Sr. Director, WNY Policy & Planning
Empire State DevelopmentAbout the role
*Applicants MUST submit a cover letter with resume to be considered.
*This position will require in-office presence. Hybrid work schedules may be possible based on specific job duties and consistent with ESD policy.
*Minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Please contact Human Resources if you require an accommodation.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Reporting to the ESD VP/Sr. Counsel, with additional “dotted line” reporting to the WNY Regional Director for activities and projects involving the WNY regional office, assists in the formulation, development, and implementation of programs, activities and projects in furtherance of the ESD’s WNY subsidiaries missions associated with “place-based” revitalization and assists with the development and implementation of projects in the larger WNY Region as directed by the WNY Regional Director.. Leads and/or contribute to various technical activities, including but not limited to the development of strategic mission statements or policy formulation, development of annual goals, budgets, and action items, and specific capital, organizational, incentive assistance, or other site-specific projects that would advance these respective strategic missions.
At the discretion of the ESD COO, ESD Senior VP of Real Estate, and ESD VP/Sr. Counsel for Upstate Capital Projects, this person shall also be responsible/available for augmenting ESD’s Design and Construction Department capabilities in Upstate New York by providing technical support related to city planning, place-based economic development, environmental review, and/or historic resources management for capital projects in being undertaken/administered through the ESD’s Regional Offices and/or Upstate-wide initiatives.
WORK PERFORMED:
Strategic Planning
- Develop and formulate with staff and serve as primary author for ESD’s WNY subsidiaries mission statements, policy statements, white papers on critical issues, etc.
- Identify goals/objectives for each program year and formulate/refine projects to progressively advance ESD’s WNY subsidiaries mission and coordinate with Subsidiary Presidents and Regional Directors (“RDs”) to assist in annual budgeting and programming of such efforts.
- Serve as primary technical liaison with other City/State agencies associated with development projects, e.g. various NYS Parks capital/management personnel, NYSDOT, NYSDEC, county/municipal planning and public works, etc.
Project Planning, Design & Environmental Review
- Serve as principal author of ESD’s WNY subsidiaries strategic and project-based planning documents (e.g., strategic plans, master plans, general project plans). Assist ESD-WNY Regional Office with strategic and project-based planning documents (e.g., strategic plans, master plans, general project plans) upon request of the WNY Regional Director.
- Prepare various types of applications for grants, federal aid, or other types of assistance for ESD-WNY and ESD Subsidiary projects.
- Oversee and/or assist in all ESD-WNY & WNY Subsidiary responsibilities regarding the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), including but limited to assessment of agency actions; preparation of all required notices, findings, and determinations; preparation of environmental assessments for non-complex projects; and procurement/oversight of consultants for complex environmental reviews (e.g., environmental impact statements).
- Oversee and/or assist in all ESD-WNY & Subsidiary responsibilities under Section 14.09 of the New York State Historic Preservation Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, including but not limited to: consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer on all applicable agency actions; preparation of letters of resolution, programmatic agreements, and memoranda of understanding; and procurement/oversight of consultants for complex cultural resources work (e.g. detailed archaeological investigations, detailed historic building assessments).
- Administer/oversee and/or participate in all review activities related to compliance with Urban Design Standards for projects involving USAN or ESD-WNY grant assistance for projects in Niagara Falls and East Buffalo, ECHDC’s Canalside Project, and make periodic refinements of
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