Senior Zoning and Development Manager

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Our mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. CDD has four divisions - Economic Opportunity & Development, Community Planning & Design, Zoning and Development, and Transportation Planning. Together, we engage and collaborate with community partners, other government agencies, businesses, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.

The Zoning and Development Division is a team of urban planners performing work in the areas of land use planning and urban development. The division has a Director, a Senior Manager, two Project Planners, two Associate Planners, an Administrative Coordinator, and interns. Specific work areas include:

• Staffing and administering the Cambridge Planning Board
• Coordinating review of major urban development projects
• Providing professional support and advice to the Cambridge City Council and Planning Board in reviewing proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
• Advancing planning initiatives that result in recommended changes to the Zoning Ordinance
• Providing general information about zoning to residents, property owners, businesses, developers, design professionals, other City officials and departments, and others as needed

More information at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Director of Zoning and Development, the Senior Manager will be responsible for managing key aspects of the work of the Zoning & Development Division including:

• Overseeing the study and preparation of zoning proposals to advance the land use plans, policies, and objectives of the City.
• Developing and analyzing zoning ordinances on a range of complex land use and urban development topics. Recent topics have included zoning for climate resilience and standards for multifamily housing.
• Providing supervision and oversight to other Zoning & Development staff.
• Working in multidisciplinary teams, which may include planners specializing in urban design, transportation, environmental sustainability, housing, and economic development, as well as staff in other City departments, to advance zoning policy initiatives.
• Overseeing the review and analysis of amendments to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance proposed by residents, property owners, City officials, and others, as assigned.
• Preparing written reports and oral presentations for a range of audiences including the City administration, City Council, Planning Board, and community groups.
• Overseeing the review of major development proposals as assigned.
• Engaging with the Cambridge community in the context of topic-specific or location-specific projects, engaging difficult to reach communities, and facilitating dialog and consensus-building among people with diverse interests and opinions.
• Providing information and advice on land use and zoning matters to other City staff, residents, business owners, property owners and developers, community groups, City Council, Planning Board, and others as needed or requested.
• Additional assignments based on the applicant’s skills and interests and the division’s needs.
• Attending after-hours meetings including Planning Board meetings (held most Tuesday evenings), City Council meetings and committee hearings (held at various times), and community meetings as needed.

 REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

 The Senior Zoning Manager should be self-motivated, detail-oriented and ready to help CDD in efforts to conduct high-quality planning and zoning work for the City of Cambridge.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, real estate, architecture, or related field is preferred, plus a minimum of seven (7) years professional experience in a position involving analysis, interpretation, and development of zoning codes, ordinances, or by-laws, including experience in a supervisory capacity. A Master’s degree in these fields may be substituted for 2 years of exp