurisdictions in the plan preparation process andthe implementation of long-range planning, zoning, and other programs thatpromote best planning practices, mixed use development, redevelopment, andnatural resource protection consistent with state law and policy.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university that includes 30 credit hours in Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, Information Technology or Urban Affairs.Experience:Three years of experience in research and planning projects related to the development and use of land, water, transportation, community or natural resources by assisting in obtaining, analyzing and conducting research on demographic, socio-economic, political, cultural, geographic or land-use trends.Notes:1.Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in one ofthe specified educational fields for one year of the required experience.*2.Candidates may substitute the possession of an additional Master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the specified educational fields for one additional year of the required experience.*3.Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in one of the specifiededucational fields for two years of the required experience.**Two years is the maximum number of years that may be substituted byeducation for the required experience.4.Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Logistics, Urban Planning, Architect, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst or Cryptologic classifications; or Logistics, Urban Planning or Architect specialty codes in the Architect field of work, on a year-for-year basis, for the required experience and education.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Three years' experience in one or more of the following:- Experience in local government or private practice providing community planning, urban design, placemaking, scenario planning, and/or development review.- Experience in providing technical assistance to local government and non-government organizations. Ideally, this experience should include a variety of issues, including urban design experience, sustainability, resiliency, long range master planning and current planning, zoning and subdivision review.- Experience or familiarity with the State of Maryland Planning initiatives and programs and how they can be applied to develop a stronger regional economy and local capacity, as well as experience with Maryland land use statutory requirements.- Experience making public presentations and representing a department or organization on committees and other representative bodies.- Experience in project management and executing complex planning and community development projects that involve community engagement, multiple stakeholders, sometimes competing interests, and the development of new communication channels.- Experience with office productivity software, GIS, site design and visualization tools such as Sketch Up, Photoshop or similar.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
NOT APPLICABLE.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.We will not consider information submitted after this date.Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on theeligible (employment) list for at least one year.
EXAMINATION PROCESS
The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position.It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.
BENEFITS
STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online,the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be submitted to:Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment andExamination Division, 301 W. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201.Paper application materials must be received in our officeby theclosing date for the recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted.For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact theDBM Recruitment andExamination Division at ...@maryland.govor 410-###-####,MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-###-####.We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.