Job Description

The Nashville Planning Department is seeking an experienced professional to join its Design Studio and guide its talented staff in taking the studio to the next level. Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and it is an exciting time to shape the built environment for current and future generations.

The Nashville Planning Department is comprised of planners and designers with expertise in land use, zoning, long range planning, architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. These staff members provide analysis and recommendations throughout the 526 square miles that make up the City of Nashville and Davidson County in a wide variety of urban, suburban, and rural contexts, and are supported by the department's operational staff.

Position Description:

The Assistant Director – Urban Design will oversee the 11-person Design Studio, a division within the Metro Nashville Planning Department that includes three sections: Ecological Design, Design Review/Implementation and Urban Design. Typical duties include visionary yet pragmatic leadership of the division; providing guidance to improve design quality; high-level administrative duties involved in managing the Design Studio; strategic planning; recommending and monitoring budgets; resource allocation; recommending organizational and process improvements; and clear and timely communication with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including elected officials.

Typical Duties:

• Leads and coordinates daily work activities of the Design Studio Division.
• Manages the studio, including assignments, employee performance and other typical duties.
• Works closely with members of the senior leadership team.
• Recommends and prioritizes urban design projects in the department's annual work plan.
• Administers contracts to vendors and consultants and manages complex urban design projects as assigned.
• Develops and coordinates urban design studies, design guidelines, master plans, schematic designs, and policy analyses of public and private land.
• Utilizes 3-D modeling, massing, GIS mapping, sections, elevations, renderings (such as computer-based and/or hand-drawn), visualizations, diagrams, and photography.
• Supports activities within other divisions of the Planning Department and/or other Metropolitan departments.
• Facilitates community and internal workshops and design charrettes.
• Consults with developers, contractors, architects, landscape architects (and other design professionals) and the public about planning- and development-related issues.
• Recommends policy changes and/or develops and implements new policies and procedures as needed.
• May act on behalf of the Deputy Executive Director in his/her absence.
• Performs related duties as required.

Supervision Exercised/Received:

Directly supervises Design Studio Division managers and indirectly supervises other division staff. Receives direction from and reports to the Deputy Executive Director or his/her designee, who outlines overall goals and objectives of the planning program and informs the Executive Director of how to accomplish those goals and objectives.

Perks and Benefits:

• Starting annual salary range of $160,000
• Expansive suite of benefit options including paid family leave; medical, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; optional deferred compensation plan; flexible spending accounts; pension program; subsidized public transit; and more
• Support for qualifying professional licenses, certifications, and professional development hours
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness for qualifying loans. This is not a civil service position.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture or Urban Planning from an accredited college or university and ten (10) years of relevant experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience. Or, Master's Degree and eight (8) of relevant experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience. Licensure in architecture or landscape architecture is preferred. Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and trends in city planning, urban design, New Urbanism, architecture and/or landscape architecture.
• Knowledge of basic legal principles of land development and zoning.
• Thorough knowledge of supervisory and management principles and practices, including supervising the work of others and examining and modifying the flow of work to increase productivity and work quality.
• Experience applying best practices that elevate the design of buildings and places in equitable and sustainable ways and an ability to accurately process, review, analyze and critique development issues with an emphasis on sound urban design principles.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in helping to solve complex problems.
• Understanding of how to leverage 3D spatial design/urban design capabilities and graphic representation techniques to support and communicate projects and ideas.
• Strong prioritization and negotiation skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to successfully work with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to read and interpret complex materials.
• Ability to conduct studies, analyze data, and make recommendations.
• Ability to present technical information to lay persons in ways they can understand, including communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to value and respect cultural differences, balance different perspectives, and to be intentional about expanding opportunities for all persons.

Specific Licenses or Certifications Required:

A valid Driver License is required for some positions in this classification.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Qualified applicants should send letter of interest, resume and portfolio of work samples to:
Randi Semrick at randi.semrick@nashville.gov

or

Randi Semrick
Metro Planning Department
800 President Ronald Reagan Way
P.O. Box 196300
Nashville, TN 37219-6300
(No Phone Calls Please)

Candidate materials will be accepted through October 28, 2023.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

The Planning Department does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. Discrimination against any person in recruitment, examination, appointment, training, promotion, retention, discipline, or any other employment practices because of non-merit factors shall be prohibited. For ADA inquiries, contact Randi Semrick, ADA Compliance Coordinator, at (615) 862-7230 or e-mail her at randi.semrick@nashville.gov . For Title VI inquiries, contact Human Relations at (615) 880-3370. For all employment-related inquiries, contact Human Resources at (615) 862-6640.

American Planning Association
205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601-5927

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