Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning

Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning

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The Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD) is the planning and development agency for the City of Somerville. OSPCD’s mission is to improve the lives of everyone in Somerville by making it easier for people to get and keep stable housing, find quality jobs, and start and run a business; building safe and healthy streets and public spaces;

and guiding how neighborhoods can change for the better while keeping what makes Somerville unique. OSPCD consists of seven divisions, including Economic Development, Finance & Administration, Housing, Housing Stability, Mobility, Planning, Preservation & Zoning, and Public Space & Urban Forestry.

The Planning, Preservation, & Zoning (PPZ) division is staffed by a Director, Deputy Director, three Senior Planners, five Planners, a Community Outreach Coordinator, and an Administrative Assistant. PPZ’s core functions include the following:

• Engaging with the community of Somerville residents, businesses, and organizations to develop long-term plans that guide future urban development, government policy, and capital improvement decision-making as the city evolves.
• Staffing & administering the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, Urban Design Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Coordinating review of permit applications by OSPCD staff to ensure urban development is compliant to standards and consistent with city policy.
• Maintaining, revising, and updating the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to implement City policies and long-term planning.

The Director of PPZ oversees the strategic direction of the division’s core functions and the overall development of staff and processes. The Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning (PPZ) supervises day-to-day administrative operations and procedures while assisting the Director with oversight of the core functions of the division.

• Oversee the review of permit applications by OSPCD staff and other City departments.
• Support City coordination efforts related to major redevelopment projects.
• Document and maintain the division’s standard operating procedures.
• Create, maintain, and administer the division’s training program.
• Create and maintain division document templates & graphic standards.
• Research and develop improvements to division processes and procedures.
• Oversee the preparation, filing, and maintenance of required documentation.
• Track and report the division's annual business.
• Track and report board & commission annual business.
• Meet regularly with staff, OSPCD Directors, elected officials, and other City departments.
• Provide strategic policy advice and recommendations to the Division Director, Executive Director of OSPCD, and elected and appointed officials.
• Assist in the development of the division’s annual budget, goals, projects, and work plan.
• Assist in the management of staff.
• Assist with conducting regular division meetings.
• Provide direction and guidance to PPZ staff, including onboarding, training, and mentoring.

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, city or urban planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, urban design, or related field;
  Master’s degree preferred.
• Seven (7) years of professional experience.
• AICP certification is preferred.
• Experience in personnel management preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in team-based project management and the ability to prioritize workloads, multitask, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in zoning compliance interpretation and regulatory permitting.

• Understanding of current urban planning and community engagement practices.
• Understanding of urban development projects at the planning, design, construction, and occupancy phases.
• Understanding of Massachusetts planning & zoning laws, including MGL Ch 40A, 40B, 40C.
• Familiarity of planning and development issues relevant to Somerville.
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze development plans, drawings, studies, and similar…