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 Street
Suite 2000
Baltimore, 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 best
planning practices in the art of placemaking and scenario planning for urban,
suburban, and rural jurisdictions. This position develops and promotes sound
local planning by considering sustainable best practices, customized to meet
the needs of the community. This position leads the development of MDP’s
placemaking and scenario planning data sets and visualization tools for use
by local governments during the comprehensive and neighborhood planning
process. The position reviews and comments on local plans and programs to
compile best practices and offer suggestions for placemaking that leads to
economic development. Technical assistance includes helping local and state
planning staff and officials visualize land use alternatives, placemaking and
urban design. In this role, this position coordinates with the Department’s
Regional Planners, state agencies, other planning stakeholder organizations,
and community organizations.
This position promotes and measures the success of placemaking, scenario
planning, and urban design integration in plans and plan implementation
tools by developing and deploying methods leading to conclusions at the
local level of best practices being implemented. This includes curriculum
content project management, research, lesson design, assessment and metrics
(to measure the short- and long-term success of departmental and other
government placemaking and urban design planning efforts), online learning
product design, and coordinating and conducting training seminars,
workshops, and other educational events, both regionally and statewide. This
requires coordination with Planning Best Practices staff, the Planner
Supervisor and Planning Best Practices Director, state agency staff similarly
engaged in placemaking and economic development, and partner
organizations such as institutions of higher learning, to craft curriculum that
enhances placemaking, scenario planning, and urban design tools for local,
regional, and state planning documents and programs. The
Placemaking/Urban Design Lead will help communities understand assets
and opportunities, explore plan alternatives, leverage cultural resources,
enhance community organizing and capacity building, craft planning and
regulatory documents as needed, and promote place-based economic
development by delivering measurable results.
Regional Planning/Liaison- Aid jurisdictions as requested to help meet state
planning requirements, build local capacity, promote best planning and
zoning practices, gain desired local designations, access grant funding,
enhance economic and community development, and ensure effective local
and regional collaboration, among other needs.
Regional Planning/Plan Review and Implementation – Review and
constructively comment on the draft plans of assigned jurisdictions;
collaboratively work with jurisdictions in the plan preparation process and
the implementation of long-range planning, zoning, and other programs that
promote best planning practices, mixed use development, redevelopment, and
natural 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 of the 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 specified educational fields for two years of the required experience.*
*Two years is the maximum number of years that may be substituted by education 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 the eligible (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
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 and Examination Division, 301 W. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Paper application materials must be received in our office by the closing date for the recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted.
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov or 410-767-4850, MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.
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.
