Environmental Planner

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest public housing authority with more than 177,000 apartments, and responsibility for administering a citywide Section 8 leased housing program that serves over 150,000 additional tenants. NYCHA’s mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility.

NYCHA’s Asset & Capital Management (A&CM) Division leads the Authority’s capital, sustainability and resiliency programs that comprise a $6 billion capital projects portfolio - one of the largest in NY State - as well as a range of activities related to property modernization and strategic asset management. A&CM aims to preserve and modernize NYCHA buildings and apartments through
strategic portfolio planning, comprehensive design standards, innovative financing and project delivery models, strong partnership with NYCHA residents and other stakeholders, and effective program and project management of capital investments. The Division also positions NYCHA’s housing portfolio for the future by piloting and scaling-up sustainable and resilient technologies and
practices, improving residents’ quality of life while enhancing building performance. The work culture of the Division is strongly customer service oriented, collaborative and delivery-focused.

The A&CM Division’s Sustainability Department develops and implements a comprehensive sustainability agenda to reduce NYCHA’s energy and resource consumption and carbon footprint, improve resident health and well-being, and create environmentally friendly developments for NYCHA’s residents and the surrounding communities. Building on a 20-year track record of successful energy efficiency initiatives, the teams support and champion a comprehensive and strategic approach to all areas of sustainability, including energy efficiency and management, water efficiency and management, waste reduction and management, and healthy and comfortable indoor environments. The teams not only serve as a resource to the departments within A&CM, but also help
to connect A&CM to Operations and Community Programs for a holistic approach.

The A&CM Division’s Sustainability Department is divided into three units:

- Sustainability
- Energy
- Environmental Planning

Under general supervision or direction, with opportunity for independent judgment in coordination with supervisor, difficulty and responsibility, performs and/or supervises research and analysis activities in the field of city planning. The Environmental Planner will use technical and regulatory expertise to ensure the completion of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) environmental reviews for all projects requiring review under the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Environmental Planner will focus on environmental reviews for transactions for all NYCHA departments.

The Environmental Planner will organize and/or perform research and analysis activities; develop and analyze data on city planning issues; support NYCHA-wide projects, programs, and initiatives. Selected candidate will work within the Sustainability Department - Environmental Planning Unit to oversee and directly provide consultation services and technical support to ensure clearance of environmental review for Sustainability, Capital Rehabilitation, air-rights leased Housing, the Public Housing Preservation Trust, Comprehensive Modernization, Operations, and real estate development projects. The Environmental Planning Unit works in the Sustainability Department amongst the Energy Programs and Sustainability Programs teams and works closely with various NYCHA departments and City, State, and Federal agencies.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

- Manage and participate in the preparation of Type II, EAS, EAF, EIS, and similar environmental review documentation for multiple portfolios.
- Administer the CEQR, SEQRA, and NEPA processes.
- Assist with onboarding of other environmental professional services as needed.
- Consult and coordinate with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
- Serve as the NYCHA liaison for inter-agency environmental collaborations.
- Support the Agency’s environmental response activities as required.
- Establish project timelines and ensure projects are completed on schedule.
- Draft and review requests for proposals.
- Present analyses to the Deputy Director of Environmental Planning, NYCHA Executive Team, inter-agency partners, elected officials, residents, stakeholders, and colleagues.
- Work closely with colleagues from NYCHA and NYC, NY State, and Federal agencies involved in the development of affordable housing.
- Ensure project consistency with the current environmental review requirements, NYCHA Sustainability Agenda and Annual Plan.

NOTE: Due to the existence of a civil service list, candidates must have permanent civil service status in the title of City Planner to be considered.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program. For detailed information regarding the 55-a Program, click on the link below:

https://bit.ly/55aProgram

Additional Information

1. Candidates with permanent civil service status in the title of Associate Housing Development Specialist will also be considered.
2. Candidates may be given a skills assessment.
3. NYCHA employees applying for transfer, promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
4. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.
5. NYCHA provides benefits that include a choice of medical coverage plans, deferred compensation plans and a defined pension benefit plan as a member of the New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS).

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

CITY PLANNER - 22122

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning; or

2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to “1"" above. Graduate
education in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Special Qualification Requirements

Assignment Level III
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Assignment Level IV
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.