Job Opening: Senior Planner Application deadline: July 26, 2021 Columbus, Ohio

The Neighborhood Design Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 1982, seeks an experienced urban planner to join our full-time staff in Columbus, Ohio. With our office located in a walkable, diverse, and historic urban neighborhood in the heart of Columbus, near The Ohio State University and the thriving Short North Arts District, this position offers the opportunity to work in one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in the nation.

Historically rooted in providing free and discounted design services to business owners and community-based organizations in distressed urban corridors, the Neighborhood Design Center has expanded our ability to provide a broader range of planning services to Columbus neighborhoods. Examples of recent community planning efforts can be found at both www.envisionhilltop.com and www.ourlinden.com.

What you’ll do

The ideal candidate will possess a broad range of planning experience coupled with excellent public speaking, research and community engagement skills. Specific skills include:

• Community engagement with diverse populations
• Creation of inclusive planning exercises to gauge and understand resident concerns

  and aspirations

• T echnical research and community data analysis
• T echnical and creative writing
• Leading small and large public meetings
• In collaboration with leadership, manage, mentor and support college interns in various

  projects

• Develop concept-level plans, studies, and analysis in consultation with an

  interdisciplinary team

• Coordinate business planning, proposal development, and work planning with

  leadership

• Engage in the management of stakeholder outreach, fostering strong project

  relationships with communities, stakeholders, and clients; and delivering/facilitating

  project presentations

• Researching complex policy and planning topics and translating them for lay audiences
• Overseeing printing, production, and fabrication of final products
• Developing written program outreach materials, including press releases, website news

  updates, and materials for grants and other communications, as required

  What you’ll need

• Master’s Degree in urban planning or a related field
• Undergraduate studies in related design fields (Architecture/Landscape Architecture)

  preferred, but not required

• Four to eight years of experience in relevant Urban Planning or related fields;
• Membership in AICP desirable, but not necessary
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the application of planning policies,

  processes

• Experience in presenting before community groups and civic entities
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in MS Office and Adobe Creative Suites, especially InDesign, and ideally

  Illustrator and Photoshop

• Proven knowledge and/or experience working with GIS and other data mapping and

  analytical tools

• Proficiency in SketchUp an asset
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and preparing reports with community and market

  data (i.e. U.S. Census, Esri, Social Explorer)

• Experience and interest in web design, creating landing pages, registrations for events,

  and more (i.e. WordPress, Wix, Weebly, Squarespace)

• Experience with email marketing and newsletter tools (i.e. Mailchimp, Constant

  Contact)

• Strong organizational skills to undertake multiple projects or facets of various projects
• Comfortable in coordinating input from various organizations for public/private

  collaboration, including multi-disciplinary project efforts working with allied professionals

  such as architects, civil engineers, and developers

• Experience in developing and compiling/producing graphics supported reports
• Strong team collaboration skills

  What we offer

  • Competitive salary ($50,000 to $65,000) annually, commensurate with experience
  • Group health insurance plan
  • Payment of professional association membership fees
  • Paid time off
  • Social activities throughout the year
  • Creative and collaborative work environment

    How to apply

    If you’re interested in the position, send an email with the subject line “Senior Planner Position” to info@columbusndc.org with the following documents in one single PDF attachment:

• A one-page cover letter, in which you address why you are interested in this position, how your experience qualifies you for it, and why you would like to work at the NDC
• A one-page resume Timeline and selection process

  Applications will be accepted until 5pm Eastern time on Monday, July 26.

  NDC staff will review all complete applications and will schedule remote video interviews with selected candidates in August. Finalists may be asked to complete a short writing assignment.

  Applicants will be notified in August, with an expected start date in August or September.