Category: 
Job


Location: New York City, NY

Technical City Planner

Salary: $64,140-$70,554

Description
The Real Estate Services (RES) division of Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) supports the operations of the government of the City of New York by providing services for the City’s real estate needs. RES is responsible for the space planning and management of 37 million square feet, Citywide acquisitions (lease or purchase), sales and other dispositions of City-owned real estate, architectural design and project management, zoning and land use analyses, disposition of 15,000 City-owned lots, property valuation, and financial analysis of real estate transactions.

RES consists of five distinct units: Portfolio Planning and Management (PPM), Leasing and Acquisitions, Design & Project Management (D&PM), Planning and Dispositions, and Financial Services. The RES Line of Service meets the different real estate needs of City agencies including lease negotiation, architectural design and project management, acquisition and disposition of real estate, condominium management, zoning and land use analyses, enforcement of space standards in office design, and overseeing the equitable allocation of over 22 million square feet of privately owned leased space and 15 million square feet of City-owned space for agency use.

The Land Use Planning group within the Planning and Dispositions unit provides critical functions for DCAS’s operation such as oversight of the City’s real estate portfolio, including tracking, records maintenance, evaluation, and reallocation of the 15,000 tax lots owned by the City. It provides research and guidance on land use matters and the process to implement real estate transactions. It also responsible for the sale of surplus City property, and additionally manages a portfolio of more than 400 agreements (lease, license, permit or concession) for use of City-owned real property by private users, generating over $40 million in annual revenue.

DCAS seeks a qualified individual to support the Planning and Dispositions unit as a Technical City Planner. This position will work to support the various real estate transactions of the City, including conducting analyses of real estate data to further transactions and their associated processes. Qualified candidates should have advanced GIS skills to conduct assigned research and analysis leveraging the Integrated Property Information System (IPIS), ARCHIBUS, ESRI, and other assorted software and zoning/planning resources as well as experience conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Job Responsibilities

  • Create and manage databases, update written materials & conduct analysis for real estate management and transactions.
  • Keep up to date with government policies and laws related to land use matters, real estate management and transactions.
  • Review complex documents to ascertain, gather and reconcile information.
  • Create reports and queries, analyze and reconcile databases to ensure data integrity, and keep others informed of the projects and statuses.
  • Serve as liaison between DCAS and other entities
  • Work with other Real Estate Services units to ensure flow of information and that projects and milestones are completed on time, and consistent with requirements and expectations.
  • Track processes within DCAS’ database to ensure all steps and milestones are accounted for.
  • Responsible for understanding the City’s real estate portfolio, with emphasis on the DCAS properties.
  • Evaluate properties used by City agencies and assess opportunities for reallocation or disposition.
  • Use IPIS, digital maps, other software and real estate resources to review and analyze City property.
  • Serve as the key point person in ensuring data integrity for Land Use Planning between IPIS, the legacy real estate database, and ACRES, the new real estate management platform that RES is now using. This includes the ESRI component of ACRES and the associated mapping data.
  • Prepare reports based on analyses conducted leveraging the aforementioned systems and provide recommendations to senior staff, when necessary.
  • Recommend and implement enhancements to DCAS’ Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment.
  • Assist with the management and tracking of deed restriction modifications and Local Law 176 compliance.
  • Conduct in-depth property research and affirm property status, including signing legal affidavits based on DCAS records, and attend legal meetings and hearings.
  • Identify City-owned properties for new agency uses that focus on cost avoidance and reallocation of properties to other agencies
  • Evaluate and select properties for potential sale, lease or other disposition mechanisms
  • Provide technical expertise for ULURP documents, conduct land use research, review maps and other real estate documents
  • Resolve complex land use and real estate issues, including restrictions, easements, special conditions, etc.
  • Prepare and review land use documents
  • Prepare ULURP applications, CEQR documents, Fair share documents, and other similar applications, and attend related public hearings on behalf of DCAS
  • Coordinate with other City agencies and government stakeholders
  • Respond to requests based on special requirements within the required timeframes.
  • Manage short-term and long-term projects pertaining to complex sites within the DCAS portfolio.
  • Create digital maps and presentations
  • Train and supervise Planning interns
  • Attend meetings, including with external stakeholders and the public, on behalf of DCAS to further projects

Qualification Requirements
Qualified candidates should have a Baccalaureate degree in city planning, public administration, geography, architecture, business or related fields; and real estate; and/or the equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Preference is for candidates with Master’s degrees. Other requirements include:

  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Familiarity with New York City real estate and land use processes
  • Advanced GIS experience

Preferred Skills
Preference given to candidates with New York City government experience, as well as NYC zoning and land use experience; enrollment in programs for master's degrees in city planning, public administration, business or related fields; and real estate background. Additional preference to candidates familiar with Microsoft Office, including Access and/or computer graphics knowledge, advanced GIS, especially ESRI ArcGIS skills, good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.

Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

How to Apply
Please go to www.nyc.gov/careers or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID #531840